INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4244, 28 November 1881, Page 3

INQUEST.

♦ An inquest was held this afternoon at the Hospital before the Coroner, Dr Coward, and a jury of thirteon, touching the death of John Steele. Mr Charles Deal was foreman. After the jury had viewed the body, the following was evidence was taken :— Jamos Dunn Wilson : I havo known deceased for tho last seven or eight years. Ho was a litter by trade, but sometimes drove the engines down ot tho wharf. I last saw him alive about a week or ten rays ago, when ho told mo ho waa very weuk. He was not a drinker, bub took a glass occasionally. I was living with him two years, and never saw him drunk more than twice. He came from the West Coast to Christchurch. lie worked at tho Bailway, Lyttelton. I never know him to havo a fit. M^iry O'Phelan : lama nurse in tho Hospital. Decoased hue been an inmate for only two or three days. I found him in tho bathtub about 6 o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning. It is a very largo tub. It was ovorllowing with water, which waa leaking through tho door. That drow my attention to it. Ho was floating on the walor. His faco was upwards, and he was dressed. He was dead. I pulled him up and placed his head on tho odgo of the bath tub. I then wont for tho Doctor, tho House Surgeon. Deceased belonged to my ward, and was under my caro at night. Patients are not allowed to take a baih ; thoso who aro ablo to leave tho ward may do bo at times. 1 saw him dressing at übout tan minutes to five ; that was the laßt timo I saw him alive. I did not sco him leave the ward. Ho had not been irrational, and I had noticed nothing pcouliar in his manner. To the Jury : Patients havo their batli onco a week, and htivo to ask for towels. I had j spoken to him at four o'clock. Ho went out I during my absenco from tbo ward. Dr A. F. J. Mickle : I am Hoii3o Surgeon to tho Hospital. Deceased waa admitted on Friday last, ostensibly for a disoaso of the bonoß of the too. Ho aho complainod of pain in tho pit of tho stomach. 110 wus perfectly quiet nnd rational, and answored ir.y quostiona satisfactorily. Ho was quite sober. 1 noticed that his circulation was very feoblo. I prescribed for him. Tho last timo I paw him alive was about half-past nino on Saturday night. I spoke to him, and ho replied to my enquiry that ho felt better of the pain ho hud previously complained of. Tho only pou liarity about him waß that ho was exceptionally quiot. At that lime, howovor, ho replied quito cheerfully. He had, perhaps, a slight tendency to melancholy, but not

1 sufficient to attract attention. About /Ire o'clock on Sunday morning. I was called by tht nurse, and found his body iv tho bath, his head and shoulders leaning over the side of it. He was quite dead. There was no mark or bruise, or indication that he had struggled in any way. Patients nro not allowed to go into tho bath alone, but the room is not locked. Patients only taks bat ha when they are told to do so. I have made a post mortem examination of ceccased. I found the veins in tho sinews of the ba9O and the membranes very much distended with blood. Some serum was at the base of the brain. We did not measure it, but thore was perhaps two or threo ounces. There was no appearance of any inlkmnv:tion. The windpipe ffas also partially filled with serum or fluid. A drownod persoD might or might not have that, "he right sido of the head waß distended with blood, ard the large vci:s in the neighborhood. Tho heart itself was loaded with fat, and much enlarged. The aortic valves were incompetent. I may say the blood was in a fluid condition, not coagulated. The lungs were perfectly healthy, but congested. There was a collection of serum, several ounces, in the loft plural cavity, but there was no appearance of inflammation of the pleura. The stomach contained about three ounces of a tbickish fluid, apparently halfdigested milk. The organ was quite healthy. My opinion ia that death was caused by drowning. To the Jury r He was helpless more or less, having lost one leg, so that he would have great difficulty in recovering himself if he fell. I cannot say that he committed suicidp. He might have had a fit. I never saw any symptoms of his having 1 fits. Tho effusion on the brain and pleura was subsequent I o death. The tub is like an ordinary bath. I did not look at the clock when I was called. The jury found a verdict that the deceased died from drowning, but thoir was no evidence to show the state of his mind at the time. They added a rider to the effect that it was desirable that the bath-room should be k6pt locked except when required for use.