CORONER'S WARNING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 240, 11 May 1933, Page 5

CORONER'S WARNING

Particles that Go Down the Wrong Way DEATH OF MAORI CHILD Auckland, May 10. A warning concerning the grave danger of bronchial illness resulting from the lodging of particles of vegetable matter in tne lungs or bronchial passages was given by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., coroner, at an inquest into the death of a three year old Maori child, John Tapihana, whose parents resido at iviakcto. At the preliminary inquiry the fattier, Winiata Tapihana. said that on Friday, April 21, the child was thought to have swallowed a melon need. The same afternoon he was takn to a doctor at Tc Puke, who directed that the child shouid lie taken to forthwith to Auckland. However, he was taken to Rotorua, and later to Hamilton Hospital before being admitted to Auckland Hospital. Dr. Bcllringcr, of the Auckland Hospital staff, gave evidence that the boy was operated on and the melon seed was extracted from, the windpipe, but the child died the same night from bronchial pneumonia.

In giving a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, the coroner said that the attention of the public should be strongly directed to the very great danger caused by any vegetable substance being taken into tho lungs. ''Young children who get something down the wrong way should be taken with the utmost expedition to receive medical attention/' he said. "If there is a delay of even a few days the result may be fatal." Mr. Wilson said that in his experience as coroner he knew o£ at least three deaths caused through similar circumstances to those which had brought about the death of the little Maori boy. The skins of peanuts were particulai <y dangerous in this respect, having a definitely toxic action if introduced into the lungs.