From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 16 March 1901. Price 1d.

DEATH OF AN INFANT FROM MEASLES.

The City Coroner (Dr. T. S. Johnson) held an inquest on Tuesday afternoon at the “Nightingale Inn,” New Ruttington Lane, Canterbury, on the body of James Hammett, aged 17 months.

Bridget Hammett, wife of Benjamin Hammett, living at 49, New Ruttington Lane, stated that deceased was her child. It had had very good health from its birth. On Wednesday it was taken ill and on Friday it came out in red blotches. Witness sent for a doctor on Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, but as he did not come she sent for another doctor.

In answer to the Coroner, witness said she did all she could for the child. She did not think the child would require a doctor. The child died at 6 o'clock in the evening.

Emily Read, dealer, living at 20, New Ruttington Lane, stated that at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning she was called to look at the child. Witness advised the mother to send for another doctor.

Mr. H. O. Preston stated that at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon he was called to see the deceased, who was said to be choking. Witness went immediately and examined it and found it suffering from acute bronchitis. He asked the mother if the child had been suffering from measles and she said it had. He gave directions as to the care of the child. He then left the house and returned about an hour afterwards. He found his directions had been carried out, but the child was very bad and sinking. He was informed at six o'clock that the child had died. The cause of death in witness' opinion was measles complicated by acute bronchitis.

The Coroner, in summing up, said the mother ought to have called in a medical man earlier. Mothers ought not to attend themselves to their children when suffering from measles, but should have the advice of a doctor. Sending for a doctor when a child was about to die was simply trying to get a certificate or passport for the cemetery.

The jury returned a verdict of Death from Natural Causes.