THE LATE INQUEST.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1952, 7 November 1874, Page 2

THE LATE INQUEST.

FlO THE EDITOR.] SIR — Tour conleuipurary the " Evening Star" newspaper, in commenting this evening on the death of the late Mrs Gatjens has, in my opinion, gone farther than is justifiable, and has exceeded the bounds of fair criticism. The statement that a fellow -creature was allowed to die a lingeiing death without a single effort having been made to save a valuable life, i 3 as cruel as it is unjust. The evidence given before the Coroner's jury does not in any way support the above uncalled-for assertion, but inasmuch as the evidence of both the nurse and the husband has not been given in full, I forward a statement of the facts, that the public may judge the truth of the statement of your contemporary that I have objected to. On Wednesday morning, Mrs Gatjens, a relative of Mrs Seebeck (who is admitted to have been a person of 26 years' experience), is confined. The confinement is 3afely got over, no symptoms are shown nothing beyond a little weakness. This was not to be wondered at, as the patient was not veiy strong previous to her confinement, had always exhibited by her pale appearance a lack of blood, and had, whilst under Dr Acheson's treatment some months ago, been told that she wanted more blood in her system. Up to noon, beyond exhibiting the same weakness, there was no apprehension of any danger till about noon, when the weakness increased ; a medical mail was immediately sent for, but before his arrival the patient suddenly and unexpectedly died. To show the suddenness of the deceased's death, the husband was not more than ten minutes away before he returned with a doctor, who, in giving his evidence, stated the woman had been dead half an hour. This statement, which was only a supposition, was untrue, as I myself had not left the house half an hour before Gatjens was informed oE the death, and when I was in the house Mrs Gatjens was apparently doing well, and had partaken of some brandy I had brought for her. When the statement of Mra Gatjens being dead half an hour before the doctor arrived was made to the jury Mr Gatjens endeavored to speak out and correct it, but was silenced by the police officer present at the inquiry. Mr Gatjens assures me that he was not more than ten minutes bringing a medical man when he was required, and when he went for him Mrs Gatjens was alive. How, then, could she have been dead half an hour before a medical man saw her. Now, Sir, I would ask what was ths verdict of the Coroner's jury ? Did they find Mrs Seebeck guilty of malpractice or incompetence ? The jury say we find the deceased died from weakness and hemorrhage, and they add a rider that they thought a medical man should have been called in sooner. Is not this proving satisfactory to your contemporary? If not, it is certainly not sufficient to justify the remarks made by him, and which are made in such a way as not only to hurt Mrs Seebeck professionally, but also to wound the feelings of more, who were interested in the deceased far more than the editor of the " Evening Star," and who are themselves perfectly satisfied as to the cause of Mrs Gatjen's death. Apologising for the trespassing to such an extent on your columns. I am, &c, Louis Seebeok. ' November 6.