SWAB FOUND IN BODY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 June 1934, Page 2

SWAB FOUND IN BODY.

POST-MORTEM DISCOVERY REVEALED AT INQUEST.

SEQUEL TO OPERATION ON

BOARD SHIP

(By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, Last Night. The post mortem disclosure of a swab in the body of deceased was reported at an inquest held by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., into the death of John Gillies, aged 2(1, single, an assistantsteward on the Monowai, who underwent an operation for appendicitis on the vessel on June 9, and who died in the Auckland hospital on June 15, At the opening of the inquest, Mr Gray, who represented the ship’s doctor and the Union Company, asked that the proceedings be' taken in camera, as he considered no good purpose could be gained by publicity, but the Coroner declined to agree. Kobcrt James Boyd said he was ship’s surgeon on the Monowai. On June 9 deceased was suffering from acute peritonitis, arising from chronic appendicitis, and was operated on early in the afternoon. The anaesthetic, which was at first chloroform and later ether, was administered by the chief officer, Thomas William White, and a steward was assisting generally. The patient was in a .very bad condition. “During the operation the patient appeared to be sinking, and I had to leave him to get a hypodermic charged with adrenalin,” witness continued. “He seemed to recover and so I told the anaesthetist to continue with the anaesthetic. “I have since heard that a swab was found in deceased. If that was so, it must have slipped in while I was getting the hypodermic, because I laid the swab over the wound while I went to got it. The swab would bo made of lint and might lie 21in. by 3Hn., or even Bin. by sin. Ido not know how many swabs f used. “The steward, who had assisted at three previous similar operations, prepared them. T asked the steward how many swabs there wore, but he said •ho did not know, and we- could not wait, as the patient was in such a bad condition. The patient at no time made any real progress towards recovery, and I did not expect him to re-

cover. 7 7 Witness added that the inflammatory condition of the peritoneum was too widespread. The presence of the swab would have done him no immediate harm. Later on, if he had recovered from the serious condition brought about by the peritonitis, the swab might have made its presence apparent and would then have been removed. Dr. Fowler, assistant pathologist at the Auckland hospital, who conducted the post-mortem examination, detailed the discovery of the swab. lie said the cause of death was acute generalised peritonitis and paralytic ileus. “I would say that all the swab might do would be tol retard his ultimate recovery, but that it had nothing to do with his actual death,” witness said. ‘‘l think he would have died in 'any ease. If the peritonitis had been cleared up the swab would have been discovered. 77 “I think it has been made perfectly clear that the misadventure with the swab in no way caused the death of this unfortunate man,’ 7 said Mr Hunt in returning a verdict that death was due to acute general peritonitis and paralytic ileus. “He was in a parlous condition when operated on and there was small chance of his recovery. 77 Mr Hunt said he sympathised with •the doctor in the matter; he had had to carry out a difficult operation at a minute 7 s notice without skilled assistance.