ness's opinion that entire abstinence from food is essential to the successful SECT. V. treatment of cholera, and of the typhus fever, which frequently follows it that witness can speak to the marked success which has attended the homœopathic treatment of cholera: that from witness's experience as an allopathist, when connected with a large fever hospital in Dublin, he has frequently known nurses dismissed for allowing patients, in typhus and other fevers, much less pernicious food and in less quantity than that given to the deceased: that witness is perfectly satisfied that serious mischief must have resulted from what was given to the deceased: that any intelligent and honest practitioner of the old school would judge in this particular the same at witness.

William Docksey will testify that he was a patient of Dr. Epps: That he had been treated at Guy's Hospital, but without any benefit: that he had afterwards been treated by a surgeon, in Commercial-road, but became worse: he, in August, 1849, came under Dr. Epps's care, and he improved till Sept. 3rd, when he was much worse again; Dr. E. inquired whether he had had any great trouble to cause him to be worse; he told Dr. E. that he had just buried his daughter, aged 26, who had died of cholera, and one of his grandchildren was lying dead of cholera, and another was dying, if not dead. William Docksey will testify that he stated to Dr. Epps, that the surgeons (two attended) gave the three patients some medicines to stop the purgings and the vomitings, and they never recovered their senses after taking the medicines. Dr. E. told him, on reaching home, to examine the children not buried, and see if they really were dead, as perhaps they were only in a stupor from opium. The same day, William Docksey will testify, he, with his son-in-law, the father of the children, came back to Dr. Epps, and stated that one of the children, namely, Nathaniel Cannon, was alive; although the surgeons who attended the child told the parent, on the Saturday preceding the Monday when William Docksey saw Dr. E., to give the child no more medicine, as it was of no use: that the child's death might be expected every minute: he could not live a few hours. William Docksey will testify that Dr. E. prescribed for the child, and though during the treatment he never saw the child, the child was cured, and is now in perfect health: and that the child took no food but cocoa for seven days.*

William Brewer, Fort-place, Grange-road, Bermondsey, will testify that he has been captain of an East Indiaman: that he has been several times to India that he has seen much of the Indian cholera: that he himself

* Additional particulars of this case are recorded in the Journal of Health and Disease and Monthly Journal of Homœopathy for October, 1849, p. 99. Messrs. Piper, late Sherwood and Co., Paternoster-row.

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SECT. V. was seized with cholera, and his life was despaired of, and that he took nothing but a little liquid food for twelve days, while under treatment.

George Coles, of Clapham-park, merchant, will state: That his wife, while under an attack of typhus fever, abstained from food and took nothing but water, or toast water, for nine or ten days: that at the end of this period, under the impression that the symptoms were sufficiently subdued, she partook of a little beef-tea and bread, but the fever returning, she was again compelled to fall back upon water, and another period of nine or ten days elapsed without her tasting food: that on the subsidence of the fever, beef-tea diluted was administered sparingly, and subsequently bread was allowed, and she then rapidly recovered: that the patient was attended by Dr. Curie, and witness cannot but feel that the treatment pursued by Dr. Curie was judicious, and that but for the strict observance of his rules and instructions, a far different result might have ensued.

The evidence, a rough outline of which has been thus presented, would have completely established the propriety of Mr. Pearce's medical treatment in its general points. After the delivery of such evidence, and after the cross examination which would have taken place, the philosophic character of homœopathy would have been patent. Mr. Davis may thank his good fortune that the case broke down before it required his assistance for pitiable would have been the figure that he would have presented, had he been placed in the witness box. It is to be hoped that the fear he experienced at the thought of being so placed, will have created in him a determination to exercise the precaution of, in future, most carefully considering the opinions he ventures to give, opinions which, in this case, subjected a gentleman to the treatment of a criminal.

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CHAPTER X.-Depositions taken before the Coroner.

It is deemed necessary, in order to complete as far as possible this extraordinary case, and to give all the data necessary for medical men, centuries hence, to have a most full view of the animus existing towards homeopathy at this time, to give the depositions which the coroner put into

court.

Eliza Higgins: I reside at No. 86, Mary-street, Hampstead-road. I am a single woman. I was present at the death of Richard David Pearce

which happened at half-past ten o'clock, on Tuesday the 18th day of Sep- SECT. V tember. He died at No. 86, Mary-street, in this parish. He was taken ill last Saturday week, the 8th day of September, with a violent bowel complaint, and he got worse in the night.

