ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18352, 9 March 1920, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

DEATH UNDER AN ANAESTHETIC. An inquest touching the death' of Francis John Scott Caverhill, who died at his residence, May’s Road, Papanui, on Sunday afternoon whilst under an antesthetic, was held by Mr S. E. M’Carthv, District Coroner, yesterday. Dr W. H. Simpson said the antesthetic had been given for the purpose of sotting a broken arm. Dr Whether administered the antesthetic, which deceased took quietly for a minute or two. Then ho suddenly stopped breathing. A heart stimulant was given and artificial respiration was kept up for the best part of half an hour. Dr J. P. Whetter said that before administering the anesthetic lie examined deceased and concluded that he was a suitable subject for an aesthetic. Dr A- Temple, who conducted a post-mortem examination, expressed the opinion that the cause of death was cardiac syncope, due to the fatty and enlarged condition of the heart and paralysis of the respiratory centre. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. The Coroner also found that all reasonable precautions were taken by Drs Simpson and Whetter before administering the anaesthetic, and that they administered it with reasonable skill.

[Pita Press Association.] DUNEDIN, March 8. A soldier settler named James Smith was killed a# Gladbrook, Middiemarcli, on Saturday through a hay fork entering his back and penetrating his heart. Deceased, whoso parents reside in the North Otago district, was married only a few weeks ago. A lad 'named Davis, aged fifteen, shot himself fatally in the chest with a peariflo at Earnscleugh station yesterday. He was handling the riflo when it went off, and the bullet lodged below one of his ribs. A young woman, Agnes Andrews, whose parents reside at Mosgiel, was drowned on tho Warrington beach this afternoon. The body has been recovered, hut no particulars are available.