The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23 00:00:00

FATAL EierECTS OF THE HEAT IN
LONDON.

Dr. Wynn Westcott held a series of inquests on
Saturday on the bodies of persons who had died sud-
denly from the effects of the heat. The first, at the
Holborn Town Hall, was upon Samuel Rich, aged 62,
a clothworker and packer, who left home in his usual
health at six o'clock in the morning, and was brought
home the same afternoon in his employer's van, and
complained of a pain in his head and chest. He died
in half an hour. Dr. Gould stated that upon making
a post-mortem examination he found most of the
organs diseased, the heart principally so from fatty
degeneration. No doubt the great heat had caused a
depressed action, producing syncope.
The second inquest was at the Clerkenwell Coroner's-
court, as to the death of Joseph Griffin Smith, aged
44, a jeweller, living at No. 1, York-cottage, Islington-
green. The widow stated that when her husband left
home at half-past one on the day in question he
complained of the great heat. She -did not again see
him alive. Edward Wilford said the man suddenly
jumped up from his seat at his bench and, giving a
sort of spasmodic gasp, fell on his back on the floor
quite dead. Dr. Ryan deposed to making a post-
mortem examination and finding the heart enlarged
and fatty. Death had resulted from cardiac apoplexy,
or rupture of the heart.
. .

The third inquest held at the Islington Coroner's-
court was on the body of Charles Sparks, aged 52, of
17, Upper-street. Frank Mainbridge, a plumber,
stated that at three o'clock on Wednesday the de-
ceased was at work when he suddenly complained of
feeling ill, and was seized with a fit, and he died at
half-past five. Dr. Chalmes said he found Sparks
had lost the power on one side, evidently from a fit
of paralysis, which immediately preceded apoplexy,
from which he died.

Another case at Islington was that of George
Frederick Cook, aged 5 years, the child of a horse
dealer living at 103, Alton-road. Hannah Garman,
nurse to the child, said that on Wednesday afternoon
he took in the milk and went into the back room.
Directly afterwards she heard a fall, and on going
down found him on the floor dead. Dr. Lane said a
post-mortem examination showed excessive congestion
of the brain and membranes. No doubt it was the
heat, and when at the door he must have received a
sunstroke. It was excessively hot on that day, and a
momentary exposure was sufficient. In each case the
verdict was "Death from natural causes."
On Saturday morning, at about half-past ten
o'clock, whilst consulting Dr. Tickler, at his consult-
ing-room, 55, King Henry's-walk, Ball's Pond-road, a
man suddenly died. It appears that he belonged to
the Order of Foresters, and had gone to the house to
ask the doctor to write out a certificate, enabling him
to participate in the benefit fund. The doctor had
just written it when the man slid forward off his
chair and fell to the floor. In spite of powerful
restoratives which were promptly administered life
was found to be extinct. The man's name was -Tames
Pullen, and his age 50. All his children are said to
be dead, and his wife also predeceased him in Jan.
last. The body was removed to the Islington mortuary.
Death is said to be due to heart disease, accelerated
by the extreme heat-

On Taesday, at Guy's Hospital, Mr. bamuet r.
Thngham held an inquest on the I,ody of a beer-
house-keeper, named William Bennett, aged 33, late
of the Roebuck, Brady-street, Whitechapel. John
Turner, proprietor of the Coopers' Arms, White-
street, Bethnal-green, stated that he accompanied the
deceased to Yarmouth by boat on Tuesday week for
a change of air, and, after landing, the deceased,
owing to the sensation of the rocking of the vessel.
grew dizzy and fell, striking his head against the
kerbstone. He bled very much, and was attended to
by a doctor at Yarmouth, but on Friday it was
thought advisable to bring him home. He seemed all
right till they reached Blackwell, when he was seized
with a fit, and was got to Guy's Hospital as
soon as possible. Mr. John Howard Champ, house
physician, deposed to the fits continuing, and to death
taking place on Saturday morning. He attributed
the death to the effects of the hot weather upon the
deceased's general condition of body rather than to
the fall, as the blood vessels of the brain and body
were all in a bad condition. Verdict accordingly.
Mr. W. Carter held an inquest at St. Thomas's
Hospital on Tuesday on the body of John Gurton,
age 34 years, late waiter and potinan at the Coronet,
Westminster-bridge-road. The deceased, who was
identified by his brother, Walter Gurton, a pawn-
broker's salesman, of 222, Wandsworth-road, had
lately complained of pains in his chest, and on Sunday
afternoon last was noticed by Mr. Joseph Thomas,
the manager of the establishment, to bs more than
usually unwell. After the house was closed deceased,
who lived out of doors, hailed a cab, directing the
driver to proceed to 54, Tyer-street, Vauxhall. Upon
reaching there the deceased failed to get out of the
vehicle, and the driver found him insensible on the
seat. Deceased was removed to the hospital, where
life was declared extinct. Dr. Charles David Green
deposed that death was due to heart disease, accele-
rated by the intense heat. A verdict in accordance
with the medical testimony was returned.