CORONER'S INQUEST.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 80, 16 October 1880, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Piers Eliot Warburton, Esq., District Coroner, held a coronial inquiry yesterday into the circumstances attending the death of Isabella Guthrie, a child eighteen months old, who died at Karere, on the previous day. The following jury was empannelled :— Robert Linton (foreman), George Collis, Henry Collis, Charles Collis, John Roe, Charles Smith, Robert King, John M'Lennan, Garrett Brennan, John Marshall, Robert Whiley, Richard Carey, Thomas Kebbell, and Thomas Chamberlain. After the body had been viewed, the following evidence was taken :— David Henry Guthrie deposed: I am a teacher, residing at Karare, and father of deceased. On Friday last, about eleven o'clock, school being out, I went to my residence, and had just entered when Mrs. Guthrie called my attention to some matches on the floor, which she had just noticed. I examined them, and found the heads gone. They were wax vestas. I immediately came to the conclusion that the baby had got at them ; she had been in the room ever quarter of an hour. I then went and smelt her breath, and distinctly noticed the smell of phosphorus. I gave her some ipecacuanha wine. That not making her sick, I gave her some warm water, but with no better effect. Mrs Guthrie then put her finger in her mouth, and she vomited very freely, so much so that I expected nothing could be left. After a little while I gave her more oil and water, when she began to vomit, and she then went to sleep. I went for the doctor and he returned with me in about an hour. When I returned the deceased was awake, and asked for a piece of cake. The doctor was of opinion that the vomiting had carried off all the matches. He gave her an antidote and remained some time, but did not think the case very serious, saying that Mrs. Guthrie might go to Wanganui next morning. The next morning the child seemed as well as ever, had a good breakfast, and was very lively. Mrs. Guthrie took her to Wanganui. When she returned on Monday night, the deceased slept well through the night, and although she was a little dull we thought it was from her teeth. On Tuesday night she appeared very thirsty, and I went for the doctor on Wednesday. He prescribed medicine and a bath, which seemed to do her good, but about three o'clock on Thursday morning she seemed worse. I sent immediately for the doctor, and he arrived about four. He did not seem to have any hope, and at nine o'clock she died. I have no idea how she got the matches, as I am always very careful. She may have picked up a box which was supposed to be empty, but may have had a few matches in it. By the Coroner : It was not later than two when I reached the doctor, the first time. By the Jury : I picked up about thirty matches, the heads of which were all off. Mrs. Guthrie deposed that the child vomited twice, but she did not suspect poison ; that she had consulted no doctor while in Wanganui, and as far as she was aware, deceased. had eaten nothing to disagree with her. Dr. Marriner deposed : Mr. Guthrie called on Friday afternoon, between three and four o'clock, but being engaged I did not reach Karere until five o'clock, when I was told that the child had eaten some matches and had had castor oil and emetics admintstered to her. I gave her an antidote and before leaving left some more to be given, if it were found necessary, The child seemed well when I left, and I did not suspect any danger. I called in again on Wednesday morning, and then found the child very ill, evidently suffering from symptoms of phosphorus poisoning. l applied all the remedies of which I was possessed, and sent to Palmerston for more. I remained for a considerable time, and left word at departure that I should be sent for again should deceased get worse. I was called again at half-past three on Thursday morning, and then found the child very bad. I remained with her until she died. I made a post-mortem examination on

Thursday, and the appearances were those resulting from phosphorus poisoning. It is not advisable to give castor oil in such cases. I can only account for death upon the presumption that some phosphorus was absorbed into the system and remained latent. By the Jury : In this case I could not ascertain the cause of death without having first made a post-mortem examination. After a short deliberation the Jury returned the following verdict : — " That the deceased, Isabella Guthrie, died at Karere on Thursday, October 14th, 1880, from accidental poisoning by phosphorus matches, and that no blame attaches to any one."