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

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    causes,that witness would not venture to state anyone in particular. The body was so emaciated that the muscles could he seen through the skin. Mr. Headland then gave it as his own opinion that death had been caused by hsemorrhage, caused by ulceration of the ileum and caecum, but that disease could not possibly be attributed to any particular cause with any degree of certainty. Dr. Roots and Mr. Hancock concurred in this opinion. Mr. Wakley said, that, now that the cause of death was ascer- tained, the inquiry could proceed no further. The reason of his holding the inquiry was the numerous letters, anonymous and otherwise, which he had received, demanding an inquiry; and he was compelled to comply with the demand, as a case of starvation was alleged. If a man starved a dog or a horse, the law could not interfere; but with a human being the case was different. It re- mained for them to decide whether they would make any addition to their verdict of “ natural death ** which they must certainly . return. Mr. Wakley and Mr. Mills then left the room, with all other persons who were not on the jury, and after remaining in con- sultation for an hour and a quarter, The jury re-opened the court, and the foreman read the following verdict:—“ The jury are of opinion that Henry Cordwell died from exhaustion, caused by loss of blood from the intestinal canal, produced by natural disease : and in complying with what the jury believe to be their bounden duty, in returning their verdict in strict accordance with the sworn evidence of the medical gentlemen who have been called as witnesses, the jury cannot refrain from expressing the strongest feelings of disgust and indignation, at hearing it proved by the testimony of the nurses, that the afflicted gentleman had been cruelly exposed to a system of starvation, while in a state of the most extreme debility, during at least ten days previous to his death ; he having, during that long time, been allowed nothing but cold water, by the advice of his medical attendant.”