PATIENT'S COLLAPSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22714, 28 April 1937, Page 14

PATIENT'S COLLAPSE

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST ANAESTHETIC BEING GIVEN [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] THAMES, Tuesday An inquest was held this afternoon by Mr. W. Bongard, district coroner, into the death of Mr. Dixon Charlton, aged 45, single, a farm labourer, of Puriri, who died in the Thames Hospital yesterday afternoon when an anaesthetic was being administered. The medical evidence showed that deceased came to Thames at 11.30 a.m. suffering from quinsey and was in great pain. He was ordered to hospital after a doctor had examined his heart. An attempt was made to administer the anaesthetic, but the patient's struggles were so great that the two doctors, Dr. 0. Hetherington and Dr. T. Miller, desisted. A few minutes later another attempt was made, but the patient suddenly expired. Heart massage was tried, but without success. In aiifwer to the cor.oner, Dr. Miller said it was the correct thing to administer a general anaesthetic in the case of quinsey. Ho said that deceased died of shock. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to sudden heart failure whilo the patient was being given an anaesthetic prior to an operation.