The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-05-18 00:00:00

Corrosponbrue.

WATERING THE STREETS.
the Editor.

Permit ma through- tie--m-e-rii-UM of your colummi to
remind the Town Council that dry weather has set in, and.
as • natural consamenco, that tlto streets of Fordington
are dusty and require watering.
By all means let this be done from the hydrants as pro-
posed by Mr. Alderman Galpin if then are sufficiently
numerous awl the hoes of sufficient length but if "it
then i(her IMAM should be adopted, such as reducing the
quantity pour nt over the i•treeuiof Dorchester, and thus
giving the cart time to perambulate Forlington, or, as was
done last summer for a short time, by the employment of
an extra horse and cart.
I have no desire to add to the demands upon the rates,
but fail to see the 'iistire or honesty of compelling me to
contribute towards the cost of watering the xtmte of the
town, while six days out of seven I len compelled by the
dust to keep my windows closed.
I have no doubt Forlington people measured against the
respectability of the inhabitants of the other parishes in
the borough, are a bad low set, but then the respectable
people should be above compelling u.s Pariahs to con-
tribute towards the cost of watering their streets without
giving a quid pro quo.

A FORDINOTON MAN.

THE LATE INQUEST. AT. PORTLAND I'RISON.

To the Editor.
Will you allow me to make a few remarks in your
valuable journal on the above case.
I have read a report of the evidence given before the
Jury, in your issue of the 7th inst., and am at aloes to
understand how these gentlemen should have held Dr.
Bernard to le alone to blame in the matter: in common
fairness to this gentleman I would therefore ask you and
your realers to look carefully over the evidence given at
the inquest..
It appears that on the :10th March lArmont complained
of illness to I h. Bernard, and was advised by that gentle-
man to present himself before the medical officer on duty
at 12 o'clock, which I am informed is the regular hour for
the emplaning sick to appear before that officer.
Lamont appeared before Dr. Mclaten who was on duty.
and this gentleman gave him medicine, "but," (I quote
from your report) "as lie only complained of a 1,101 pain
he did not consider him sufficiently ill to go into the
Infirmary."
Now you most bear in mind, sir, that Larmont unques-
elonably died of consumption. and I have no doubt that
' you, ti xsether with a great number of your readers, have
had the misfortune of seeing arid knowiog friends, per-
haps is stations, who have suffered and died from this most
distress sing of diseases, and you may know, as it is com-
monly known, that there is little or no pain in consump-
tion; therefore was Dr. McLean justified in sending a
patient (although he was • convict) to work in • quarry in
• bitterly cold north-east wind? Is Dr. Barnard to be
blamed for this inhuman treatment? McLean, in his
evident e, shields himself by saying, "I saw him on the
30th at noon, and I knew he had diarrhcca, and treated
him fo r pain after it had been checked. If I had con-
sidered him unfit for work I should have detained him ; I
must, therefore, have cutwidt red him fit for work."
Then e one., "tlO WM nut • thdi emaciated man." 1)oes
Dr. Mc Lean know that diarrlwea is one of the symptoms
of appr }aching death in consutuption? If he does not he
surely , ,ught to, a+ a medical mall.
1 hare had the misfortune of losing three very dear
feends of coneumption, and in every case diarrhow set in
be fore , teeth, and I have always been given to understand
by nied ical men that it is a very serious symptom.
Agate, lilt fair that Dr. Bernard should be blamed for
Dr. McLean's treatment? When on the Monday follow.
iii 4, afts !I' the deceased had been scut in by the warder on
the Saturday am unfit for work, the warder evidently
kit owing wore of Warner, than the medical man hiinself
lh Ben Lord asbuitted the man into the infirmary, and his
co mplai its seem to have Into made of, his treatment
pr to this, but it doe+ not appear to have been asked if
Le Cutup kneed of Dr. McLean, although he was questioned
as to whether he had any complaint to make against Dr.
At khatn,. and Dr. Bernard it seems has to hear the blame
nc t only of his own treatment of deceased, but also of
lifcL eon's. At the adjourned inquest Dr Clarke, of
ntonville Prison, distinctly stated that there was infla-
te. ition in the bowels, which was ouch as would be found
in a person suffering from diarrhow associated with con-
so L Was Dr. McLean justified is sending •
main in such a condition to work in a quarry in a
north-eagerly wind I or are we to believe that
th's get tleman did not really know what the man
was Bull ering from, but thought it • simpie case
of diary) 'tea, and nothing more If so, and I see no
other wa y out of the difficulty, is Dr. Bernard to be cen-
sured for another moan's maltreatment / In justice to Dr.
Bernard I think all these facts ought to have been taken
into Coll sideration at the inquest, and that the blame
ought to have leek at least equally divided between the
two med ical men who together boil the management of
this con vict's case, and not be thrown solely upon the
shoulder s of a man, who, however much he may have
erred, is not alone in this rase. Dr. Clarke also contra-
dicts Dr. MeLeatis statement 5, to the tuan's emaciatien,
for he is ys in his evidence ( ride Telegram) that Lamont
"Was not a thin emaciated man." 1 t0h.11,1 also like to
ask why i larmont c,omummicntsrl to lose Shish, and aloi if
he sulk..ed frum cootth and spitting when seen on the
311th T (arch by Dr. McLean
EmaIl:;, allow time to call your attention to the fact that
Dr. Ben lard as Assistan4Surgeon to the priaon has his all
at stake in this enquiry : whereas, Dr. Mclsnin, as • civil
surgeon, ha' really nothing to lose, and therefore I must
say I cot ashler lie would have been acting in a far better
manner to Dr. Bement if he had frankly confessed his
, share in the matter, and nav tint he left the whole blame
to
I be borne bv the sheultlers of hr. Bernard which seem
already to be overloaded.
Weyh meth, May 110. 1871

AN IArAIiONAL VisiTOU.