INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 432, 2 October 1869, Page 2

INQUEST.

« An inque3t wa3 held at the Queen's Hotel, Lyttelton, yesterday afternoon, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, on the bodies of two infant ciiildren, named Thomas and Walter Wales. The following witnesses were examined: — Amelia Handley .- lam a nurse. The deceased children were born on Friday last; one looked healthy, the other was delicate ; both were very restless from their birth. On Tuesday last, the mother being very careworn, and I being very busy washing, I gave the deceased, in the morning, 2 drops of chlorodyne between them, and, at 3.30 p.m., I gave them another dose of 4 drops, and at night, between 9 and 10 p.m , I gave them 4 drops more between them. They slept heavily, and had a kind of iiiccup in the tnorniug. I found they were not wakeful and I gave them a warm bath, but it did not seem to do them any good. Isentfor-Dr Kouse, who attended the children, but they died at 2 p.m. By the Coroner : Ido not know what chlorodyne is composed of. I have frequently given it to you»»g children. I did not know it contained opium ; I thought it was made from some foreign root. By a Juror : I have given it to children from their birth ; have never known children suffer from it. By the Foreman : I never asked medical advice. I took the directions from the bottle ; the one produced is the same. By a Juror : I administered it on my own responsibility. The father bought the bottle of chlorodyne at my request, for the mother was wearied for want of rest. I have always used chlorodyne. By the Coroner : No medical man advised me to use it. William Wales : I am the father of the deceased. Tho children were well until Tuesday last. On that morning I asked the nurse if she wanted anything ; — the nurse had previously beeu asking for chlorodyne— and she asked me to bring a bottle home. I bought a bottle of it from Mr Ellisdon's. I asked no questions, but took it home and gavo it to the nurse. I had an idea she was going to give it to the children. I was out all day, and on my coming home at night I saw the nurse take the bottle, and put some of the contents into a vessel; it was a small pour she put in; it was not drop by drop ; she remarked about a certain number of drops, but I did not take any particular notice. The next morning before I went to work the mother said the children were ill, and she believed it must be the chlorodyne that the nurse had given them. I went away to my work; when I returned the children were very ill, and they died the next moming. By a Juror : When I saw the nurse pouring out the medicine I did not remark about her giving too much. The doctor had been when I came home the previous night. J. T. Rouse : lam a qualified medical practitioner. The deceased children were born on Friday night. I saw them daily; they were perfectly healthy and strong children. On Wednesday morning I received a message that the children were ill, and that 1 the mother attributed it to something the nurse had given them. I went and found the children in a state of prostration, and in a lethargic condition, as if from a recent administration of ah opiate. When moved the children opened tbeir eyes ; the pupils were not contracted. Their breathing was irregu-

lar, spasmodic, and very weak. The weaker child of the two was cold on the surface, and its feet were cold. The stronger had natural warmth. There was a great change in the complexion of both. The faces were like parchment, and very dark about the mouth. They swallowed food when pressed to do so, but did not seem inclined to eat. I saw them frequently throughout the day. Dr Donald also saw themj ladminis tered the medicine necessary for the case but without effect. The children changed repeatedly throughout the day, and on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning I heard that they were dead. I thiuk the symptoms fucli as might be pronounced from a strong dose of chlorodyne. By the Foreman : Chlorodyne is a patent medicine, and there is no reliable mode of knowing its component paris. An analysis was published some years since in the Lancet, which stated that morphia and prussic acid were ingredients, I never adMgister chlorodyne, but I use another medisg»*tlie component parts of which I know, ana which I consider as good as chlorodyne. I have never admiuistered doses larger than one drop to a child under one year. The mother when questioned by me said the nurse had given four drops to euch child ; there are about 10 drops out of the bottle ; one of the children was being suckled by the mother, the other was being fed. The mother was not strong. By the Foreman : I have no doubt the dose ad ninistered by the nurse was a dangerous one. The room having been e'eared, the 3 urj returned after ten minutes deliberation, the followiug verdictj " "VVe find the deceased Thomas and Walter Wales died from an overdose of chlorodyne administered by Amelia Handley, and whilst they deprecate her conduct in using the medicine without taking medicil advice, yet they acquit her of any culpability, having acted on her former experience. The Coroner addressing the nur?e said, the jury had taken a very lenient view of the case. He trusted that it would be a warning to her for the future.