AN INFANT'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15884, 3 April 1915, Page 9

AN INFANT'S DEATH.

NOBODY TO BLAME.

CAUSTIC SODA ON SOAP.

CORONERS WARNING TO PUBLIC.

Tun inquest into the circumstances connected with the death of a 14 months' old infant, Wilfred Raymond Enwright, who died at No. 7, Russell Street, Ponsonby, on March 25, was concluded on Thursday before Mr. F V. Frazer, S.M. At the opening of the inquiry, the coroner had ordered the analysis of a portion of the soap supposed to have been eaten by the baby. The request had also been made that a piece of soap should be obtained from the stock of the family grocer, in order that it might be submitted to analysis.

Louisa Davie, who resided with her daughter, .May Larsen, in Russell Street, Ponsonby, said her house was registered as a foster home under the Infants Act, 1908. The infant was received into the home about seven months ago. On the morning of March 24 the child was fed, and witness went about her household work. Some time later she was told that the child was ill. She thought it had eaten some soap. There was a tin containing caustic soda in the house, but this was quite out of the child's reach.

Walter Scott Broekway, medical practitioner, said the child was taken to his private hospital. He found it was suffering Horn the effect of caustic soda, presumably placed in the mouth by the hands, which were burned. The mouth was extensively burned, and the throat was so swollen that swallowing was impossible. After treatment, the infant's condition improved, but as he considered the symptoms were out of all proportion to those that might bo expected from the misuse of soap, he communicated with the police. The child died a few hours later, the cause of death being caustic poisoning. Every care and attention had apparently been given infant, which was well nourished. Evidence was given by Gertrude Margaret Chamberlain -md by Thomas Chamberlain, who boarded at" No. 7, Russell Street. The latter said he had complained about the soap in the bathroom, because it had burned him. He had used the tin of caustic soda, and when replacing it he thought it was possible that loose caustic may have fallen on the soap. Alfred James Parker, Government analyst, said he analysed the soaps sent to him, and found in them nothing of an injurious character. The exhibits contained just under 1 per cent, of caustic alkali, which was the amount found in samples of other well-known brands of soap. A small quantity of caustic soda dropped accidentally on a piece of soap would adhere to the soap, and would be sufficient to cause the child's death. He considered that people did not realise the extreme corrosive nature of caustic soda, and were generally careless in handling it. Sergeant O'Grady stated that when lie examined the tin of caustic soda he found a quantity of loose caustic on the top of the tin.

A verdict of death from caustic poisoning was returned. " The evidence shows." said the coroner, "that the caustic soda was evidently shaken from the tin on to a piece of soap, some of which the child eat. In reviewing all the circumstances, I cannot blame anyone, except to ask people to take warning of this fatality, and to be careful in their use of caustic soda."