On Sunday, the 9th day of September, he had Dr. Harris to see him, and Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce, the deceased man's brother, saw him also, and took him (the deceased) out of Dr. Harris's hands the same day, and Mr. Pearce then attended deceased himself as a medical man. He is a homœopathic doctor, who resides near Park-road. Dr. Harris called on the deceased three times afterwards in a friendly way, but not medically, and told Mrs. Pearce (the wife of the deceased) in my presence, that he was in great danger.

Mr. C. T. Pearce went on attending his brother as a medical man up to Wednesday the 12th September. Mr. C. T. Pearce, the doctor, then became ill himself, and discontinued his visits, and directed that we should send and let him know how deceased was every day; a friend of the deceased used to call on his brother and state how he was going on, and the brother used to send medicines, but did not see him. The deceased was allowed very little to drink, and not allowed any nourishment except a little thin gruel. He had some beef-tea and arrowroot, but this was after his brother had ceased to see him. I do not know who ordered it.

Mr. Davis, a medical man, saw the deceased on Monday night, the 17th September. He was sent for, because the deceased was much worse. The deceased was continually wanting and asking for food. I have heard the deceased complain every hour in the day of his wanting food; and he said that he was being starved to death; he said this the night before he died, and for some days before he died. And for some days before he died, he made no complaints except of want of food. I heard Mr. C. T. Pearce (the deceased's brother) say to the deceased man's wife that her husband was to have no food.

John Davis: I am a member of the college of surgeons. I was called to see the deceased, Richard David Pearce, on Monday, the 18th day of September, at 9 at night. I found him extremely emaciated and suffering from sheer exhaustion. I immediately ordered a glass of brandy and water and nourishment and medicine. I saw him again at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning, he was then dying. On the previous evening he said he had been starved by the homoeopathic system. I ordered him to have brandy and water, beef tea, and milk.

I have made a post mortem examination, and found the liver and kidneys congested with blood, right side of the heart congested, gall bladder empty, lungs congested: there was no fat. The bladder was empty, there was a small quantity of liquid in the stomach, about an ounce, a brown liquid. I have, with the assistance of my son, analysed a portion of the liquid and found a small quantity of arsenic, but not sufficient to cause death the cause of the death was exhaustion caused by the want of sufficient food and nourishment, and congestion. The lungs were sufficiently congested to cause death: there were no signs to lead me to suppose the deceased had had the cholera; the appearances of the viscera were not such as you meet with in cholera.

Having heard the statement of the witnesses, the progress and illness of the deceased and his medical treatment, and connecting the facts related with the appearances of the body, externally and internally, when I made the post mortem examination, I am still of the same opinion as to the cause of death, namely, the want of sufficient food and nourishment, and congestion.

Jane Pearce (the wife of the deceased man): He was first taken ill on Saturday, the 8th of September; he was relaxed in his bowels. On Ꭱ Ꭱ 2

SECT. V. Sunday morning, the 9th of September, I went for Mr. Harris, who told me it was cholera. Mr. Harris saw him three times, the deceased's brother also came. Mr. Harris saw the deceased in the evening. Mr. C. T. Pearce (the deceased's brother) then went to see Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris did not attend the deceased after that day. Mr. C. T. Pearce told me, he had taken his brother to himself from Mr. Harris, and that he would treat him himself. Mr. C. T. Pearce went on attending the deceased up to the 12th of September, and did not see him after, and told me not to give him anything to eat or to drink, except the medicine. The last time Mr. C. T. Pearce saw the deceased, was on the 12th of September, and he wished me daily to let him know how he was (which I did), and he sent medicines, but did not see the deceased. I asked him if I might give him something to eat, and he said "No, you will kill him." I gave him a little gruel and a little beef-tea, (against the order of Mr. C. T. Pearce), because my husband said he wanted food, and he would have it. On Monday, the 17th of September, I went for Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis came and said he was sinking from want, I gave him what Mr. Davis ordered. On Friday, the 14th of September, he went out into the garden: he was very exhausted when he came in, and was quite light-headed. I gave my husband some food (against the orders of Mr. C. T. Pearce) on Thursday, previous to his death. The food was beef-tea and he kept it on his stomach.

