Verdict of coroners' juries : the case of the late Mr. Cordwell / by P. F. Curie.

  • Curie, Paul Francis, 1799-1853.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Verdict of coroners' juries : the case of the late Mr. Cordwell / by P. F. Curie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    much cold water, he said that it was very refreshing, and he was ordered to take nothing else. He said that he would conaply with the rules laid down by his medical attendant, as his life was at stake. When Dr. Curie was with him in presence of witness, he desired the deceased to continue the medicine and the spring M'ater. Mr. Wakley.—Can you remember the exact words he said! Witness.—I think I do. He said, “ Nurse, continue the medi- cines for Mr. Cordwell, and also give him the spring water as usual.” Witness asked him if the water might have the chill off, or have a piece of toast put into it. Dr. Curie said “ No.” Wit- ness then said that it was too bad to give a sick man nothing but water. Dr. Curie then said that she might take the chill off it. Witness did not hear of any haemorrhage while she was there. He was quite collected and rational. Mary Griffiths stated, that she was a widow, and was engaged as a nurse to Mr. Cordwell. She had not been a nurse before that time. Witness went to him at 4 o’clock on Monday even- ing, and continued to attend him until the Friday following at half-past 8 o’clock. No one else but witness was in attendance on him. He did not take any food during the whole time that witness was in attendance upon him. There was nothing put into the cold spring water that he drank. He got still weaker while ■witness was there. Pie always refused to take food, saying that it was against the doctor’s orders. Dr. Curie used to visit him, and, on the occasion of one of these visits, Mr. Cordwell asked Dr. Curie how long he was to remain in that state. Wit- ness understood this observation to refer to the length of time that he had been kept without food. Dr. Curie said, “About two days longer. No person offered him food while witness was there. Cannot say whether Miss Sharpe did so. On Friday morning, the deceased was so weak that Dr. Curie ordered him to have some toast in his water. Witness left at half-past 8 o’clock on Friday evening. By a Juror—Pie did not eat the toast that had been put in the water.