HBH 1892 Oct 17 MACKINTOSH James INQUEST REPORT An inquest was held at the London Hotel on Saturday, before Mr F.SUTTON, J.P., and the following jury: - Messrs F.E.SAUNDERS (foreman), T.T. M'CARTHY, J.YOUNGHUSBAND, C.ROBJOHNS, M.ROLLS, A.DOBBIE. Sergeant CULLEN conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. The reasons for holding the inquest were a somewhat peculiar one. On Wednesday last, the 12th instant, John Colin MACKINTOSH, a youth 15 years and one month attending the Marist-Brothers' school, went home complaining of pains in the head. He got worse on Thursday and Friday, and on the latter day the parents called in a gentleman who advertised himself as "Dr, J. MACLEOD, C.M., M.D., M.C.P., et L.C.S.," and offers to provide advice and medicine for 5s. The lad died, but the authorities could not take a certificate of the cause of death from the medical attendant, because he was not on the register of persons authorised to prescribe as legally qualified practitioners, and hence an inquest was rendered necessary. James MACKINTOSH, father of the lad gave evidence as to deceased coming home from school on Wednesday last complaining of pains in the head. His mother gave him some aperient medicine, but as deceased got worse they sent for "Dr. MACLEOD" on Friday. The deceased died at midnight on Friday. John MACLEOD deposed that he had resided in NAPIER ten weeks. He was called in to attend the deceased on Friday, the 14th inst. He was unconscious and had convulsions. Witness applied cold water to deceased's head, and ordered ice to be procured for that purpose. Also applied mustard poultices to the calves of the legs, and ordered a mustard poultice to the nape of deceased's neck. The boy was seriously ill, and witness told his parents that another doctor should be called in. Witness was not present when the boy died. By Sergeant CULLEN: Objected to state whether he was a legally-qualified medical practitioner. He would answer nothing except as to the death of deceased. (Gazette notice of medical practitioners of New Zealand shown to witness.) The Coroner, to witness: Sergeant CULLEN'S question is a very proper one and must be answered. The witness stated that he was not aware until a few days ago that he was not on the register, and that he had taken steps to have himself placed on it. He had received a telegram from the Registrar-General a telegram informing him that the Napier Registrar had been instructed to provisionally recognize witness's certificates. The Coroner objected to take that statement as evidence unless the telegram from the Registrar-General was produced. The witness produced the telegram, and stated that it was the telegram he referred to. The Coroner: Then it becomes my duty to read that telegram to the jury (Telegram read.) The Coroner to witness: Do you still say this telegram authorised you to practise as a legally-qualified medical practitioner? Witness said he did regard the telegram in that light. The Coroner: I am surprised at you attempting to mislead the jury in this way. The Registrar-General says distinctly that your name was removed from the register by his predecessor, and that he will leave it so, and that you are not a duly-qualified medical practitioner. The witness admitted that his name was not on the list of practitioners, but said that it was once on the list. His qualifications to be placed on the roll were sufficient. Dr. JARVIS gave evidence as to a post-mortem examination of deceased by himself and Dr. MOORE. Death was due to inflammation of the brain. In reply to a question he said that the treatment of the case by Dr. MACLEOD was suitable. The coroner in summing up said that the evidence plainly pointed to death from natural causes. In reference to the long cross-examination of the witness MACLEOD by Sergeant CULLEN, he was of the opinion that the questions asked were pertinent, for had the witness MACLEOD'S name been amongst those medical men on the list in the Gazette, a certificate of the cause of death would have been accepted from him, and there would have been no need for the inquest. The jury at once brought in a verdict of "Death from natural causes."