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LATE INQUEST AT THE ST. FANCRAS INFIRMARY.
748
provided with large venous reservoirs, similar to that which has been stated to exist in seals, sea-divers, and the cetaceous animals.* These reservoirs are placed as near as possible to the chest, but external to it, so as to be exposed to a constant pressure of fluid which surrounds them, and which pushes the blood which they contained across the heart. . 16th. We therefore see, that these animals are obliged to come, from time to time, at the surface of the water, to fill their reservoirs by a new expansion of the chest. Thus we now see, that the true antagonists oX .the muscles of the heart are the inspiratory muscles, and the elastic parietes of the chest, and that contractility alone produces every motion necessary, as well i for circulation as respiration. The cavities of the heart are pumps, whilst the organ taken as a whole, produces, by its motions, the effect-of the piston of a sucking ,pump placed in the middle of the chest; but this piston is hollow, and, by the effect of its position, being forced to dilate, it maintains a continual struggle against the powers which act on it. Moreover, art could never imitate this species of pump, because it could not give active contractility. As physiology is only useful in so much as it contributes to the advancement of science, I shall deduce, from the considerations and experiments already cited, the following pathological propositions :1st. When the contractile force of the heart does not offer sufficient resistance to the power which dilates it, there is a tendency to a morbid dilatation of the cavities of this organ ; and if, on the contrary, this power is tao weak, the heart tends to contract and produce the diminution of its
are clear, but the contraction and the impulse weaker. 6th. Hence, accordingas the one or other of the two sounds is more or less clear, the state of hypertrophia, or atrophia, with or without dilatation of the cavities, can be
dilated, the sounds
accurately
ascertained.
LATE INQUEST AT THE ST. FANCRAS INFIRMARY.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—In THE LANCET of Saturday, Sep. tember 1st, you state your intention of bringing the subject of Lunatic Asylums before your readers, and, by way of commencement, you insert a statement purporting to be an account of the evidence given at an Inquest held at St. Pancras, on the body of Ann Goldstock, a pauper lunatic, who died at the White House, Bethnal-green. An erroneous report of the said inquesthaving appeared in the Morning Herald of the 20th ult, I deemed it necessary to procure a correct copy of the several depositions sworn to on that occasion, and to request the editor to give it insertion, for the purpose of
correcting impressions which might prove injurious to myself and others. This statement was inserted in the Morning Herald of the 25th ult. ; on that occasion I carefully abstained from publishing any remarks, considering the evidence alone sufficient to remedy the unintentional inaccuracies of the reporter. I feel it necessary, however, on the present occasion, not only to insert the statement published in the Herald, for the
cavities. purpose of giving your readers a fair view 2d. The two sounds which the heart of the gross falsehoods and wilful misreprepresents to auscultation, are produced by sentations, which the author of the statethe dilatation of its cavities, and not by their ment in THE LANCET has thought fit to incontraction. troduce, but also to accompany it with a 3d. The first sound, which does not al- few remarks, and some little information ways correspond to the arterial pulsations, concerning the manner in which the inquest is the result of the expansion of the appen- was got up. The readiness you have ever shown to dices, and the- second of that of the ventricles. correct statements prejudicial to individual 4th. In the case of hypertrophia of the character inserted in your columns, induces heart, when its contractions are stronger, me to’request, without fear of a refusal, .the the sounds, intead of being more vivid, are insertion of the following.
more dull; whilst the impulse is I am, Sir, Your very obedient servant, stronger, for the reasons already advanced. 5th. If, on the contrary, the parietes of PIENRY BEESTON. the heart are found thin, and the cavities 12, Old Broad-street, Sep,7, 1827.
much
p.
-
The woman in question, after an illness of about seven weeks, died on the 13th of * was Cuvier, Lee. d’Anat. Comp. Tom. IV. August last, at the White House ; 265 et 274; Haller, Phys. Lib. 4. sect. 2. removed a day or two after to St. Pancras,
tom.
1.
without any notice
beinggiven,
either
to
THE Mr.
Jenniags
INQUEST
ON WARBURTON’S PATIENT.
of the White House, Mr. state of great emaciation and
749
debility.
She
myself, that it was the inten- was not capable of moving without the suption to hold an inquest on the body, and the port of the table (what might be called post-mortem examination was made without crawling along) ; the complaint that she either Mr. Dunston or myself being request- made was, that her bowels had been acted Dunston,
or
ed to be present.
