§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he has received any further information as to the inquest on the child Elizabeth Murray, at Birkdale; whether it is true, as alleged, that neither the father of the child nor any medical man was called as a witness; and whether, having regard to the vagueness of the verdict "Died from natural causes," in a case where the precise nature of the morbid processes ending in death is the point at issue, and to his statement concerning deaths following vacoination, he will cause further inquiry to be made?
THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. LONG)(who replied) (Wilts, Devizes)said: I have been in communication with the Coroner by whom the inquest on the child Elizabeth Murray, at Birkdale, was held, and have received the depositions taken at the inquest. From the evidence of the mother it appears that the father, mother, and the infant slept in the same bed; that when the husband went to bed about midnight the child 1251 was all right, and that about half-past 3 it was found to be dead. The attendance of the father, or of a medical practitioner, at the inquest was not suggested by the jury, the police, or the mother, and the Coroner did not deem it necessary. Neither the Report by the police nor the evidence suggested that the death was in any way attributable to vaccination; and it does not appear to me to be requisite that I should direct an inquiry with regard to the vaccination of the child.