INQUEST

Evening Star, Issue 17032, 1 May 1919, Page 7

INQUEST

YOUNG BOYS DEATH. An inquest was hold at the morgue thia morning, before tho coroner (Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M.), concerning: the sudden death of Robert Alexander Kiddle, aged nine years. The boy was not well on April' 27, and the mother sent for Dr_Harriaon, who, on examining tho lad, said he held out very little hope for his recovery. The boy gradually became worse, and died about p.m. on April 29, The father of the boy, Thomas Raddle, (stated that he was employed at the Roslyn Mills, *d resided at No. 53 Kenmure road, Mornington. The cliild had always been'in good health, but about a week ago "witness noticed he was getting white and thin. He used to take his food well, and played about as usual up to last Monday evening. Witness asked the boy if he felt ill, and he said "No." Deceased gradually became worse, and it was decided to get a doctor on Monday night. _ Several doctors were rung up between 10 p.m. and midnight, and at last they called up Dr Harrison, between 2 and 3 o'clock on 'luesdav morning. Dr Harrison came- right : away, and saw the child... The doctor j saw' him again about 9 o'clock the same morning. The boy died later on. He had I never complained, except that he said he had a pain in the stomach, just before Dr Harrison came. Charlotte Riddle, mother of deceased, said the boy had been in good health up to. about- a week ago* when she noticed he' was thin, and kept him from school. He was playing about up till Saturday. On Sunday night she noticed considerable change in* him. He seemed weak, and wanted to lie i|iwn. Ho wanted to get up on Monday, but witness persuaded him to stav in bed. She gave him chicken broth, boiled sago, and an egg on Sunday ; but on Monday he did not cart' about eating, and had only milk after midday. He was restless and weak on Monday. Abtfut 5 o'clock on Monday evening she noticed he was worse. He seemed cold, so she pulled his bed near the iire, and gave him hot drink. He was restless, and would not stay in bed. She had done all she could for' the boy. Her other children were strong and healthy. The deceased had always been inclined to be thin. ! Dr T. Harrison said he was called at 20 to 3 on Tuesday -moming, and he went at once, and found the child in a dyingcondition. The child was remarkably thin and very vieak. He could do 'nothing for the cliild, but ordered him to be kept warm iv;uJ to be given a little hot milk if he could swallow it. The child was in bed. and in an unconscious state. He saw the child again at 9 a.m. next day. when he was getting rapidly worse, and died at 3.30 p.m. Witness could not give- a certificate of death. Because he only "suspected the cause of death. Witness made a post mortem at the request of the coroner yesterday afternoon, and the body had emaciated to a remarkable decree. There was no food in the stomach or intestines, and the whole of the large bowel was completely blocked by constipation. The heart- and lungs were in fair condition. The bladder was loaded with sugar. The cause of death, was diabetes. Witness thought a doctor should have been called in earlier, but the parents had erred in ignorance more than in anything else. The" diabetes had been present for some weeks. It was unusual for a child of such to have diabetes. Witness could 'not tell the cause of the diabetes. It would account for all his conditions as stated by the mother. The Coroner said he would return a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, that the deceased died of diabetes.