South Yorkshire Times May 27, 1898

Too Much Infants’ Preservative.
Death of a Child at Conisborough
The Mother Censured.

A curious case of the death of a child was investigated by Mr. F. E. Nicholson, district coroner, at the Denaby Main Hotel, on Wednesday afternoon. The child concerned was Thomas Brown, aged seven months, living with its parents in Edlington Street, New Conisborough.

Mr. W. Harrison was foreman of the jury. Inspector Hunt, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, attended the inquest.

The first evidence was that of the father, who stated that he was a miner, and lived at 46, Edlington Street, New Conisborough. The child was seven months of age. The child died last Saturday afternoon at about half-past four in his presence. His wife and Dr. Foster were also in the room. He had been working that day, and he arrived home about twenty minutes past two. When witness got home the child was very ill. Dr. Foster gave it some medicine, and some new milk was also given it. Witness did not know whether the child had any fits or not. The doctor bad attended the deceased for some months. There was some infant’s preservative in the house. A pennyworth was, bought a fortnight ago. 

Angelina Brown said she was the wife of the last witness and mother of the deceased, who was seven months old. It had been a weakly child from its birth. The doctor had occasionally attended it. It was taken worse on Saturday morning between ten and eleven o’clock and Dr. Foster ‘was sent for. He attended and asked if witness had given it anything. She had given it a dose of infants’ preservative out of the bottle (produced) on Friday night about eight o’clock when it went to bed. She didn’t give it any afterwards. The doctor went away and returned in the afternoon when her husband got home. Witness gave the child a little milk. The doctor also gave it some medicine about half-past two. The doctor remained with the child until it died at half past four. She bought a pennyworth of infant’s preservative a fortnight ago, and she gave it a few drops at once without anything with it.

A Juryman: Did you regularly give it this stuff?

Witness: No. air. The baby has never -looked up, since my milk left me. I should not have given it anything if it hadn’t been so cross at nights.

The Coroner read the directions on the infant preservative bottle.

The Foreman: The directions say twenty drops. Do you want us to believe you only gave it two or three drops?

Witness: Yes sir

The Foreman: What nourishment have you given it?

Witness: I have given it infants’ food and milk.

The Coroner: What particular kind?

Witness: Nerve’s food in tins. The doctor said I hadn’t to give it any breed.

The Coroner: Was it insured?

Witness: No. sir.

The Coroner: You are quite sure?

Witness: Yes Sir. None of the children are.

Dr. Foster said that he practised at Denaby Main, and had occasionally visited the child. On Thursday last, about 6 o’clock, the last witness called upon him about the deceased. He called the following morning, having given them some medicine the previous evening. He bad attended it for a .complaint of the intestines. On the Friday morning when he arrived he found the child lying on a seat in the front room. It was very thin and wasted, with sores on the head and was apparently asleep. There was no one in the house, he examined the child and left. He called again on the following morning about 11 o’clock, and found the child lying on the same seat in the front room sleeping, witness having much difficulty to arouse it. He ordered medicine to be given that morning. He called again the same day at 2.30, and remained until the deceased died in the room. The woman confessed that she had given it half a teaspoonful at a time. He cautioned her, but it was too late. He considered she had given it too much. He refused to give a certificate under the circumstances, and he told them to report it to the police.

The Coroner: They have not, done so.

Witness (continuing) said the child had died from an overdose of infants’ preservative and weakness.

The Coroner: Have you attended any more of their children?

Witness: Only a girl about eleven.

A juryman wanted to know whether they had only got a pennyworth of the stuff.

It was decided to send for the man who sold it to them

A juryman asked if the child had had thorough nourishment from its birth.

Dr. Foster said it would not take any effect on in a case of that sort.

Mr Leonard William Stanton said he was a manager for Mr Ward, chemist, New Conisborough. He recognised the bottle, but so much of the stuff was sold he could not tell the time it was supplied in reply to the coroner, witness said there were 6 drams for a penny. Only 20 drops should be given, but unfortunately often more than that quantity was given.

The coroner said there was no doubt that the child suffered from an internal complaint, but death had actually been caused by an overdose of infant’s preservative. Doctor Foster hadn’t a doubt of it. There was no evidence of starvation of the child, the mother having got the food ordered by the doctor.

A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned.

Several jurors were of the opinion that the woman should be censored.

The Coroner: I shall be pleased to censor her in that manner.

The woman was called, and severely censored by the coroner.

The mother said she had only given the child a few drops.

The Coroner: It’s no good saying that; we don’t believe you. There has been gross negligence on your part. We know you have been convicted for cruelty. I shall not allow either you or your husband’s any expenses for evidence.