DOCTOR ON TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19388, 31 October 1924, Page 5

DOCTOR ON TRIAL

GIRL’S DEATH FROM DIPHTHERIA CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER FAILS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N_Z. Cable Association). LONDON, October 30. Exciting scenes were witnessed at the trial of Dr Hadwen, the anti-vaccinationist, on a charge of manslaughter of Nellie Burnsam, who died of pneumonia and diphtheria, after being treated by him for a cold. Hundreds of people rushed the doors when the Court was opened, women being greatly in the majority. Dr Washburn, who conducted the postmortem, gave evidence that the death of the girl was due to diphtheric pneumonia Sir E. Marshall Hall, K.C., who appeared for the accused, objected that the swab from twe girls throat had not been identified. He urged that Dr Hadwen should have been represented at the examination by another doctor. Other doctors then gave evidence that anti-toxin injections should have been given. Dr Hadwen gave evidence that the girl was suffering from septic tonsilitis, and that she died from pneumonia When the Jury returned with a verdict of not guilty, loud cheers broke out in the crowded Court, such as are rarely heard in Court, and the officials were powerless to stay the outbreak. The larger crowd outside vociferously demonstrated when they heard that the doctor was acquitted. Dr Hadwen, in a series of answers to the Judge, declared that he did not believe in the efficiency of. anti-toxin treatment. The injection of a poisoned horse’s blood into the human body was unscientific and contrary to nature. He discarded the whole germ theory of disease as unscientific. Mr Justice Lush said: “If the majority of doctors favour anti-toxin, and official statistics show that it has reduced the diphtheric death rate by one-third, does not that make your responsibility the heavier?” Dr Hadwen replied: “The whole profesrion once favoured Weeding.”