DEATH OF A BABY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 73, 29 March 1910, Page 2

DEATH OF A BABY.

- *» INQUEST AT LOWER HUTT. Mr. Haselden, S.M., held an 'inquest at the Courthouse, Lower Hutt, yesterday, on Agnes Neolino JJavis, a^ed three months. According to the evidence the mother, Cecilia Hamilton Davis! the child' was a twin, and was born on 25th December. Witness was housekeeper to Leonard Hobbs, labourer, Upppr Belmont. It seemed well on Saturday night, and .at 2 o'clock next morning witness fed it. At 5 the same morning ghe looked at it and it was then dead. The Coroner asked witness how it was that the dead child was so emaciated ; but witness could not account for this. It had been ill and she fed it upon hygienic food. She believed it thd stronger of the twins. Its sister appealed to bo much more delicate. Both children slept in a perambulator. Constable Mackenzie elicited from -witness "that tho perambulator was bi{{ enough for both children. There was no wiudow in the bedroom in which the children slept. The only access was by a door off the passage, but there was a fireplace in the room. The room was not close. Leonard Hobbs said the mother of the child came keep house for him about three years ago. He had to get someone to look* after his children as his -wife was not living with Jiim. Ho j supposed sha would be between 20 and 21 to-day. When the twins were born there was no medical man present, but a nurse was in attendance and she said the twins were delicate from birth. Dr. Mirams, who made an examination of the body of the child fit the court, said death was due to convulsions. This was common m children suffering frofn malnutrition, and this was due to improper feeding or want of assimilation of food. After hearing the evidence of the mother he judged the convulsions to be due to the want of assimilation of food. Ue saw nothing in the case that showed neglect of the deceased on the part of its parents. Constable Mackenzie said the bedroom in which the perambulator was was badly ventilated and very stuffy. At the Coroner's request witness weighed the deceased in her clothes and gave the weight at silb. The Coroner found that death was duo to convulsions.