DEATH OF MRS. HOLLIER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11251, 16 April 1908, Page 5

DEATH OF MRS. HOLLIER.

The fatality in a local dental surgery recorded in our ; last issue is said to be the first case of the. kind that has occurred in Gisborne. The circumstances surrounding Mrs J. B. Hollier' s death are particularly painful. Mr Hollier, licensee of the Bridge hotel, Matawhero, states that on leaving home yesterday morning his wife was in splendid health;, rn fact she had never seemed better. She then, as far as he knew, had no intention of having any teeth extracted, 'but simply purposed spending the afternoon' with Mrs J. A. Lucas and doing a little shopping. Mrs Hollier was a native of Preston, England, but had resided for many years with her parents .at Feilding, her maiden name being Wilkinson. ..Mr and Mrs Hollier havo been three*arid a half years in this district, and hivfe won a wide circle of friends. The fftmily consists of three children,- the youngest being only a year and eteht month's old. Much sympathy is felt for the relatives. THE INQUEST. Ah inquest was conducted by Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., District Coroner, at the Courthouse this afternoon. The following jury was empanelled :— Messrs William Huttori, Tohri Br'o'cking. Pliillio Sheridan, Thomas Hackett, Arthur Tcwnley, and Wm. Ratciiffe (foreman). .' Detective Rawle represented the police. He called Elizabeth Lucas, "wife of J. A. Lucas, licensee .of the Coronation hotel, who stated' that, she went yesterday afternoon, with deceased, who was then quite well, to Mr R. G. Crawford's dental surgery. Deceased went to have some teeth extracted. On arrival they saw Mr Crawford, the dentist, and deceased told him she wanted eight teeth extracted, and said she would like it done under gas. Mr Crawford said he had no gas there, arid advised her to have the painless extraction. Deceased declined to have this, and said she preferred chloroform. She requested Mr Crawford to ring up Dr Collins to come and-, administer the chloroform. The doctor was telephoned for, and came in a few minutes. Dr Collins at once proceeded tb examine deceased, and said she was quite safe to take chloroform. She heard no remark passed as to the state of deceased's heart. The doctor then started to administer chloroform.. After about 30 seconds wit. ness noticed the patient seemed to be collapsing. . Dr- Collins si>oke to her, say-, ing .''Breathe, h^rd,' r and the patient made some ' answer, ' but witness did not hear what she said. The doctor then took her out of the chair, and put' her on the Hoot, and, assisted by .Mr Crawford, immediately applied restoratives,, but without effect. Deceased seemed to rally, once when laid oh the floor, but sank into . collapse ..gain. '"Witness went over .and called; in. Dr.Pottinger at Dr. Collins' suggestion, arid he also worked at deceased foi .a few seconds. Roy' Garfield Crawford, a duly registered dentist,', deposed that deceased cariie to his rooms at about 2.35 p.m. yesterday, in company, with Mrs Lucas. Deceased said she wanted tri have eight teeth extracted under gas. Witness told her ho had no gas in the place, adding that he did not think .he could extract the eight teeth under 'the one. administration of gas. Deceased then said she would like to take a little chloroform, and asked him to ring up Dr Collins, which he did. Dr Collins arrived in. about ten minutes, and ho examined the patient. The doctor said as far as he could see she was a fit subject for chloroform, and -at once proceeded to administer the; anaesthetic. After about 30 or 40 seconds the patient showed signs of collapse. Dr Collins immediately ceased adniinistering the chloroform, put the patient on the floor, and they both did their best to restore life. The patient seemed 'to breathe three or four times, but then collapsed absolutely. Dr Pottihger arrived at' this stage, having been sent for by Dr Collins. The two doctors worked in turns, trying to produce artificial respiration for about a quarter of an bour; but were unsuccessful. mmaaammaimmammmmmammmm .