A SAD OCCURRENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 4

A SAD OCCURRENCE

DEATH IN A DENTIST'S CHAIR

DJJE TO ACUTE BRONCHITIS.

The sudden daath of a law clerk, Adam James Glasgow, who collapsed during the course of a dental operation in the rooms of Mr. J. J. Quinn ou Monday afternoon last, was made.the subject-of inquiry before the Coroner (Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M.) to-day. Sergeant Butler appeared for the police, Mr. W. Perry represented Mr. Quinn, and Mr. "P. Levi appeared for the relatives of "the deceased. Dr. Ewen, oi the Wellington Hospital staff, gave evidence regarding" a .postmortem examination which he carried out on 23rd June. The deceased's heart and brain were normal, but an examination of the lungs disclosed the fact that the deceased had been suffering from acute bronchitis and inflammation of the Kings. The condition of the lungs was against the advisability-of an administration of gas. The •Coroner: "Would the deceased's condition be apparent to the dentist?" Witness : "No." Audrey Beryl Irvine, a dental nurse employed by Mr. Quinn, said that she had prepared the deceased for the operation. She had asked him if he hadhad gas before, and the reply had been in the affirmative.^ Nothing was said by the witness about the state of the deceased's health. Mr. Quinn administered the gas. After a few extractions, it was noticed that the deceased had changed colour, and Mr. Quinn immediately stopped the operation. Artificial respiration was applied, but without effect. Similar evidence was given by Richard Joseph Naylor, dental mechanic. John Joseph Quinn,said that the deceased had told- him that he had had gas before, and that his health was nil , right. He examined his mouth and throat, but noticed no signs of bronchitis. Deceased took the anaesthetic' quite well, and witness proceeded with the operation. As soon as he noticed that the deceased had changed'colour he removed the nose mask and applied artificial respiration. He had been prac- I tising as a;dentist for fifteen years, and I had never had such an experience before, j In reply to Mr. Perry, the- witness stated that he had taken part in approximately 4000 gas operations, and in this case every possible precaution had been taken. He had had a sample of the gas used analysed by the-Govern-ment Analyst, and it had'been shown to ,be quite satisfactory, The Coroner said the occurrence was a i most unfortunate one, but it was one o* those which happened quickly and without affording any opportunity of prevention. The deceased had been suffering from acute bronchitis and infiam- I mation of the lungs, and was not aware of his condition' ' If he had been aware of his condition, and if the dentist had been aware of the condition, the deceased would have escaped the tragedy which had overtaken him. , Mr. Quinu had taken all reasonable pigcautions to ascertain for himself,'as nt was his duty to do, .whether the deceased was in a fit state for the operation. The finding would be that the deceased died at Wellington from the effects of gas administered by Mr. -Quirm, while, unknown to -.. Mr. Quinn,; the deceased was suffering froiri acute bronchitis and inflammation of the lungs. ■ : The Coroner expressed his regret at the occurrence. The deceased was a promising law clerk, and the occurrence was very regrettable indeed. - "