DEATH OF FARM EMPLOYEE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1933, Page 16

DEATH OF FARM EMPLOYEE

FINDING OF CORONER’S COURT. RESPIRATORY OBSTRUCTION. The death of Lewis Coleman, aged 17, in the New Plymouth Hospital on February 9 was the subject of an inquest before the coroner, Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., at New Plymouth on Saturday. After hearing medical and other evidence the coroner found that death was due to heart failure caused by respiratory obstruction from vomited material and tonic absorption due to mesenteric thrombosis. Whether Ulis condition was caused by a recent accident was not conclusively shown by the evidence. Albert George Martin, a farmer living on Smart Road, said that he was Coleman’s employer, for the past twelve months. Coleman was always in good health and never missed a day’s work through illness.' On February 1 Coleman rose about 5 a.m. and assisted him to milk the cows. After this Coleman took the cream to the road and Martin did not see him again for about 20 minutes. When seen Coleman was returning from the direction of the farmhouse. Martin called but he did not answer. Later Martin went to him and Coleman said that he did not feel well. He was unsteady on his feet. Martin thought he might have been kicked by a horse, but Coleman said this was not so. Martin took Coleman to ths house, washed him and put him to bed. Asked if he would like to see a doctor, Coleman said he did not feel bad enough for that. At first he thought Coleman might have had sunstroke. Coleman Stayed in bed until February 9, when Dr. Wade was called and ordered his immediate removal to the New Plymouth hospital. Since Coleman’s death Martin said he had thought the lad, might have been kicked by a horse. He knew of no other means by which Coleman’s stomach could have been hurt. He saw no external marks of injury on Coleman’s stomach or body. Mrs. Martin corroborated her husband’s exidence. Coleman repeatedly told her that he felt dizzy, but had no pain. His temperature was 99 degrees, which gave no cause for alarm. On the morning of February 9 the boy looked really ill. She became alarmed and called the doctor.

Dr. C. H. Taylor, physician to the New Plymouth hospital, said that Coleman was admitted on February 9 with a note of admission from Dr. Wade. In company with Dr. Wade he saw the patient shortly after his admission. Coleman looked seriously ill and was rapidly becoming worse. His condition diagnosed one of acute intestinal obstruction. In consultation with Dr. Rich it was decided that his condition was too serious for an operation to be of benefit. Restorative measures and stimulants did not produce the desired reaction, the boy became profoundly ill. the heart progressively failed, and he died on the afternoon of the day of his admission to hospital. He conducted a postmortem examination that evening, said Dr. Taylor, and discovered that the intestinal obstruction was produced by a gangrene, due to clotting in the veins. There was no superficial bruising. There was vomited material in the wind pipe which had hastened death by asphyxia. Dr. Taylor detailed the cause of death. This he determined in the absence of any history of injury. Such troubles did appear without any obvious cause. There need, however, be no superficial bruising after a blow had been received. Earlier medical attention would probably have made no difference, since the death rate in such instances was abnormally high.