CORONER'S WARNING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 255, 25 September 1935, Page 6

CORONER'S WARNING

danger of gelignite. LITTLE GIRL’S DEATH. “In the light of the present case, any person adopting this method ot warming gelignite will bo 6 U Y only of gross ignorance, but extieme was made by the Coroner (Mr A. J. Graham) at an inquest held in Palmerston North today, when he returned a verdict that Nita Cowdrey, aged 4 years, September 18 from a cerebral abscess, the result of an accidental inp y ceived. through the explosion of e< Tho circumstances investigated were those in which a house was wrecked at Halcombe on July 12 last by an explosion, seven occupants, including deceased, being admitted to the Palmeiston North Hospital for treatment of the injuries received. All but - Nita Cowdrey subsequently recovered. Mr J P- lnnes appeared at the inquest for Mr Frank Cowdrey, deceased’s father who is still partially incapacitated, and carries his right arm heavily bandaged in a sling. Dr F. L. Hutter, a house surgeon at the Palmerston North Hospital, gave evidence that on July 12 last deceased was admitted suffering irom numerous abrasions, burns and a fracture of the right femur, blie progressed well until August 12, when she showed signs of infection of the skull bones. Several operations were performed, but she died on September 18 from the effects of a cerebral abscess. This had a direct connection with the accident particles, thought to have been small parts of the stove, having been removed from abrasions on her forehead. She had _ been Nrayed three weeks after admission. Mr lnnes: Was there any difficulty in diagnosing the case?-—From the time that she developed the cerebral abscess there was. It was not possible for the abscess to have been there beiore the accident? —No. Replying to the Coroner, witness said that every effort had been made to control the infection. The difficulty of diagnosis was due to the inability of children to describe the symptoms. Frank Cowdrey, farmer, residing at Stanway Road, Halcombe, the father of deceased, stated that on July 1-. last he had intended to do some blasting, but an inspection of the gelignite showed it to be hard. To increase its efficiency he placed fifty plugs (51b) in the oven to warm it. The explosive was there for about three minutes while ho and the household were taking breakfast. All witness next remembered was a flare. He had about 91b of gelignite altogether stored in tile house.

Senior-Sergeant Moriarty: Do you think it safe to warm gelignite in a house like this, considering its dangerous nature?—lt is quite a common practice among farmers and one which I have used for some years. I have handled a considerable quantity of gelignite. And you thought it was all right?— I did not exactly think that it was all right. I had used so much that I was more or less contemptuous of it. I was just about to remove it when it exploded. Mr Moriarty asked witness if he was aware how much gelignite he could store in a house, and how much he usually kept about the place for stumping purposes. The Coroner: Is it necessary to establish all this here? Wo are only concerned with the cause of death. The examination on these lines was not proceeded with. Replying to Mr lnnes, witness said lie had used gelignite ever since he went farming in 1928. He had intended to use it to blow up some green trees, and had wanned 31b of gelignite similarly a few days previously. The stove had not been lighted very long when the explosion occurred.

The Coroner: You consider that there is a certain amount of danger in warming gelignite in an oven ?—Yes, a certain amount.

And you recognise now that it is extremely dangerous?—l certainly do. I would not resort to it again.

The Coroner returned a verdict as stated.