SINGULAR CAUSE OF DEATH.
On Friday, January 13th, Mr. Wynne E. Baxter held an inquiry at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, respecting the death of Moses Raphael, aged thirty-two years, a commercial traveller, lately residing at Bromley-by-Bow, who died on the previous day in the above hospital. About six weeks previously he complained of pains in his head and also of shivers, and eventually it was decided to remove him to the hospital. Until the last few weeks the deceased had been in apparently good health. He was a wonderful brain-worker, and had kept a set of books most accurately.
Henry Muir Doyle, house-surgeon, stated that the deceased, on his admission, appeared drowsy, and complained of a pain in his head. He continued in that state till the 10th, but at times appeared quite clear-headed and rational. On the 10th, symptoms of apoplexy appeared, and deceased expired at twelve o'clock the same night. Witness said that, since death, he had made a most searching examination of the head and brain. On opening the former, he discovered an abscess in the brain. It was about the size of a turkey's egg, and had evidently been there some time. On removing the abscess, a penholder and nib were found protruding from the top of the right orbital plate. This had produced the abscess, and the abscess had caused death. The holder and nib must have entered the brain by way of the right eye, or through the right part of the nose. It was probable that they had been in there for a considerable time, as the bone had grown over them, and it was with difficulty they were separated. He had examined the eye, but had failed to detect any injury. It was, however, quite possible for such a thing to enter beneath the lid of the open eye, and the wound to heal up, showing no signs of the entry.
The widow of the deceased man was called in, and said that her husband never mentioned to her anything about being hurt by a pen.
The coroner said that the case was the most extraordinary that had ever come before him.—Times.