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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 22 Feb 1933
Page 7 Column 5
SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP.
SHELL-SHOCK.
CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE OF LABOURER'S DEATH.
INQUEST EVIDENCE.
The death of James LAWRENCE (47), described as a farm labourer, and stated to be a member of a Shepton Beauchamp family, was enquired into by the West Somerset Coroner (Mr. G. P. CLARKE) at Chard on Friday afternoon. The Coroner sat with a jury, of which Mr. F. HENLEY was foreman. P.C. DOUGHTY was Coroner's officer, and P.S. SMITH was also present.
Lavinia PODBURY, nurse at “Sunnylands,” the Public Assistance Institution, Chard, gave evidence of identification, and said LAWRENCE had been an inmate since October of last year. He was kept in the hospital for five days and then transferred to the house. On the ninth of the present month he was transferred to the infirmary again as he was getting worse, and died at 1 a.m. on Wednesday.
Dr. JUPP, of Chard, said he saw deceased when he was admitted to the hospital in October, and he was a very feeble man, and in poor condition. He would say he was suffering from shell shock and delusions. He had never actually heard him call out, but when he was first admitted it was reported to him that he constantly called out “They are coming over” and similar phrases. He was given to understand that the shell-shock was contracted in the Great War. When he was sent back to the Hospital on the 9th of February witness saw him and found he was looking very bad and feeble and gradually becoming worse. He was present at the post-mortem examination made by Dr. CARTER, and agreed that the immediate cause of death was early lobar pneumonia. He was of opinion, however, that shell-shock was a contributory cause, as it made deceased so easily susceptible to an attack of pneumonia.
Dr. Godfrey CARTER, pathologist, gave a report of his findings at the post-mortem examination, and concurred with Dr. JUPP's opinion. He said shell-shock would leave no traces which could be definitely demonstrated in a post-mortem examination, but assuming that deceased had been suffering from delusions and general effects of shell-shock it would make contribution to the cause of death by lowering the state of vitality and power of resistance.
The jury returned a verdict that death was due to early lobar pneumonia and that shell shock contracted during the Great War was a contributory cause.