SUDDEN DEATHS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 9, 21 December 1929, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATHS

INQUESTS AT NAPIER. HEART FAILURE UNDER ANAESTHETIC. The inquest into the death of Sarah Jane Aiderman, widow, of Havelock North, who died at the Napier Hospital after having her teeth extracted under an anaesthetic, was concluded yesterday before the District Coroner Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M. Dr. W. I’. Purvis, house surgeon at the Napier Hospital, stated that an examination of the deceased prior to the operation showed her heart and lungs sufficiently sound to warrant an anaesthetic. Witness applied pure ether in view of the deceased suffering from pyorrhea, and the teeth were extracted by the dentist. At the completion of the operation witness observed that the patient's breathing was faint and her puls: spasmodic and whilst engaged cleaning out the mouth the heart beats stopped altogether. Artificial respiration was applied but proved unsuccessful. In his opinion death was due to sudden heart failure caused by tho combined shock of the extraction of tho teeth and the anaesthetic. Dr. R. Francis stated that an examination prior to her admission to the hospital revealed that she was Buffering from the most extreme degree of pyorrhea he had ever seen. He agreed with Dr. Purvis as to tho cause of death.

Evidence was given By Basil Peter Calvin, dentist, that the deceased had been admitted at his suggestion, to the hospital for pre-operative treatment.

In returning a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence the Coroner expressed himself as quite satisfied that everything possible had been done in making the operation a success.

FOUND DEAD IN BED. On returning to his homo on Thursday night in Kowhai road, Napier, a tragic discovery was made by Mr. T. G, Dorset, electrical linesmaji, who found his wife, Dorothy Emily Dorset, lying dead in bed. An inquest was opened yesterday before the District Coroner, Mr. A. M. Mowlem. S.M. Thomas George Dorset stated that his wife received an urgent call to a Napier private hospital to do some nursing. Witness expected her home before he left for work, on Thursday morning but she did not arrive. He was away all day, returning at 5 p.m. On entering the house he noticed his wife's handbag on the table and inferred that she had gone over to see a neighbour, Mrs Cogswell, as she had been in the habit of doing. Later, however, he went upstairs and found her lying on the bed in her room. Medical aid was summoned immediately but life was pronounced extinct. Witness knew that she had suffered from heart trouble, having been attended for it by a doctor.

Jessie Jane Cogswell, a neighbour of tho deceased, stated that on Thursday morning deceased came homo very tired and she made her a cup of tea. Deceased stated that she would have a short sleep as she intended later going down town. She did not return so witness concluded that she was sleeping and did not disturb her. The inquest was then adjourned for the calling of further evidence.