The
impropriety
of
re-
upon twenty
or
thirty
times
during
the
moving the body from place to place pre- course of the day ; that she was prevented viously to the inquest being held, will, I sleeping at night by the noise that was think, be allowed by every body, as well as made by the other lunatics. The question was
the want’ of etiquette and common decency pitt to her whether she had any medical treatmanifested towards the medical attendants ment. She said she had nothin- done for her. of the deceased, in not inviting them to be She was asked if any thing had been given present to judge of the post-mortem appear- to her, and it appeared that a little brandy ances for themselves ; but no, the intention had been given shortly before. She was was, to keep them in total ignorance until perfectly rational during her conversation a verdict of a particular tendency should with witness. She appeared about 50. She have appeared in the public papers ; and said she had been ill three weeks ; conceived had it not been for the coroner’s clerk, who her to be in a dangerous state ; saw her took the trouble to send the summoning on the 30th July ; she was then in bed, officer to the White House, for the purpose and seemed better altogether, and did not of learning who the deceased’s medical at- complain of her treatment. She seemed pertendants were, and for evidence to prove fectly rational. She said, on the 14th of the time of the death of the lunatic, neither July, that she had been with the other lunaof them would have been present ; as it ties in the yard, in the day time. On the was, I only received information of the in- 14th, she ought to have been in bed ; in the quest, in Old Broad-street, at two o’clock state in which she was, she was not fitted to on the day on which the inquest, appointed be about. Understood she was brought out for three, was to be holden at St. Pancras, of bed to see witness ; that she had been and I arrived a few moments before it took sent to bed that morning. Mrs. Jennings, place, and without the slightest opportunity the superintendent of the house, was preof consulting my memoranda, for the pur- sent. Brandy and opium were recommended pose of refreshing my memory with the par- by Mr. Dillon to be given to deceased. Mrs. ticulars of the case. Jennings did not contradict deceased’s The following is the evidence brought statement. It is difficult for witness to say forward at the inquest, and by comparing what was the first cause of her illness. Did it with the statement published in THE not assign a reason as to the cause of her LANCET, your readers will have some op- disease. Said she had been in goo’d health portunity of judging whether the misrepre- previous to coming there. Made no comsentations, &c. are accidental or wilful. plaint of ill-treatment, except that she was
again
shut up without
To the Editor of the MORNING HERALD.
medical
a cause, and as to treatment. Considered that medi-
neglected
cal assistance should have been earlier afHerald:I’ forded her. TT’itness did not consider that inof Monday, the 20th instant, of an inquestflamination had taken place. Did not see her held at St. Pancras, on the body of Ann after the 30th July. Considered her in very Goldstock, being erroneous, and conse- imminent danger the first time witness saw quently injurious to individual character, her. Taking her out of bed on the 14th of and presuming you will feel anxious to cor- July was injudicious. rect such injurious reports, I enclose a copy Beeston-Has attended since the of the several depositions, made on oath, by’ latter end of May, in consequence of the Dr. Sigmond, Mr. Wright, Mr. Dillon, and absence of Mr. Dunston, occasioned by the myself, not doubting but that you will give! illness of his wife, ’11010 deceased. Saw Ann them the same ready insertion you haveGoldstock first about the 15th of June last. About a week after she was attacked with a previously done that of Dr. Roots. I am, Sir, bowel complaint, she had given to her a Your very obedient servant, composition (kept in the house in case of HENRY HENRY BEESTON. BEESTON.accident) of calomel and opium, in the form of pills, and amixture composed of prepared 12, Old Broad-street. chalk and tincture of opium. She continued Dr. George Sigmond-Had never seen ill for about ten days. In two or three days the deceased previous to the 14th of July after, the 2d of July, witness ordered her last; found her at the White House, Beth-, to be taken down stairs for the benefit of nal-green, whither witness went with Mr.the air. As she was in a very weak state, Dillon, at his (Mr. D.’s) request, to visitthe diet that was ordered her was nutritious the pauper lunatics there ; found her in abrotlis, and she had powders composed of
SiR,—The report
in the
-4loi-ning
-
Henry
750 Columba root.
with the About the 15th of July she put I
noisy
lunatics.
