DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13481, 4 July 1907, Page 7

DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM

"EVERY PRECAUTION TAKEN."

[by telegraph.PßESS ASSOCLVHON.]

Dunedin, Wednesday. The Coroner held an inquest this afternoon on the body of David Martin, who died under chloroform while being operated upon in a private hospital.

r Dr. Barnett said deceased was a retired farmer, residing at Spreydon, near Christchurch. He was sent down to witness five weeks ago for an operation for cancer of the upper jaw. This extensive operation, which lasted over two hours, was successful, and the patient stood the anaesthetic— which was administered by Dr. Williams very.well. He progressed* favourably, and another operation was about to be tindertaken yesterday to remedy the disfigurement caused by the .first operation. Dr. Williams again administered the |anaesthetic, and precautions were taken. in three or four minutes the patient seemed sufficiently under to allow the witness to inject a solution to prevent hemorrhage. It was then noticed that the patient was not under sufficiently for the operation to be commenced, and Dr. Williams gave' more of the anaesthetic. Suddenly the patient's face became blanched, the pupils dilated, and the pulse ceased from that moment. Although for an hour and ahalf every possible effort was made to restore him, no sign of life returned. Witness concluded that the deceased had died suddenly from syncope, ,as the result of the anaesthetic.

Dr. Williams corroborated the evidence of Dr. Barnett, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with this evidence, adding that every precaution had been taken.