Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Saturday 12 March 1932, page 2


FATAL SNAKE BITE

TENSE SCENE AT INQUEST Doctor's Treatment

Questioned

SYDNEY, Friday.

A tense atmosphere developed in the Goslford Court this morning when the Coroner (Mr. W. Kirkness) open-ed the inquiry into the death of Ray-

mond George Barham, 13, who was bitten by a snake on March 7.

As a witness was about to enter the courtroom, the mother of the de-ceased who was standing outside, cried out: "Don't speak to me; you killed my son."

Evidence was given that when the boy was bitten by the snake, he was taken to the home of an ambulance officer who applied a ligature. He

was then taken to the doctor.

The father of the dead boy, Henry Barham, told the coroner that Dr. Robinson said that people did not die from snake bites, and told him to take the ligature off.

Ernest Freeman, ambulance officer, declared that Robinson told him that black snakes were not venomous and if the ligature were not removed it would cause paralysis.

In the witness box the doctor stated the boy's leg was very black, but there was no object in leaving the ligature on. He denied he said that snake bites were not venomous.

Dr. Sydney Dwyer, of Gosford, said he gathered that the ligature had been on the boy's leg for half an hour.

Sergeant Lake asked should the liga-ture have been removed in half an hour.

Dr. Dwyer: No. According to Dr. Kelleway, it should be released or a minute after half an hour and then tightened for another quarter of an hour and so on for two hours.

Replying to the coroner, who asked if everything had been done properly, Dr. Dwyer replied that he would have left the ligature on for two hours.

The Coroner: Which is right?

Dr. Dwyer: I think my treatment is right.

He added that he had never heard of a case in which the doctor removed the ligature in half an hour.

The coroner, in returning a verdict of death by snakebite added "That's

all."