At that time
i She made her taken ill with a similar complaint,she was perfectly composed. i in the presence of Mr. Jennings, from the effects of which she never reco-statement i Dr. Sigmond made no further suggesvered. Her diet consisted of port wine andand arrow-root and sago, and brandy diluted with tion as to the treatment of her disease. water for her common drink, She died on Reported the facts to the Directors of the Monday morning last, witness considers of poor of this parish on the following Tuesday, dia7rhwa. ltIlo. Dunston visited her three ti.2)zes and, in conformity with their wish, visited in the course Y’ witness’s attendance. Mr.Cor- her that day, in order that she might be redell, a surgeon, attended there daily, and saw moved to the Parish Innrmary, should she the deceased whenever witness debired. She he in a fit state. Found her in the Incomplained of no bad treatment of the firmary, in a comfortable bed, at the White,
was
again
House. She told witness she had been visited by the medical man, and attended to. She was certainly better in bodily health. Did not consider it safe to move her and, understanding she had a medical man to attend her, witness allowed her to remain. Never saw her before the 14th of July. Was of opinion, that she had not been attended to previous to the 14th. She was not so com. posed in her mind on the 17th. Observed to Mrs. Jennings, on-the 14th, that she ought time. Charles Wm. Wright, of the St. Pancras to be a bed in the Infirmarv. Learned that out that Infirmary, surgeon.-Sent the deceased, on she had been in bed, the 13th of June, 1827, to the White House. day, to be seen by witness and Dr. Sigmond. Saw her once since that time, but not to She said, on the 14th, that she had been in take particular notice. Was asked to ex- the Hall, amongst the other patients. Dr. Roots, of Guildford-street, Russellamine the body of deceased, in conjunction with Mr. Dillon and other medical men. square.-Saw the deceased at the request Examined the body on the 16th. Under- of the Directors of St. Pancras, on the 3d of stood she had been brought into the dead August, at Bethnal Green. Found her in house the night before. A body having been bed very ill, and very weak and febrile, and dead three days, there would be a change labouring under a disease of the externally, but not much internally, but mucous membrane of the intestines, and there was no particular change. Did not probably ulceration had ensued. She was open the body himself. There was inflam- in a comfortable bed, and witness was inmation of a chronic form, and ulceration of formed that she had a medical attendant the intestines. The inflammation might who saw her every day. Was shown a have been existing a length of time, procontaining a mixture, which was bubly before she was sent from the izifirmary. probably chalk mixture, with opium. WitThe post mortem examination proved she died ness was informed that she had beef tea, of inflammatory disease. There was a root, gruel, and four or five glasses of chronic inflammation of the brain, and wine, in twenty-four hours, and brandyland thickening of the membranes. Saw nothing water for common drink. There appeared in the intestinal canal approaching to gan- a verv remote hope of her recovery, and reto the Board accordingly. Did not grene. Thinks that mental affection would produce debility, and that inflammation see her again. Witness suggested to Mr. Jennings, that she should have a litte less might ensue. Garret Dillon.-Saw deceased, for the wine, that the brandy should be omittfd first time, on the 14th of July. She said altogether, and that leeches should be apshe was fifty years old, that she had been plied to the abdomen, and also a blister. very ill since her admission into that house. Was informed she was labouring under a Understood /)’om deceased that she had no severe diarrhaea. medical attendance up to that time. She Mr. Dillon, in his address to the coroner Conwas collected on the 14th of July. sidered she was labouring under an inflamma- and jury, states, the deceased was neglected tion nf the unucous membrane of the intestines, from the commencement of her illness, up to under which witness supposed she had been the 14th of July (the day he first visited labouring some time. She was so sunk and her). Now what ground has Mr. Dillon for debilitated, that witness suggested that a that assertion ?‘l The statement, forsooth, nf the dose of brandy and opium should be given to lunatic herseLf; and without inquiring of the her, and that a medical man should be called medical attendants of the house, whether to her. She was severely purged, and she had been prescribed for or not-he, stated that she had had no sleep, from being poor credulous man, runs with open mouth, Saw the medicine administered to well as the food, several times. Was not present when Mr. Dillon called. Saw her on the 13th of July. She was very weak from former illness ; did not consider her then in danger. Did not see her on the 14th of July. Witness attended on the 15th, at the request of Mr. Jennings. Never saw her confined in one of the straw rooms. Did not consider there was inflammation at any
house.
