DR. HADWEN ACQUITTED.

Wairarapa Age, 31 October 1924, Page 5

DR. HADWEN ACQUITTED.

ANTI-TOXIN CASE. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE FAILS (Received 5.5 p.m.) London, Oct. 29.—There were wild scenes at the close of the Hadwen trial. When the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty, load chrers broke out in the crowded court, such as rarely are heard in a court of justice. The officials were powerless to stay the outbreak. A larger crowd outside vociferously demonstrated when they heard that the doctor had been acquitted. Dr. Hadwen, in a series of answers to the Judge, declared that he did not believe in the efficacy of the antitoxin treatment. The injection of poison and horse blood into ths human body was unscientific and contrary to nature. He discarded the whole germ theory of disease as unscientific. Mr Justice Lush: If a majority of doctors favour antitoxin! Official statistics show that it reduced the diphtheria death rate by one-third. Does not this make your responsibility/ the heaviest! Dr. Hadwen: The whole profession once favoured bleeding.—(A. and N.Z.) (At an inquest on a child at Gloucester the jury by nine to three returned a verdict of death from diphtheria and pueumouia and found that Dr. Hadwen, who was stated to have treated her for tonsilitis, failed to show competent skill and special attention, in consequence of which the child died. The Coroner committed Dr. Hadwen for trial.)