DEATH OF A CHILD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7319, 24 December 1910, Page 6

DEATH OF A CHILD

SCALDED IN A COPPER.

Dr McArthur, S.M., coroner, held an inquest at the .hospital yesterday afternoon touching the death of Ernest Silvers, aged 61 years, of J ohnsonviile, who died as a result of injuries received through falling into a copper of boiling water. Sergeant Mathiosoa appeared on behalf of the police.

TUe evidence ot the mother showed that the boy was playing in a washhouse, where there was a copper full- of boiling water. He climbed on. top of the boiler and lifted, the lid. By some misadventure he fell in, the hot water reaching to his thighs. There was no eyewitness to the accident. The boy’s screams attracted the attention of his mother, who immediately released him trom his painful position. Telephoning to the hospital, the mother received instructions from Dr Hardwick Smith how to treat the child, no medical man being available at the time. The little patient was treated for a fortnight according to instructions, but alarming symptoms set in, and Dr Bowerbank was summoned on Wednesday last. Ho ordered the boy’s removal to the hospital, where he Was admitted at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday. Blood-poisoning had set in, and the child died about 1 a.m. yesterday. The coroner returned a verdict of death from acute blood-poisoning.