her,
as
and brought
evidently
bottle
slightiarrow
ported
751 to the parish directors, that my rule was, to judge for myself as far the lunatic asserted, and as I was able ; but that, for information what poor stating adding, that unless proper medical assist- concerning the habit of body, &c., I invaance should be rendered to her, she would riably questioned the nurse in attendance certainly die in twenty-four hours ; and, in upon the lunatic in preference to the lunatic It is true, therefore, that I am not this opinion, he is joined by his friend Dr. Sigmond. So that both these gentlemen, in the habit of placing such implicit confidence according to their own showing, left the in the statements of lunatics as Dr. Sigmond and woman, believing she had no medical at- Mr. Dillon are ; and although these gentletendant, (with only a recommendation, men of course possess greater experience made to an unprofessional person, that she in these matters than myself, I find no should have some brandy and opium, without reasons adduced against the propriety of my stating the quantities,) for the space n,f’ three practice to induce me to alter it: on the days, when it was theirfirm belief she would die contrary, their practice is likely to lead to in twenty-four hours, and without coming to the most mischievous results. inquire, whether the request that a medical For example-A lunatic, of the name of gentleman should be sent for, had been Sharpe, states to me, one moment, that his complied with. I thinlc I may venture to bowels have not been relieved since his adconfront my deposition on oath with the mission (a period of more than two months), statements of a lunatic, ; and if so, it far- and the next, that they have been acted nishes a complete refutation of the charge ten or twelve times a day. upon of neglect up to the 14th of July, (as stated mode of treatment would by Mr. Dillon,) unless that gentleman theQuery-What gentlemen adopt? means to with and a
’few
days after,
herself.
charge himself
this I think his
neglect,
assertions fully substanAnother man states that he has not a drop she was certainly of blood in his body ; according to Dr. Sigtiate ; and, as he says, better in bodily health on the 17th ;" and mondand Mr. Dillon, I ought to perform his friend, Dr. Sigmond, that she was the operation of transfusion. better altogether on the 30th of July ;" their I have also to state, that Dr. Sigmond awn evidence proves she had proper medical aswas not authorised to visit the establishsistance for without it they state she would have ment at all, and was only permitted, out of died in twenty-four hours. courtesy, to accompany his friend Mr. DilAsacontradiction to the assertion, that lon. It is clear, however, from the notes the patients were left solely under my care he took, for what purpose his visit was from May to July, you will find it stated in made, and his subsequent conduct sufEmy evidence that a surgeon attended daily ciently proves it. at the White House, and that Mr. Dunston As to my mistaking the nature of the saw the deceased three times during my atI am content to rest my accuracy disease, tendance. The cause of Mr. Dunston’s abthe evidence of those present at the upon It would have been examination of the sence is also omitted. body ; for what are the b!it fair for the author of the statement in mortem appearances of a " chronic post question to have inserted it. diarrhoea ’!" but inflammation and ulceration The assertion that the pills composed of of the mucous membrane of the intestines : calomel and opium are used in all cnmalaints and neither Mr. Dillon, nor his friend of the bowels, is too insignificant to notice, as Dr. Sigmond, agree as to the time when inwell as the insinuation that I did not know flammation took place. Mr. Dillon states the quantities of the ingredients comprising she was suffering from inflammation on the them. I certainly said I could not swear to 14th of July, Dr. Sigmond not considering the exact quantities without consulting my that inflammation had taken place on the memoranda ; but I stated, to the best of my 30th of that month. belief, that they were composed of about Previously to delivering their verdict, the three grains of the pill of soap and opium, their opinion thatthey had and between one. and two grains of calomel, Jury expressed The been called together unnecessarily. and not the reverse, as stated in THE LANCET. verdict was, simply, " Died by the Visitation They are five-grain pills, composed of three of God." I was present, and heard no imand a half grains of the pill of soap and of neglect. If there was such an opium, and one and a half of calomel ; so putation imputation, it must have referred to Mr. that I was as nearly correct as possible. Dillon, who proved so satisfactorily the That I prescribe, in mancases, ,frnm the inutility of his visits, that a Juror recomreports of the nurses, without examining the mended to the parish the immediate cztrtailment patients, is totally false. I stated, in answer of so unnecessary an expense. to a question from Dr. Sigmond, Whether I consulted the patients themselves, or atown
"
11
"
tended
only
to
the reports of the
nurses
?"
