Mexborough and Swinton Times May 24, 1929

Fatal Fall.

Thurnscoe Boys Death from Blood Poisoning.

An inquest on James Jest, aged 6, who lived with his parents at 27, King Street, Thurnscoe, was held by Mr. W. Carlile, at the Montagu Hospital on Friday. The little boy died at the hospital on May 15th. Evidence was given showing that death was primarily caused by a graze on the knee.

Harry Jest, father of deceased, gave evidence of identification, and said he brought the boy into hospital on May 8th, with a sore on his knee. He had not complained, but it had been caused in play with other children. It was just a graze. Witness did not know how it occurred. The knee was washed, and ointment was put on, and the knee was bandaged.

On Sunday, May 5th, the lad complained that his foot hurt and on the next morning he was taken to a doctor at Thurnscoe. The doctor asked the boy to walk round the room, and told his sister, aged 17, that he would be all right next day. The calf of the leg started to swell, and fomentations were put on. The doctor said he did not think the leg was so bad. The next day the doctor came, saw the boy, and told witness to have the boy conveyed to hospital.

He was taken to the hospital on the Wednesday. Deceased had an abscess on the right eye when six months old, and had not since had any complaint.

Dr. Dorothy Colver, house surgeon at the hospital, examined deceased when he was received at the hospital. The temperature was 103. The right leg was swollen and very tender from the knee downwards.

There were several sceptic scars on both knees. There were sties on the left eye.

Evidently the child had fallen down, and he suffered from inflammation of the marrow of the bone. He was operated on the same evening. The operation was to clean the marrow of the bone. From that time the temperature rose. It was quite evident that the blood was poisoned. Three days before the child died his heart was affected and he died from toxaemia, which was primarily due to an infection of the blood, which was caused by the injury to the knee.

The Coroner recorded a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.