BROUGHT TO LIFE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 9

BROUGHT TO LIFE

Operation Under Unusual Conditions The story of a “dead” uiau being brought back to life for 12 hours and operated on for appendicitis was told to the Westminster (London) coroner on November 5. The inquest was on Harry Hewett (43), motor-driver, of Albion Mews, Paddington. “When be came into the theatre,” said Dr. James Bull, "be was a corpse. An incision was made and his heart ■was massaged for eight or nine minutes. After the administration of adrenalin into the heart muscle the heart started beating again. After three or four minutes the patient began to breathe.” During those few minutes the appendix was removed and the wound sewn up. The patient was taken back to the ward and watched. His pulse was regular and he was breathing well. No stimulants of any kind had to be given, the only necessary thing being to keep the patient in an electrical cradle for warmth. He remained unconscious, and 11 hours after tlife operation developed convulsions. He died an hour later from cerebral thrombosis. Recording a verdict of “Death by misadventure." the coroner, Mr. Ingleby Oddie, said Hewett had been skilfully treated.