Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 23 February 1918

Mother and The Doctor.

At Mexborough yesterday, Mr. Frank Allen held an inquest on Albert Limer, the infant son of Matthew Ernest Limer, miner, of 4, Adams’s Yard, Doncaster Road, Mexborough.

The child died on February 19 of broncho-pneumonia, and the mother, Dora, Limer, declared at the time of death, and also at the inquest yesterday, that death was caused by the medicine prescribed for the child. She described the illness, which commenced on February 8, and ended in death on the 19th. The medicine which was given her for the child by her doctor made the child sick, and she discontinued it on that account. As the child got worse she sent for more medicine, and this sent the child to sleep, and she could not rouse it any more.

Dr. J. J. Huey, Mexborough. who had made a post-mortem examination, said death was due to broncho-pneumonia, and probably the child’s case was hopeless for four or five days before death. He was satisfied from his examination of the body, and from the prescription shown him by the doctor in question that the illness was normal in character, and that the treatment was proper to the case.

The doctor concerned detailed the treatment, advice, and general attention he gave to the, case. Ho explained with regard to the complaint that the medicine made the child sick, that it was expressly intended to make the child sick in order to disencumber the chest and threat of mucus. The later medicine contained a stimulant for the heart.

Witness said he saw the mother after the death of the child. She was in a very had temper, and accused him of killing the child. He told her to report the matter to the police.

The Coroner said he could find nothing in the evidence which suggested either neglect, or error.

The foreman (Mr. T, Venables) said the jury were satisfied that no blame attached to the doctor, and a verdict of “Death from natural causes” was returned.