DEATH FROM TETANUS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1933, Page 2

DEATH FROM TETANUS

SEQUEL -TO OPERATION,

■STERILISING OF CATGUT

SYDNEY, December 22,

“It is apparent that the method of sterilising catgut used by the hospital is ineffective and had been shown to be so as fa r 'back a.s 1929,” ,said the Sydney City coroner, Mr Farrington, on Monday. “It behoves the hospitals to adopt a method which has be e n proved to be effective,” he added. Mr Farrington wag .inquiring into the death of Wargaifet Grace Sheldrick, aged 38, who died from tetanus -at the Royal South Sydney Hospital. Dr E. J. Ryan, senior resident medical officer of the hospital, said that tin' catgut used by the hospital was purchased in hanks. .It wa s defatted ail other, and then wound on spools. It was placed in biniodide spirits for 28 days, and was th e n ready for use, but was usually kept for two or three months. ' All other patients ’who had been operated on at the same time were given >a prophylactic anti-tetan.ic irtjectipn, and non e of them had developed tetanus. Dr Morgan said that cultures were made from the abdominal sca r and the viscera of the deceased, 'but tetanu fi bacillus was not isolated. A .sporing bacillus resembling tetanus in shape and size was found in the body, but thi.. did not produce t e tanus -when it was irjFcfed into an animal. To the coroner, Dr (Morgan said that the baccilli was usually found in the intestines of animals, and it was possible, 'but improbable, that infection of this nature would develop in a human being as the result of an operation. The baccilli were in the wound, but would be very difficult to find, except in a very small area. Dr Morgan added' that biniodide of mercury was not an effective steriliser. Be had tested samples of gut after itreatment wifh this., w*and had Ipjtet found them not to be sterile. According to medical research, iodin e was a a more effective steriliser. Counsel for catgut manufacturer: 1 understand that catgut- is bought misteriliseu, and hospitals know ,it mostbe done by them ?—Yes. If iodine had been need to steriV-'e this catgut, the germs you found would have b(-eii killed P—Yes. Tbs c.oroaev found that death was due to tetanus, the origin of which was obscure.