provided with large venous reservoirs, similar to that which has been stated to exist in seals, sea-divers, and the cetaceous animals.* These reservoirs are placed as near as possible to the chest, but external to it, so as to be exposed to a constant pressure of fluid which surrounds them, and which pushes the blood which they contained across the heart. . 16th. We therefore see, that these animals are obliged to come, from time to time, at the surface of the water, to fill their reservoirs by a new expansion of the chest. Thus we now see, that the true antagonists oX .the muscles of the heart are the inspiratory muscles, and the elastic parietes of the chest, and that contractility alone produces every motion necessary, as well i for circulation as respiration. The cavities of the heart are pumps, whilst the organ taken as a whole, produces, by its motions, the effect-of the piston of a sucking ,pump placed in the middle of the chest; but this piston is hollow, and, by the effect of its position, being forced to dilate, it maintains a continual struggle against the powers which act on it. Moreover, art could never imitate this species of pump, because it could not give active contractility. As physiology is only useful in so much as it contributes to the advancement of science, I shall deduce, from the considerations and experiments already cited, the following pathological propositions :1st. When the contractile force of the heart does not offer sufficient resistance to the power which dilates it, there is a tendency to a morbid dilatation of the cavities of this organ ; and if, on the contrary, this power is tao weak, the heart tends to contract and produce the diminution of its
are clear, but the contraction and the impulse weaker. 6th. Hence, accordingas the one or other of the two sounds is more or less clear, the state of hypertrophia, or atrophia, with or without dilatation of the cavities, can be
dilated, the sounds
accurately
ascertained.
LATE INQUEST AT THE ST. FANCRAS INFIRMARY.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—In THE LANCET of Saturday, Sep. tember 1st, you state your intention of bringing the subject of Lunatic Asylums before your readers, and, by way of commencement, you insert a statement purporting to be an account of the evidence given at an Inquest held at St. Pancras, on the body of Ann Goldstock, a pauper lunatic, who died at the White House, Bethnal-green. An erroneous report of the said inquesthaving appeared in the Morning Herald of the 20th ult, I deemed it necessary to procure a correct copy of the several depositions sworn to on that occasion, and to request the editor to give it insertion, for the purpose of
correcting impressions which might prove injurious to myself and others. This statement was inserted in the Morning Herald of the 25th ult. ; on that occasion I carefully abstained from publishing any remarks, considering the evidence alone sufficient to remedy the unintentional inaccuracies of the reporter. I feel it necessary, however, on the present occasion, not only to insert the statement published in the Herald, for the
cavities. purpose of giving your readers a fair view 2d. The two sounds which the heart of the gross falsehoods and wilful misreprepresents to auscultation, are produced by sentations, which the author of the statethe dilatation of its cavities, and not by their ment in THE LANCET has thought fit to incontraction. troduce, but also to accompany it with a 3d. The first sound, which does not al- few remarks, and some little information ways correspond to the arterial pulsations, concerning the manner in which the inquest is the result of the expansion of the appen- was got up. The readiness you have ever shown to dices, and the- second of that of the ventricles. correct statements prejudicial to individual 4th. In the case of hypertrophia of the character inserted in your columns, induces heart, when its contractions are stronger, me to’request, without fear of a refusal, .the the sounds, intead of being more vivid, are insertion of the following.
more dull; whilst the impulse is I am, Sir, Your very obedient servant, stronger, for the reasons already advanced. 5th. If, on the contrary, the parietes of PIENRY BEESTON. the heart are found thin, and the cavities 12, Old Broad-street, Sep,7, 1827.
much
p.
-
The woman in question, after an illness of about seven weeks, died on the 13th of * was Cuvier, Lee. d’Anat. Comp. Tom. IV. August last, at the White House ; 265 et 274; Haller, Phys. Lib. 4. sect. 2. removed a day or two after to St. Pancras,
tom.
1.
without any notice
beinggiven,
either
to
THE Mr.
Jenniags
INQUEST
ON WARBURTON’S PATIENT.
of the White House, Mr. state of great emaciation and
749
debility.
She
myself, that it was the inten- was not capable of moving without the suption to hold an inquest on the body, and the port of the table (what might be called post-mortem examination was made without crawling along) ; the complaint that she either Mr. Dunston or myself being request- made was, that her bowels had been acted Dunston,
or
ed to be present.
