A HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14344, 2 May 1912, Page 8

A HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

(PEES 3 ASSOCIATION IFXFCR\M.'» UNUSUAL COMPLICATION I FOLLOWS OPERATION. AUCKLAND, May 1. Some rathor startling statements ivcro contained in a letter from tho Auckland Tramways Sick and Accident, Fund Society, which came before tho j Hospital and Charitable Aid Board at j its meeting to-day, concerning the re- j cent dcatli of one of the Society's members in the Auckland Hospital. The letter set forth the tact thai. the patient in question went, into the institution on .March 14th, suffering from appendicitis. He was operated on the same day lio was admitted, the ; operation being in every way success-i ful. P'or six days tho patient inado j excellent progress, then lie suddenly: developed tetanus (lockjaw), and att-:r three days of agonising suiferins, died on -March i'oth. The letter botore tinBoard stated that an independent medical opinion had been obtained, which indicated that lockjaw did not,follow upon an operation for appendicitis as a natural complication. | Tho question there tore aroso as to; how this patient could have possibly become, infected with tetanus. Au explanation had been afcbed -by deceased's friends of the residental mcdi- j oal officers* at the institution., aud tho only suggestion they had to offer was that a scratch had been discovered on one of the deceased's toes, which might liavo been tho source of infection prior to tho patient having entered the Hos-; pitni. Thjs explanation was deemed to ( bo impossible of acceptance, and an ( out&ido medical opinion was sought. ■ Tho only theory advanced upon tins \ occasion "was that the catgut used in sewing up tho appendicitis wound might havo been tho source of infection. This suggestion was also regarded as being too moot to bo accepted as satisfactory. 'J'ho point the Society desired vo bring before tho Board was that th'j patient in question went into tho Hospital to undergo an operation for appendicitis, and according to the member of tho Honorary Medical Staff who operated, this operation was in ovory way a success. Ten days later the patient died of tetanus. The Society further stated that it had been assured, on good authority, that when the patient was in tho Hospital ho was placed in tho same ward with a tetanus patient, and so probably became--in-fected. Under s'sch circumstances as these- the committee felt justified in asking for an explanation. Mr J. S. Dickson said that tho society's letter contained some grave statements which would require to to very thoroughly sifted. In Ins opinion it was desirable that a commission should be set up to enquire into the whole of the circumstances. Mr McKay stated that when the Society's letter reached him he considered the matter to bo one of such great im-1 portance that ho at once had a copy sent to Dr. Maguire, senior medical officer. Hβ believed that an enquiry would be welcomed by tho medical staff. . ± . Dr.- Tracey Inglis, Chairman of tho Honorary Medical Staff,, who was present at tho meeting, said he would bo glad of the chanco to explain one or two points in connection with tho matter under observation. The Society was wrong in stating that tetanus has never been known to follow an appendicitis operation. There were many cases known to science where tetanus; bad been recorded and yet no woumij of any kind had been discovered. f lie t catgut used in this operation wns ex- . ainincd and proved to be sterilo, but, tetanus bacilli were- found on the ap- j pendix stump. The external wound j healed by- first intention, showing there hod been no infection without. Doctor fnylis admitted that there "was a- tetanus patient in tho institution at tho same tinio as this particular patient, but not in tho eamo ward. Mr Dickson then moved: —"That a special committee be appointed to go into tho matter,.and that the enquiry, be open to the Press,-and that the Society be allowed to have one of its doctors in attendance, both sides, if they aro so desirous to- be represented by a solicitor." Tho CJ?airman said he would strongly adviso keeping solicitors out of tho case. The motion was carried.