GIRL'S COLLAPSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 3

GIRL'S COLLAPSE.

IN DENTAL SURGERY. VERDICT OF MISADVENTURE. NO ONE HELD TO BLAME, (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAUMARUXUI, this day.

An inquest concerning the death of Jessie Isabel Flctt, aged 15, who collapsed and died on Friday when recovering from an anaesthetic after having some teeth extracted by Mr. 0. H. Eurtenshaw, dentist, was held to-day.

Evidence was given that after the extraction of the teeth the patient showed a good recovery, and Dr. W. E. Fisher, who administered the anaesthetic, left the dental rooms. About eight minutes aiter the doctor had left, deceased's breathing weakened and she showed signs of collapse. The usual restorative measures were applied, and

the doctor was recalled. Dr. Fisher arrived in a few minutes, but though artificial respiration was carried on for an hour, the girl failed to recover. Dr. Fisher said that he examined the girl carefully before the anaesthetic was administered, and she appeared well and unperturbed. She took the anaesthetic well, and was recovering satisfactorily when he left to attend another case. Doctors E. H. Howard and Anthony Bradford said that a post-mortem examination revealed that deceased had a definite enlargement of the thymus gland, a condition which, in a girl of her age, could not possibly have been determined by an external examination. In the case of a young adult in thin condition there was always a danger of sudden death under an anaesthetic. The coroner, Mr. A. S. Laird, returned a verdict that death was due to a pure misadventure, due to heart failure associated with the presence of an enlarged thymus gland, the doctor and dentist concerned having taken every care and precaution.