YOUNG CLERK’S DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11785, 22 March 1924, Page 8

YOUNG CLERK’S DEATH

DIES DURINS OPERATION SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS INTERNAL TROUBLES. DEATH DUE TO SHOCK. The inquest into the death of a young bank clerk, named James Douglas Trew Cox, 25 years of age, who died at the Wellington Hospital on March 19th, was held before the coro ner (Mr E. Pago, S.M.), at the Magis trate’s Court, yesterday. THE LAST CHANCE. Alfred Norman Slater, on the etaff of the Wellington Hqspifal, stated that the deceased was admitted on March 12th, suffering from acute abdominal pains. An operation was performed, and on the 19th a further operation was considered necessary. Gas and oxygen were used, as it -was safest under such conditions. The anaesthetic was administered, said witness, and Dr Wilson was about to perform the operation, when the patient died. Artificial respiration was performed, hut to no avail. Witness said the man was in extremis prior to t.he operation, and

would in all probability hare died within 48 hours. The operation was the last chance of saving his life. CONGENITAL DISEASE. Charles Monro Hector, a qualified medical practitioner, deposed to having viewed the body, and found it to be that of a young man in poor condition. There was a scar on the lower part of the abdomen, the result of a recent operation. It was healing satisfactorily. There were no marks of violence. Internal examination showed a serious congenital malformation of the bowels. The lungs and heart were healthy, hut the duodenum was greatly dilated. In his opinion, the cause of death was shock in a man debilitated by congenital disease. The deceased was in such a condition that a very trifling shock would be sufficient to carry him off. The deceased had had an operation the day before, but it had given no relief. In liis opinion, there was no reason to associate the anaesthetic with his death. James Cox. father of the deceased, said his son was a hank clerk bv occupation. Ho had left Invercargill on the Ist for his annual leave. As far as he knew his son had enjoyed good health, THE VERDTCT. 'Die verdict was in accordance with the medical testimony, _ namely, that the deceased died at Wellington Hospital on March 19th. The cause of death war- slmrk. due to preparation for an operation acting on a system debilitated by serious congenital malformation of the bowels.