The
impropriety
of
re-
upon twenty
or
thirty
times
during
the
moving the body from place to place pre- course of the day ; that she was prevented viously to the inquest being held, will, I sleeping at night by the noise that was think, be allowed by every body, as well as made by the other lunatics. The question was
the want’ of etiquette and common decency pitt to her whether she had any medical treatmanifested towards the medical attendants ment. She said she had nothin- done for her. of the deceased, in not inviting them to be She was asked if any thing had been given present to judge of the post-mortem appear- to her, and it appeared that a little brandy ances for themselves ; but no, the intention had been given shortly before. She was was, to keep them in total ignorance until perfectly rational during her conversation a verdict of a particular tendency should with witness. She appeared about 50. She have appeared in the public papers ; and said she had been ill three weeks ; conceived had it not been for the coroner’s clerk, who her to be in a dangerous state ; saw her took the trouble to send the summoning on the 30th July ; she was then in bed, officer to the White House, for the purpose and seemed better altogether, and did not of learning who the deceased’s medical at- complain of her treatment. She seemed pertendants were, and for evidence to prove fectly rational. She said, on the 14th of the time of the death of the lunatic, neither July, that she had been with the other lunaof them would have been present ; as it ties in the yard, in the day time. On the was, I only received information of the in- 14th, she ought to have been in bed ; in the quest, in Old Broad-street, at two o’clock state in which she was, she was not fitted to on the day on which the inquest, appointed be about. Understood she was brought out for three, was to be holden at St. Pancras, of bed to see witness ; that she had been and I arrived a few moments before it took sent to bed that morning. Mrs. Jennings, place, and without the slightest opportunity the superintendent of the house, was preof consulting my memoranda, for the pur- sent. Brandy and opium were recommended pose of refreshing my memory with the par- by Mr. Dillon to be given to deceased. Mrs. ticulars of the case. Jennings did not contradict deceased’s The following is the evidence brought statement. It is difficult for witness to say forward at the inquest, and by comparing what was the first cause of her illness. Did it with the statement published in THE not assign a reason as to the cause of her LANCET, your readers will have some op- disease. Said she had been in goo’d health portunity of judging whether the misrepre- previous to coming there. Made no comsentations, &c. are accidental or wilful. plaint of ill-treatment, except that she was
again
shut up without
To the Editor of the MORNING HERALD.
medical
a cause, and as to treatment. Considered that medi-
neglected
cal assistance should have been earlier afHerald:I’ forded her. TT’itness did not consider that inof Monday, the 20th instant, of an inquestflamination had taken place. Did not see her held at St. Pancras, on the body of Ann after the 30th July. Considered her in very Goldstock, being erroneous, and conse- imminent danger the first time witness saw quently injurious to individual character, her. Taking her out of bed on the 14th of and presuming you will feel anxious to cor- July was injudicious. rect such injurious reports, I enclose a copy Beeston-Has attended since the of the several depositions, made on oath, by’ latter end of May, in consequence of the Dr. Sigmond, Mr. Wright, Mr. Dillon, and absence of Mr. Dunston, occasioned by the myself, not doubting but that you will give! illness of his wife, ’11010 deceased. Saw Ann them the same ready insertion you haveGoldstock first about the 15th of June last. About a week after she was attacked with a previously done that of Dr. Roots. I am, Sir, bowel complaint, she had given to her a Your very obedient servant, composition (kept in the house in case of HENRY HENRY BEESTON. BEESTON.accident) of calomel and opium, in the form of pills, and amixture composed of prepared 12, Old Broad-street. chalk and tincture of opium. She continued Dr. George Sigmond-Had never seen ill for about ten days. In two or three days the deceased previous to the 14th of July after, the 2d of July, witness ordered her last; found her at the White House, Beth-, to be taken down stairs for the benefit of nal-green, whither witness went with Mr.the air. As she was in a very weak state, Dillon, at his (Mr. D.’s) request, to visitthe diet that was ordered her was nutritious the pauper lunatics there ; found her in abrotlis, and she had powders composed of
SiR,—The report
in the
-4loi-ning
-
Henry
750 Columba root.
with the About the 15th of July she put I
noisy
lunatics.
