Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 12 Aug 1908
Page 5 Column 5
INQUEST ON A CHILD.
Mr. T. Foster BARHAM held an inquest at the Taunton and Somerset Hospital on Tuesday afternoon concerning the death of Alice May OATEN, aged three months, daughter of Walter Edward OATEN, of 8, Bishop's-square, Duke-street. - Edith Eliza OATEN, the mother, said when the child was three months old it was taken to the Hospital for treatment. She had fed her on milk and water and bread until that time. She was told to feed it on milk and water. In addition to milk and water she fed it on pearl barley and biscuits. On Saturday and Sunday the child gradually got worse, and she sent for Dr. MacDONALD, who said he could not attend, as it was out of his district. The child was taken to the Hospital, and died before the doctor saw it. - Dr. EVANS, house surgeon, said he saw the child at the Hospital. It had apparently died recently. He had made a post-mortem examination, and found the child a little under weight for its age. There was a large thymus gland in the neck, which was sufficient to cause death. - In answer to a juror, witness said he could not swear that the child died at the Hospital. - The Coroner said in that case he could not allow the fee for post-mortem examination. - Alice BERRY, wife of Charles BERRY, of 42 Silver-street, gave evidence of taking the child to the Hospital, where it was seen by the doctor. The child was alive when they reached the Hospital, and they waited ten minutes before the doctor came. Directly the doctor came into the room witness head the child breath. - The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes.”