DEATH IN A KISS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15912, 8 May 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

DEATH IN A KISS.

WARNING by CORONER, SPOTTED FEYE'R DANGERS. The peril of kissing soldiers home from tile front was emphasised by Dr. Wynn Westeott, the Hackney coroner, at an inquest on.'Alexandra M. Tukersole, aged ten, of Clapton Park. The coroner gaidjfis known that, there are ft number of ''{cases' of spotted fever in France," and ,/the germs are easily carried.

The mother stated that the little girl was not well, but went to school; as usual. About mid-day, after having ,done her di ill, she became unwell, so the teacher sent her home. There she grew worse, was put to bed, and died in the early hours of the next morning, before she could bo soen by a doctor. When it was recognised how seriously ill she was, a doctor wnf sent for, but he declared ho was too busy to attend, and. 'the; same thing happened at two other; ■places, three- doctors pleading that they were too busy. The mother added that three doctors were called in a space of ten minutes.-

Mrs. Wurahon, a married sister of the girl; said that the latter had been stay-. ing with her. She had a soldier brother, who had been home from France on furlough. He had been in. and out of the plaice, but. had never slept there. . 4 Tho Coroner: Bat I suppose he kissed and fondled her?— yes, he was very 'fond of her.

The.reason 1 am asking these questions is because we know tliere are a number of cases of spotted fever, or cerebrospinal ■ meningitis, amongst our soldiers in Trance, and it is more that likely he carried the germs with him. DK Turtle, divisional surgeon of police, said ho made an examination and found the microbo of cerebrospinal meningitis in tho brain.

The Coroner: Tlier v of course, this is a vary serious matter, as it is so deadly. It is only a recent discovery, and at present the- medical world is mystified as to what it is', so for safety sake it is treated as an infectious disease

A Juror : I should like to ask the doctor if ho thought the child's life could 'have been saved if one of the doctors had come'.'

Dr. Turtle: I certainly do not think so.

In answer to a juror, Dr. Turtle said in his opinipn the microbe was that of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. . The jury returned a verdict of death from spotted fever. This was the second death from spotted fever in the district in ten days. In Lambeth five cases, were reported in one week. Recently a question Was asked in Parliament as to an outbreak of this disease among members of tho Naval Division in training at the Crystal Palace, and it was stated that out of 15 cases eight had proved fatal. Cases had also been reported from Esses, and previously the disease manifested itself in an epidemic form in Kent. The Local Government Board had called attention to the extreme danger of ■kissing as a means of spreading the disease.