At that time
i She made her taken ill with a similar complaint,she was perfectly composed. i in the presence of Mr. Jennings, from the effects of which she never reco-statement i Dr. Sigmond made no further suggesvered. Her diet consisted of port wine andand arrow-root and sago, and brandy diluted with tion as to the treatment of her disease. water for her common drink, She died on Reported the facts to the Directors of the Monday morning last, witness considers of poor of this parish on the following Tuesday, dia7rhwa. ltIlo. Dunston visited her three ti.2)zes and, in conformity with their wish, visited in the course Y’ witness’s attendance. Mr.Cor- her that day, in order that she might be redell, a surgeon, attended there daily, and saw moved to the Parish Innrmary, should she the deceased whenever witness debired. She he in a fit state. Found her in the Incomplained of no bad treatment of the firmary, in a comfortable bed, at the White,
was
again
House. She told witness she had been visited by the medical man, and attended to. She was certainly better in bodily health. Did not consider it safe to move her and, understanding she had a medical man to attend her, witness allowed her to remain. Never saw her before the 14th of July. Was of opinion, that she had not been attended to previous to the 14th. She was not so com. posed in her mind on the 17th. Observed to Mrs. Jennings, on-the 14th, that she ought time. Charles Wm. Wright, of the St. Pancras to be a bed in the Infirmarv. Learned that out that Infirmary, surgeon.-Sent the deceased, on she had been in bed, the 13th of June, 1827, to the White House. day, to be seen by witness and Dr. Sigmond. Saw her once since that time, but not to She said, on the 14th, that she had been in take particular notice. Was asked to ex- the Hall, amongst the other patients. Dr. Roots, of Guildford-street, Russellamine the body of deceased, in conjunction with Mr. Dillon and other medical men. square.-Saw the deceased at the request Examined the body on the 16th. Under- of the Directors of St. Pancras, on the 3d of stood she had been brought into the dead August, at Bethnal Green. Found her in house the night before. A body having been bed very ill, and very weak and febrile, and dead three days, there would be a change labouring under a disease of the externally, but not much internally, but mucous membrane of the intestines, and there was no particular change. Did not probably ulceration had ensued. She was open the body himself. There was inflam- in a comfortable bed, and witness was inmation of a chronic form, and ulceration of formed that she had a medical attendant the intestines. The inflammation might who saw her every day. Was shown a have been existing a length of time, procontaining a mixture, which was bubly before she was sent from the izifirmary. probably chalk mixture, with opium. WitThe post mortem examination proved she died ness was informed that she had beef tea, of inflammatory disease. There was a root, gruel, and four or five glasses of chronic inflammation of the brain, and wine, in twenty-four hours, and brandyland thickening of the membranes. Saw nothing water for common drink. There appeared in the intestinal canal approaching to gan- a verv remote hope of her recovery, and reto the Board accordingly. Did not grene. Thinks that mental affection would produce debility, and that inflammation see her again. Witness suggested to Mr. Jennings, that she should have a litte less might ensue. Garret Dillon.-Saw deceased, for the wine, that the brandy should be omittfd first time, on the 14th of July. She said altogether, and that leeches should be apshe was fifty years old, that she had been plied to the abdomen, and also a blister. very ill since her admission into that house. Was informed she was labouring under a Understood /)’om deceased that she had no severe diarrhaea. medical attendance up to that time. She Mr. Dillon, in his address to the coroner Conwas collected on the 14th of July. sidered she was labouring under an inflamma- and jury, states, the deceased was neglected tion nf the unucous membrane of the intestines, from the commencement of her illness, up to under which witness supposed she had been the 14th of July (the day he first visited labouring some time. She was so sunk and her). Now what ground has Mr. Dillon for debilitated, that witness suggested that a that assertion ?‘l The statement, forsooth, nf the dose of brandy and opium should be given to lunatic herseLf; and without inquiring of the her, and that a medical man should be called medical attendants of the house, whether to her. She was severely purged, and she had been prescribed for or not-he, stated that she had had no sleep, from being poor credulous man, runs with open mouth, Saw the medicine administered to well as the food, several times. Was not present when Mr. Dillon called. Saw her on the 13th of July. She was very weak from former illness ; did not consider her then in danger. Did not see her on the 14th of July. Witness attended on the 15th, at the request of Mr. Jennings. Never saw her confined in one of the straw rooms. Did not consider there was inflammation at any
house.
