The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1888-01-28 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

UNQUALIFIED DOCTORS'  ASSISTANTS.  A SCANDALOUS CASE.  On Tiiesday Mr Wynne E. Baxter, Coroner for the Eastern Division of Middlesex, held an inquest itt the Shoreditch Town Hall into the mysterious circumstances attending the death of Caroline Hurrell, 48, domestic servant, lately in the employ of a private gentleman named Slew, of New-cross.—Ann Hurrell, 65, Balyel-street, Hoxton, identified the deceased as her sister. On Wednesday last she came to votness's house to have a rest. She was an unmarried woman. Witness went out, and upon her return found that deceased was ill. She was in the service of Mr Slew, who was a retired tradesman, and 91 years of age. Deceased had been in his service for 21 years, and wanted tn see the last of the old gentleman.— By the Coroner : Deceased was a sufferer from delusions. In service she had once pulled down the blinds, shut the shutters, and blocked up the windows, because she said that somebody was watching her. On another occasion she had taken away all the china and glass. When she came to witness's house she complained of a pain in her spine. There was nothing witness knew of that would drive her to commit suicide. She had a banking account.—Mrs Jays deposed to hearing deceased call out "Ann! Ann!" Witness went to her, and found that she was in great pain. A doctor was sent for, but the assistant only came, and deceased died before the medical man arrived. He came two or three hours after the assistant.—Dr. Smith, 1, New North-road, stated that he went to see the deceased, but upon his arrival found that she was dead.—The Coroner: What was the cause of death ?—Witness: I could not say.—The Coroner : Then whet do you come hero for? I have given my officer instructions not to summons anybody but those who can help in the case.—Witness: There should have been payt-morterm examination. I told the people so.—The Coroner: Who has to order the post•morterns, you or I, sir ?—Witness : But there should have been one.—The Coroner: Don't you dictate to me. You could have found out the cause of death. Witness (excitedly) : I defy any medical man to find that out—The Coroner: You evidently did not try to. I will examine your assistant. James Marriett deposed that he was ',drug dispenser to the former witness. On the day in question he went, in answer to a summons, to see the deceased, and prescribed for her. Dr. Smith was oat at the time.—The Coroner: Are you a registered medical man ? Witness : Not registered. The Coioner : What time did you see the patient? —Witness: At about half - past three o'clock, and Dr. Smith went at about seven o'clock. The Coroner You  allowed three hours to elapse. Did you think the case a serious one ?—Witness: Yes ; a very serious one indeed.—The Coroner: And you let three hours slip. Why did you not summon another doctor when yod yourself were not qualified :'—Witness: I was expecting Dr. Smith in every minute.—The Coroner (severely) : That has nothing to do with the patient's life. You thought the case a serious one, and the people were under the impression that the deceased was being treated by a fully-qualified medical man, and so did not trouble. I think it is scandalous.—Witness : They did not ask if I was qualified.—The Coroner: And you did not tell them that you were not.—Dr. Smith (inter. rupting and addressing the jury) : I wish to say, gentlemen—The Coroner You be quiet, sir.— Dr. Smith: Can 1 speak to you ?—The Coroner: Yes, when the enquiry is over. It is' over and over again that I have cases where people think they are treated by qualified mech. cal men when they are not—Witness: There should have been a post-ritortem examination in this case.—The Coroner: I am not going to waste the parish's money when it can be avoided.— Ultimately the enquiry was adjourned, and the pot-mortem examination was placed in the hands of Dr. Phillips.