DEATH OF A WOMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 16

DEATH OF A WOMAN.

MENTAL HOSPITAL NURSE.

INFANT'S BODY FOUND*

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST.

MEDICAL STAFF VINDICATED.

Tho inquest into tho death of tho nnr3e, Lily Wall, who had been employed as assistant cook at tho Auckland Mental Hospital for three years, was concluded at the institution at Avondale yesterday. The deceased, who was unmarried, died at the Mental Hospital on September 10 from what were considered at tho time to bo natural causes. Howovor, as a result of tho discovery of tho body of a stillborn femalo child in a trunk on tho top of tho wardrobe in Miss Wall's room, tho funeral arrangements were dramatically interrupted and an inquest was opened after a post-mortem examination had been made.

Tho coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., returned a vordict that death was duo to puerperal sepsis and pulmonary thrombosis, following concealment of tho birth of a stillborn child.

Post-mortem Examination.

The results of the post-mortem examination were detailed by Dr. Walker Gilmour, who said that the body was that of a very obese young woman. Septic conditions were prevalent in tho genital organs and tho heart muscle was unhealthy and tho cavities dilated. The causo of death wns puerperal sepsis and pulmonary thrombosis. An examination was also made of tho body of the female infant child found in tho room at the Mental Hospital. It weighed 9£lb and was considered to be a full-timo child. There were no external marks of injury. The baby was stillborn. Although ho could not bo definite, he thought that birth might have taken place about two or three weeks previously. Tho patient's chart showed a very regular temperature and it did not necessarily suggest that the patient was suffering from a septic condition. It was compatible with an attack of influenza.

"Naturally, anyone would expect the patient to bo candid," commented the coroner.

Diagnosis of Influenza,

| Dr. Benjamin David Hart, assistant medical officer at the Mental Hospital, said that before Miss Wall's fatal illness she was in apparent good health. She was extremely stout, and was alwayß pale and unhealthy looking. Miss Wall reported sick on the evening of August 13, and complained of having a heavy cold and of being unfit for duty. Witness diagnosed her condition as an influenza cold. Thero was much influenza in the institution at the time. Her temperature was 99, and she made no other complaint about her health. Deceased was allowed to get np on August 17, as she was feeling much better and her temperaturo was down. That night she slept in her own room and her temperaturo again rose, and she went back to the sun porch, or the sick bay, where she remained during her illness and up to the time of her death. "During the whole timo that Miss Wall was in the sick bay she was anaemic looking," witness said. He examined her before August 26. She insisted that she was feeling better, and was always asking to be allowed up. During the whole of her illness, regular visits were made by one or other of tho medical officers, but on no occasion did she intimate in any way that she was or had been pregnant. Made Light of Illness.

On no occasion did it occur to witness that Miss Wall's condition might have been due to child-birth. She always made light of her illness, and said that all she needed was a rest in the country to bring hor back to normal health. She was a big woman and appeared to bo between, 15 and 16 stone in weight., Similar evidence of the concealment of pregnancy was given by Dr. Gilbert Mortimer Tothill and Dr. Carl Xavier Ruhen, members of the medical staff of the Mental Hospital. The latter said that he was called to Miss Wall about 3 p.m. on September 10, as sho had colli psed. He found that she was very distressed and conscious, and immediately applied restoratives. Witness left Nurso Ryan to attend to the patient, with instructions to take her pulse every ten minutes and advise him of any change. Miss Wall did not rally and died at 3.30 p.m. Details of tho discovery of tho body of the infant in a suitcase on the top of the wardrobe were given by Nurso Blanche Brunskill, who said that sho had been instructed by the ma'fon to assist Nurse Ryan to pack up Miss Wall's effects. The suitcase was locked, and was opened with one- of tho koys which were on tho table. Miss Wall never complained to witness of getting insufficient or improper treatment while in tho sick bay, and she had never indicated thj'. sho was

pregnant. Witness remembered seeing her with a young man about last Christmas.

Keeping Company With Man.

The finding of the body of the child was also described by Nurse Ryan, who attended Miss Wall durjng her illness. At no time did witness suspoct that Miss Wall had given birth to a child, or that she was suffering from septicaemia. Christine Brosnan, charge cook at the institution, who worked with Miss Wall, said that before last Christmas deceased told hor that sho was keeping company with a man, and that she had quarrelled with him. So far as witness kriew the man had never gone to tho institution. Miss Wall seldom went out, and witness had never heard her say that, sho had been keeping company with any other man.

A member of the kitchen Btafi and another nurse gave evidence on the fines of that given by tho previous witnesses. Detective-Sergeant Kolly said that on Soptember 3 Miss Wall wrote a /letter stating that she was quite well and hoped to see her mother soon.

"As far as I can sco this girl successfully concealed her condition from everybody, doctors, nurses and staff," said the coronor, iin finding the verdict. "I am satisfied that there was no negligence oil the part of the medical staff in not detecting her condition."