her,
as
and brought
evidently
bottle
slightiarrow
ported
751 to the parish directors, that my rule was, to judge for myself as far the lunatic asserted, and as I was able ; but that, for information what poor stating adding, that unless proper medical assist- concerning the habit of body, &c., I invaance should be rendered to her, she would riably questioned the nurse in attendance certainly die in twenty-four hours ; and, in upon the lunatic in preference to the lunatic It is true, therefore, that I am not this opinion, he is joined by his friend Dr. Sigmond. So that both these gentlemen, in the habit of placing such implicit confidence according to their own showing, left the in the statements of lunatics as Dr. Sigmond and woman, believing she had no medical at- Mr. Dillon are ; and although these gentletendant, (with only a recommendation, men of course possess greater experience made to an unprofessional person, that she in these matters than myself, I find no should have some brandy and opium, without reasons adduced against the propriety of my stating the quantities,) for the space n,f’ three practice to induce me to alter it: on the days, when it was theirfirm belief she would die contrary, their practice is likely to lead to in twenty-four hours, and without coming to the most mischievous results. inquire, whether the request that a medical For example-A lunatic, of the name of gentleman should be sent for, had been Sharpe, states to me, one moment, that his complied with. I thinlc I may venture to bowels have not been relieved since his adconfront my deposition on oath with the mission (a period of more than two months), statements of a lunatic, ; and if so, it far- and the next, that they have been acted nishes a complete refutation of the charge ten or twelve times a day. upon of neglect up to the 14th of July, (as stated mode of treatment would by Mr. Dillon,) unless that gentleman theQuery-What gentlemen adopt? means to with and a
’few
days after,
herself.
charge himself
this I think his
neglect,
assertions fully substanAnother man states that he has not a drop she was certainly of blood in his body ; according to Dr. Sigtiate ; and, as he says, better in bodily health on the 17th ;" and mondand Mr. Dillon, I ought to perform his friend, Dr. Sigmond, that she was the operation of transfusion. better altogether on the 30th of July ;" their I have also to state, that Dr. Sigmond awn evidence proves she had proper medical aswas not authorised to visit the establishsistance for without it they state she would have ment at all, and was only permitted, out of died in twenty-four hours. courtesy, to accompany his friend Mr. DilAsacontradiction to the assertion, that lon. It is clear, however, from the notes the patients were left solely under my care he took, for what purpose his visit was from May to July, you will find it stated in made, and his subsequent conduct sufEmy evidence that a surgeon attended daily ciently proves it. at the White House, and that Mr. Dunston As to my mistaking the nature of the saw the deceased three times during my atI am content to rest my accuracy disease, tendance. The cause of Mr. Dunston’s abthe evidence of those present at the upon It would have been examination of the sence is also omitted. body ; for what are the b!it fair for the author of the statement in mortem appearances of a " chronic post question to have inserted it. diarrhoea ’!" but inflammation and ulceration The assertion that the pills composed of of the mucous membrane of the intestines : calomel and opium are used in all cnmalaints and neither Mr. Dillon, nor his friend of the bowels, is too insignificant to notice, as Dr. Sigmond, agree as to the time when inwell as the insinuation that I did not know flammation took place. Mr. Dillon states the quantities of the ingredients comprising she was suffering from inflammation on the them. I certainly said I could not swear to 14th of July, Dr. Sigmond not considering the exact quantities without consulting my that inflammation had taken place on the memoranda ; but I stated, to the best of my 30th of that month. belief, that they were composed of about Previously to delivering their verdict, the three grains of the pill of soap and opium, their opinion thatthey had and between one. and two grains of calomel, Jury expressed The been called together unnecessarily. and not the reverse, as stated in THE LANCET. verdict was, simply, " Died by the Visitation They are five-grain pills, composed of three of God." I was present, and heard no imand a half grains of the pill of soap and of neglect. If there was such an opium, and one and a half of calomel ; so putation imputation, it must have referred to Mr. that I was as nearly correct as possible. Dillon, who proved so satisfactorily the That I prescribe, in mancases, ,frnm the inutility of his visits, that a Juror recomreports of the nurses, without examining the mended to the parish the immediate cztrtailment patients, is totally false. I stated, in answer of so unnecessary an expense. to a question from Dr. Sigmond, Whether I consulted the patients themselves, or atown
"
11
"
tended
only
to
the reports of the
nurses
?"