CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1933, Page 9

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT

PATIENT DIES OF PNEUMONIA CORONER’S QUERIES AT INQUEST. “LITTLE TO SAY AT PRESENT.” FORMAL VERDICT RETURNED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, Last Night. The death at Napier of Henry Gordon Aitken, following upon chiropractic treatment when he was suffering fiom pneumonia, resulted in an inquest being held in Napier to-day. A formal verdict was returned that he died from pneumonia with complications. The coroner, Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., added that at this stage he would have very little to ( say. Mary B. Aitken, mother of the de’ceased, said that on the morning of February 2 deceased was unwell, being hot and feverish, and asked to have Hart, a chiropractor, called in to see him. Hart arrived later in the day and gave deceased an adjustment. He also called The subsequent day, giving him further treatment. Hart removed the clothing :from deceased and lifted him out of bed. Deceased was made to kneel down on a cushion and to recline his head on a sloping stand which Hart brought with him. While the treatment _ was carried out deceased wore only pyjamas. On the evening of February 10,* after Hart had left having given deceased treatment, witness said her son became worse. She called in a doctor, who said her son could not live. He died early next morning.

John Robert Victor Hart, chiropractor, said that when he saw deceased it was necessary for him to get deceased out of bed to make an examination to ascertain any nerve interference. This necessitated an adjustment to relieve the nerve impugement. When witness called on the morning of February 10 he found deceased breathing shallow, and with face colourless. He did not take his temperature. He got Aitken out of bed and gave him an adjustment, following which breathing became normal. By midday deceased seemed to hold his own. temperature quite normal, and in witness opinion the nerve pressure was considerably reduced. In reply to question witness said there was no discussion about calling in a doctor. He could not tell the Court what deceased was suffering from except nervous interference with the base of the skull which was interfering with the normal functions of the body. He was trying to re-establish a transmission of mental impulses from the brain cells to the tissue cells. 'Mr. Mowlem: By getting this man out of bed and giving him adjustments. Do you think that would have any detrimental effect? Witness: Certainly not. That is our procedure. Everyone who is ill has nervous interference as you call it?—Yes. And that is the basis of your , teaching?—Yes. A person cannot be ill unless he has nervous interference. When you went along in the first place’ you knew what was the matter with him? —Yes. Chiropractic could cope with the case. As exercised by you as a chiropractor. —Yes. Do you know he required something more than he was getting?—He got all I thought necessary. George Edwin Waterworth, medical practitioner, said that on February 10 he saw deceased, who was obviously very ill and on the verge of death. Witness was convinced that Aitken was suffering from pneumonia, and treated him accordingly. Witness assisted in the post mortem’, which showed that deceased was suffering from pnuemonia, followed by complications. In his view the strain on Aitken’s heart when he got out of bed would accelerate his death. Mr. Mowlem: Do you consider the treatment prescribed by the witness Hart showed a lack. of reasonable ability in a person purporting to deal with the patient?

. Yes. Mr. Mowlem: At this stage I have very little to say. For the present I shall return. a formal verdict that deceased died on February 11 from pneumonia, complicated by empyema and pericarditis.