MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 429, 21 November 1930, Page 7

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

INDIAN HERBALIST ON TRIAL THE USE OF INSULIN [Per Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Nev. 20. Tho hearing of a chafge of manslaughter against Abraham Wally Mahomed Salaman, an Indian herbalist, as the result of tho death of a boy of six, Lyall Gordon Christie, of Fordcll, Wanganui, was commenced before the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) today.

The tenor of the four charges was that Salaman, on August 2, caused the death cf Lyall Gordon Christie, thereby committing manslaughter, by omitting without lawful excuse, to perform a legal duty assumed by him in respect of Christie, in that, in attending to, and proscribing for him, he failed to have, bnd to use, reasonable skill.

Opening the case for the Crown, Mr C. H. Weston, said the difference between the accused and a medical man was that Salaman could no* call himself a doctor, and could not sue for fees. Apart from these facts there was nothing to prevent him from treating anyone for reward, but, if a man held himself out as a person skilled to treat people he was liable both for damages and, in tho criminal court. That ap plied to a doctor as well as to anyone else. It was the duty of the jury to help the public because people in illhealth would clutch at any straw and icok fur short cuts to health. Prior to 1921, continued Mr Weston, diabetes in children was a fatal disease, deaths being hundred per cent. Then insulin was discovered and tho percentage of deaths had been reduced to one per cent. The boy Christie’s case was diagnosed as diabetes. When he was three he had been treated in the hospital at Wanganui and by various doctors at Wanganui. He later wont to school. Then Mrs Christie heard of Salaman and camo to New Plymouth. She told him the boy had diabetes and was being treated with insulin. Sala man, in response to her request, told her that if they could get insulin out of his system he would treat him. He used a stethoscope on the boy’s neck which, it was contended, was 1 mere mummery to impress people with implicit faith in Salaman. Mrs Christie discontinued insulin injections. Next morning the boy did not want to get up. He could not walk stcadilv, vomited and complained of pains. Mrs Christie went to Salaman and explained that insulin had been stopped. “The boy was crying for water, the insulin had gone and sugar was piling up in the boy’s blood,” said counsel. “Later in the day Salaman ordered the boy to be given not more than a pint of milk in 24 hours. During the night the boy stopped asking for drink and was restless. Later, ho could not speak and, in the morning, could not swallow. Early in the morning'Mrs Christie sent a message to Salaman to say the boy was worse. He sent back a message to give the boy half a dose of insulin.” “That was a complete change of front,” said Counsel. Salaman did not bother to go across the road to talk to the mother end tho Crown’s case alleged as much want of care as want of skill. Later the boy was given a quarter of a dose of insulin, but died that afternoon.”

Continuing. Mr Weston said that medical evidence would say the boy could have been saved by larg' doses of insulin, water and sugar. Mrs Chris tie sent a message to say she thought the boy was dying and Salaman sent a reply, “I can’t go over. I am not taking the case.” Mrs Christie gave evidence on the lines of counsel’s opening address and the hearing adjourned until to-morrow.