MR. OWEN LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the report of an inquest held on Monday July 19th, before Dr. Hardwicke, Coroner for Central Middlesex, and Dr. Danford Thomas, his deputy, on the body of Emma Jane Plain, aged nine months, when the jury returned the following verdict:—
That Emma Jane Plain died from the mortal effects of diarrhœa, and that such death was from natural causes; but the jury desire to draw attention to the fact that the deceased received medical treatment at a dispensary in Copenhagen Street, where medicines were administered by an irresponsible unqualified medical practitioner. The jury further wish to add that a dispensary under unqualified medical men, and under the management of irresponsible persons, must be fraught with danger to the community.Whether it is legal for such unqualified persons to administer medicines and visit patients as the proprietor of the dispensary in Copenhagen Street admits having done; and, whether some steps 1909 should not be taken to prevent the poor being imposed upon by such persons?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, Ms attention had been called to the inquest in this unfortunate case. The law in regard to this matter was much discussed at the time of passing the Medical Acts, and the law now was, that if an unqualified person held out in any form or shape that he was a qualified practitioner, then he was liable to punishment, otherwise not. The subject was one which came within the province of the Lord President of the Council, and he (Mr. Cross) would bring it to his attention, so that he might consider the whole case.