Volume Eleven - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - some more aspects - Random Rants, Notes and Articles No. 1 . . .

1861 - Another report of the death of Mr. C. H. Leigh was published within the British Medical Journal.

1861 - Death from Swallowing "Hawkin's Embrocation" - An inquest was held lately at Penarth, on the body of Mr. C. H. Leigh, of Pontypool Park. The valet of the deceased stated, that on Friday, the 27th ult., he went into the bedroom occupied by the deceased, who had been ailing for some time, to give him his medicine. There were two bottles standing on the mantel-piece, one empty the other nearly full. The witness took the latter to his master, who told him to measure out three tablespoonfuls. This being done, Mr. Leigh drank off the dose. He immediately squirted it out, exclaiming, "Good God, you have given me the wrong medicine."

The witness put on his spectacles, and then saw that the bottle contained "Hawkins's Embrocation ", a medicine for external application only. Mr. Essex, surgeon, Pontypool, arrived shortly afterwards, and administered an emetic. Other medical gentlemen were called, but their endeavours to restore the unfortunate gentleman were ineffectual ; he expired at half-past 2 on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Payne stated that the liniment was a deadly poison if taken internally ; it would act by causing the destruction of any tissue it came in contact with, and by exciting inflammation of the surrounding parts.

He was of opinion that death had resulted from its effects. The jury found accordingly, that death resulted from the effects of poison accidentally administered. - British Medical Journal [1207] [499] 12th October 1861.