COMPENSATION COURT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27670, 28 May 1955, Page 9

COMPENSATION COURT

WIDOW’S CLAIM FAILS

A claim by Margaret Frances Purdie, a widow, of Christchurch, for compensation for the death of her husband, Robert Purdie, has been disallowed by Judge Dalglish in the Compensation Court.

Pjtrdie, who died on June 4, 1953, was formerly a mental hospital attendant. ?n-l while so employed contracted tuberculosis. It was claimed that the tuberculosis resulted in his death and that the widow was accordingly entitled to compensation.

“On a consideration of the whole of the medical evidence it is my view, and I find as a fact, that Purdie died from heart failure, and that the extent to which tuberculosis could have contributed to that heart failure was at the most very small indeed,” said Judge Dalglish m his reserved judgment yesterday. “The enlargement of the heart was probably a substantial factor in the heart failure. The hemorrhage from the duodenal ulcer was probably another substantial factor. The tuberculosis may have been a very minor factor contributing to the enlargement of the heart, but that enlargement was due prinbipally to emphysema, which was not caused by tuberculosis, but was caused by bronchitis and asthma. I do not consider that tuberculosis could have contributed towards the heart failure in any other way than through its influence on the enlargement of the heart. Its influence, if any, towards the enlargement of the heart could only have been very minor. I am unable, therefore, to hold that the tuberculosis contributed to Purdie’s death to any material degree. “Plaintiff has failed to establish her claim for compensation and defendant is accordingly entitled to judgment. Leave is reserved to defendant to apply for costs.” Evidence in the case was taken in Christchurch in October and December last year, and in Wellington on April 6 this year. Mr L. G. Rose appeared for Mrs Purdie, and Mr G. W. Matthewson for the defendant, the Attorney-General.