DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12964, 18 November 1907, Page 3

DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM.

« At the Hospital on Saturday evening Mr V. G. Day, Coroner, bold an inquest touching the drath of James Robertson, an elderly man, who diod in the institution on Friday night while under chloroform. Dr. Fcnwick gave evidence that at 9.30 p.m. on Friday he received a message to attend an urgent case in the Hospital. Ho gave the message instant attention, and saw Robertson at the Hospital. The man was in very great pain, and presented symptoms of serious abdominal trouble. . An operation was decided upon, tho patient consenting. Witness was assisted by Dr. Mill, while Dr. Barclay administered the antesthetic. The operation revealed cancer of tho stomach, and a strangulation of the intestine, the latter accounting for tho extreme pain. Witness reduced the -strangulation and closed the wounds at once. Tlie patient was given a saline infusion into the veins from the beginning of tho operation in order to assist him in combatting the necessary shock of the operation. The operation lasted from twelve to fifteen minutes. After the wound had been closed and the chloroform laid aside, Dr. Barclay noticed that the breathing was very bad. Every effort was made to restore breathing, but without success. Witness thought that the cause of death was shock due to operation and tho condition of the intestine. Prior to administering chloroform the patient was examined twice by witness and by "Dr. Barclay. There was no sign of heart disease, and no visible reason why he should not ta;ke the antesthetic well. ' If an operation had not been performed the strangulation of tho intestine would have caused death within 36 hours. Dr. Mill gave corroborative evidence. Ho considered that tho operation was urgently necessary. Dr. Barclay 6aid the deceased took the anaesthetic very well, and the pulse increased in volume owing to tho injection of saline. His condition wa6 never alarming during the operation. At the conclusion of tho operation, and when the chloroform had been withdrawn for about five minutes, the patient's breathing became shallowed. Every means of restoration W3S tried for over half on hour, but the patient succumbed. Witness considcreel tlint death was due to 6hock and the nature of the operation. He was of opinion that the chloroform had nothing to do with tho death. Without the operation there was no hope of recovery. The jury returned a vprdict thnt death was due to 6hock following tho operation.