John Hasted: I reside at No. 62, Clarence-gardens, and am a tailor. I have known the deceased man for eight years, his health was good, I saw him on the 11th day of September, he was very feeble, weak, and ill. On Tuesday, the following day, I was sent for to go to his brother. On Thursday, the 13th of September, I went to see the deceased and fancied he was better, and they sent me to see how his brother was, who was ill. I went to fetch medicine from Mr. C. T. Pearce for his brother, twice on Thursday, the 13th of September, and once on each day up to Sunday, the 16th of September. On Thursday, previous to his death, the deceased man asked me to ask his brother (Mr. C. T. Pearce) to let him have some nourishment as he was starving, but his brother refused. Mr. C. T. Pearce said, he must not have beef-tea, and no food but a little arrowroot and gruel: this was on the 13th day of September.

Sarah Payne: The deceased man was my son-in-law. I saw him last alive the day he died, viz., 18th of September. I was sent for on Sunday, the 9th of September, and found he was very bad, and he said he had cramps. I saw him once a-day up to his death. I saw the deceased man's brother, (Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce,) there on Sunday, the 9th day of September. I heard Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce say to the deceased man's wife (Mrs. Pearce), that he was to have no food, this was on Tuesday, the 11th of September. The deceased man said he always wanted food. but his brother Charles did not wish him to take it. On the 12th of September, I gave him a cup of tea and a bit of toast, because he said, previously, "For God's sake do or I shall be dead before the morning." I gave him the tea and toast, and he kept both on his stomach.

Richard Harris: I reside at 43, Gower-street, and am a member of the College of Surgeons. I was called to see Richard David Pearce on Sunday, the 9th day of September, I found him suffering from cholera with cramps, purging and vomiting. I saw him four hours afterwards. I again saw him at 9 o'clock, the cramps and sickness were relieved in consequence. of the medicine I gave him. Mr. C. T. Pearce called in on me the same evening, (Sunday, the 9th of September), and after some remarks said, he should like the homeopathic system adopted with his brother, and in consequence of that, I left the case to him. I was not aware that he was not a qualified man. He asked me to call and see his brother as a friend

which I did, but not medically. I told the brother (Mr. C. T. Pearce) I SECT. V. could not attend professionally in concert with him, inasmuch as I was totally ignorant of the doctrine of homœopathy. On the 10th, 1 saw Richard David Pearce and he was much relieved, and I fancied it was from the medicine I had given him. I gave up the patient at the request of Mr. C. T. Pearce. It was my opinion that the man died from disease. I did not see him professionally after the 9th.

Charles Thomas Pearce on being sworn and duly cautioned said: I reside at 3, Taunton-place, Park-road. I am a medical student and not a member of the College of Surgeons. On the 9th of September, I was sent for to see my brother (the deceased). I found him ill with eramps and purging, and suffering from Asiatic cholera. My brother wished me to treat him. I treated him homœopathically. Mr. Harris consented to give up the case to me. On the 9th, the first day I saw him, he was then in a dying state. On the 10th of September, he was much better but craving for food, which I denied him. I gave him Belladonna and Arsenic. On Monday, the 11th, Mr. Harris saw the deceased, and congratulated me on the deceased's improved appearance. On the 12th, I saw him last, and he was evidently better. On the 14th, at 8 o'clock in the evening, a message came to say he was worse and wandering in his head. I understood he had been into the garden against my orders. On the 17th day of September, a messenger came and a remark was made, that it was a shame I did not see him. I denied him food because he was suffering from cholera.

Henry Kelsall: I reside at 6, Surrey-place, Old Kent-road. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. I profess homœopathic principles. I have been twice round the world and have had much experience in cases of cholera. I was formerly a surgeon in the navy: my opinion is, that no food should be given to a person attacked with cholera, until he is convalescent. I have had patients under my care without their taking food for a longer period than ten days. Arrow-root was wrong to give to a person labouring under cholera. I have had at the lowest number a hundred cases of cholera and have only lost ten patients. Craving for food is a symptom of cholera.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The facts and the views published in this statement will, it is believed, be the means of establishing in the public mind the injustice which has been practised against Mr. Pearce, and through him on homœopathy. They will further demonstrate that injustice recoils on those who practise it. They further exhibit the importance of trial of jury before a properly qualified judge. They further demonstrate that a necessity exists for an appeal to parliament: that as there are no steps which can be taken in a court of law against the deputy-coroner for his proceedings in this matter, the Houses of Commons and of Lords form the great National Court before whom the matter must be brought: and this the Committee of the English Homœopathic Association have decided to carry out and