DEATH FROM TETANUS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11629, 10 May 1912, Page 4

DEATH FROM TETANUS.

INQUIRY. IN AUCKLAND

•HOSPITAL STAFF EXONERATED

(Per'Press'.AssociATioN.)

,_ ...,.:• ..■«. .» -Aucklaaid, May 9. The circumstances, surrounding the death -ofr-a- patient:.in 1 the Auckland Hospital, who was declared to have died from tetanus, were this morning inquired into by a. special committee set up by the Hospital Board. Mr Farrelly, secretary of the Tramwavs Sick and Accident Fund Society, ■appeared in support of the demand for th;e : inqviirv. He stated that his society was- quite'prepared to-accept the state-ment-made by Drlriglis last week before the board as satisfactory so far as it went. -Ha'd the society been supplied with .that information previously _ : it would "probably -have -followed a. different course of. action. There were still several points, however,' which required to be cleared up, and these, he thought, should now engage the attention of the committee. Mr, Farrelly added that he desired it to be understood that his Society's doctors had never been at any time approached in this matter, as it was considered undesirable that friction should be stirred up by introducing them into the affair. Mr Mackay said he would first like to be enlightened on one statement con-, tained in the society's letter to the board. It was stated that the society had'good authority for asserting that there was a tetanus patient in the same ward as the patient who was the subject of this inquiry, and it was believed that in this way infection had been brought about. He would first like some information in support of that charge. Mr Wilson said that the statement bad been made to him by Mr J. S. Dickson, a member of the board. Mr Potter: Was there not a tetanus patient in the institution at the same time as the patient whose deatli forms the subject of this inquiry? Dr Magnire: Yes, but not m the same ward, nor in. the same building. Mr Farrelly then proceeded to state that two statements which did not coincide were those of Mr Wilson and Dr Gore Dillon as to the possibility of catgut beng the source of infection. Mr Wilson related how Dr Gore Gillon had informed him that the catgut used in sewing up the wound was the source of infection, and that after the patient's death, every bit of catgut in the institution had been burned. Dr Gore Gillon.: Did I. use the words "may have been" the cause of infection? Mi- Wilson: No, I understood you to snv clearly that it was, and that all that remained had been destroyed. Dr Gore Gillon: You misunderstood me. 1 used the word "may," and I thought such a thing possible until examination proved-that the catgut was Dr Magnire said the stump of the appendix showed the existence of tetanus. Mr Mackay: That means that the infection came from within and not from without? Df : Magnire: That is so. I consider that in this case the tetanus germ must have"'been an inhabitant of the bowels prior to the operation. : After further evidence bad been taken Mr Farrelly said that, as he before stated, they were now in possession of facts which they were not previously' able to obtain. They had been confronted with only two theories, which'were not felt to be satisfactory. Now they were perfectly satisfied, and; he desired to apologise to the medical staff for' making a. statement which his society had not been able to sustain—, namely, that emanating from a member; of the board to the effect that this case' was traceable to another tetanus patient in the same ward. The statement had been made by him to the' board in all good faith, as*he believed that it was capable of substantiation';'' There had been serious doubts in their, minds prior to asking for the inquiry, and he thought a good purpose had been served in sifting the matter as they had done that morning. Mr Ryan said he would also like to express satisfaction on behalf of the relatives and friends of the deceased. They now felt that they had no fault to find so far as the attention received by the patient before his death was concerned. He was now convinced that there was no cause for complaint, and he desired to express his appreciation of the attention of the doctors and nurses, and particularly Drs Gore Gillon arid English. Mr Wilson also expressed his satisfaction 'at the manner in which the matter had been cleared up. The committee then passed the following resolution, on the motion .of , Messrs Mackay and Ellisdon : —"After having inquired fully into the matter of the death of the patient, the board exonerates the honorary staff, the stipendiary staff, and the nursing staff from any negligence or want of attention."

According to the medical opinions offered at the inquiry the liidden dangers or' tetanus are considerable. Five per cent, of adult persons walk about with a tetanus germ in their intestines, and this accounts for the fact that people sometimes die from this terrible disease without their bodies showing even a "microscopic" scratch." One doctor declared that the volcanic Soil •found Auckland teemed ; with tetanus bacilli, and there was always a risk in gardening with a cut or scratched finger. '■•'-