DEATH AFTER CONVULSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 20020, 10 November 1928, Page 17

DEATH AFTER CONVULSIONS

COROHIAL INQUIRY An inquest into tho circumstances surrounding the death of Murray James Schiclfelbicn, a child aged one year and nine months, whoso parents reside at 121 Glasgow street, was held at tho Public Hospital yesterday afternoon before the coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.). Tho child was admitted to the hospital at 10.15 on Wednesday evening suffering from convulsions, and died half an hour after his admission. Sergeant Gilligan represented the police. . Evidence of identification was given by Pearl Maritana Schieffelbien, the mother of the child. She stated that he had good health and had not been attended by a doctor recently, On Wednesday evening she put him to bed about half-past 7, when ho was in his usual condition and quite healthy. About half-past 9 he woke up screaming. and shortly _ after went into convulsions. Dr Lindon was summoned, and ho immediately ordered the removal of the hoy to the hospital. Witness thought that he must have placed a couple of tablets, winch wcVo kept on tho mantelpiece, in his mouth, as these were found wot on the floor, Iho boy could not have reached the tablets, and an elder boy of tho family must have brought them down. The tablets were tonic ones supplied ior witness’s father. Dr Lindon said that when he arrived at the house the child was in violent convulsions. As tho boy did not respond to treatment ho sent him to the hospital immediately. Witness was told that the boy had swallowed some tablets, the nature of which he did not know. Dr James Fitzsimons, resident surgeon at tho hospital, said that about 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday ho was called to sec the child in the Victoria Ward. He proceeded to the dispensary to procure some drugs which he considered would be necessary, but by the time ho reached the ward the child had jnsc died. There was nothing in particular about the appearance of the child to indicate the cause of death. Herbert Kenneth Paccy, a senior medical student, acting in a house position at the hospital, said that lie saw the child when it was admitted. It was then in violent convulsions. Ho examined tho child', and could find no obvious cause for that condition. Just before death tho convulsions ceased, except for a little twitching in the mouth. Witness could not advance tho cause of death. Benjamin Smith Scofield, chemist, said that the box of tablets (produced) was one sold -by him. They were a standard tonic preparation made in England called “Laud’s compound j tablets.” An adult could have taken up to ten of the tablets without injurious results. Witness could not say what effect the tablets would have on a child, and in any case a child could not have swallowed them. Tho tablets were sugar-coated. Mrs Schieffelbien stated that the tablets had merely been in the child’s mouth, for when they were found the sugar coating was still on them. The inquest was adjourned sine die until the results of a post mortem examination became known. I