OPERATION ON SHIP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4356, 23 June 1934, Page 4

OPERATION ON SHIP.

DEATH OF A STEWARD. SWAB FOUND IN BODY. Auckland, June 20. The post mortem disclosure of a swab in the body of deceased was reported at the inquest held by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., into the death of John Gillies, aged 20, single, a steward on the Mowowai, who underwent an operation for appendicitis on the vessel on June 9th and who died in Auckland Hospital on June 15th.

Robert James Boyd said lie was tlie ship’s surgeon on the Monowai. On .Tune 9 deceased was suffering from acute peritonitis arising from chronic appendicitis and was operated on early in the afternoon. The anaesthetic, which Avas at first chloroform and later ether, Avas administered by Chief Officer Thomas William White and a steward Avas assisting generally. The patient Avas in a very bad condition. “During the operation the patient, appeared to be sinking and I had to leaA’e him to get a hypodermic charged Avitli adrenalin,” witness continued. “He seemed to recover and so I told the anaesthetist to continue Avilh the anaesthetic. I have since heard that# a SAvab Avas found in deceased. If that Avas so it must have slipped in Avliile I was getting the hypodermic, because I laid a swab over the Avoiind Avliile I went to get it.” Witness added that the inflammatory condition of the peritoneum Avas too Avidespread. The presence of a SAvab would have done him no immediate harm. Later on, if he had recovered from the serious condition brought about by peritonitis, the swab might haA T e made its presence apparent and Avould then liaA-e been removed.

Dr. Fowler, assistant pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, avlio conducted the post mortem, detailed the discovery of the swab. He said the cause of death Avas acute general peritonitis and paralytic ileus. “I Avould say all the swab might do Avould be to retard his ultimate rccoAmry, but that it had nothing to do with "his actual death,” Avitness said. “I think he Avould have died in any case. If tho, peritonitis had been cleared up the swab would have been discovered.” “I think it has been made perfectly clear that the misadventure with the SAvab in no avuv caused the death of this unfortunate man,” said Mr. Hunt, in returning a verdict that death Avas due to acute general peritonitis and paralytic ileus. “He was in a parlous condition Avlien operated on and there Avas small chance of his recovery.” Mr. Hunt said that he sympathised Avitli the doctor in the matter. He had to carry out difficult operations at a minute’s notice without skilled assistance.