DOCTOR’S SUDDEN DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 7

DOCTOR’S SUDDEN DEATH

DR. J. C. SMITH’S COLLAPSE

PRACTITIONER AT TANGARAKAU.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. To collapse and die at the roedride while on his way to pay an «vecfng visit to a patient was the fate cd Dr. John Carmichael Smith, medical practitioner of Tangarakau, an Inquest into whose death on Tuesday was held at Tangarakau yesterday by the coroner, Mr. W. L. Kennedy. Up to the time of his death Dr. Smith had enjoyed good health. A post-mortem examination was held prior to the inquest by Dr. D. Steven. He was able to satisfy the coroner that Dr. Smith suffered from heart failure. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned by the coroner. Sergeant T. Kelly, Stratford, conducted the inquiry. At the conclusion, Mr. Kennedy, voicing also the sentiments of a sergeant, expressed his deep sympathy with Mrs. Smith and stated that he had always known Dr. Smith as a genial and capable practitioner. - Dr. Smith was in his sixty-sixth year. He leaves a widow and three adult children (a son and two daughters). With the exception of an interval of about eight months, when he was practising at Tawa Flat, Wellington, he had been in practise at Tangarakau for the past six years and was extremely popular with the workers and settlers of the district During the busy days at the height of the railway construction, when Tangarakau had a population of over 800 people, Dr. Smith worked at high pressure, earning the respect and gratitude of many families through his skilful treatment of surgical and medical cases that came under his care.

“It is very pleasing indeed,” said Sergeant Kelly in closing the inquiry, “to know that in New Zealand we have women of the type of Nurse Birss who are willing and capable of looking after the ills of people in so isolated a spot as Tangarakau.” For the past hour and a half to his knowledge she had laboured with Dr. Steven in carrying out the post mortem examination under unusually difficult conditions. “It is comforting to know,” added the sergeant, “that one can travel 50 miles into the backblocks and there amid- the rough surroundings ..of a construction camp find so efficient and so kindly a woman. I wish to place on record my appreciation of the work of Nurse Birss.” “I can thoroughly endorse all that the sergeant has said,” said the coroner. He had known Nurse Birss* fine work for many years. As chairman of the Stratford Hospital Board he was aware that she carried out a great amount of honorary work with great skill. He knew her services were appreciated by the board, and was sure the people to whom she ministered also recognised her worth in the community. FAITHFUL TO HIS CALLING. Francis John Northcott, a labourer, of Tangarakau who ; was with Dr. Smith when .he collapsed, explained that he went to the surgery about 8.50 pan. on I Tuesday evening to call Dr. Smith to attend his 15-months-old son. While on the way to Northcott’s house, a walk of about ten minutes, the doctor complained of giddiness arid paused for a while. In reply to Northcott’s inquiry he said he was not ill, only giddy. The pair then proceeded on their way, Northcott. assisting Dr. Smith by a grip on the arm, and no difficulty was experienced until they commenced to ascend an incline. Suddenly the doctor seemed to turn, to his right and would have fallen but for the supporting arm. Almost at once the daz'cd man appeared to lose consciousness and could not answer when his companion spoke. The doctor rallied after a minute or so and feebly inquired as to his whereabouts. Then he again lapsed into unconsciousness. He again recovered, and Northcott managed to get him moving. As they walked slowly along the doctor seemed to regain his faculties. Just then a lorry came along, but Dr. Smith resisted attempts to persuade him to return home on the lorry, and persisted in his determination to attend the child. At the top of the incline he felt much better and was able to walk without aid for about 200 yards, when he collapsed. Northcott held him in a sitting position until Nurse Birss, who had been sent for by the men in the lorry, arrived. The doctor was then in a very weak condition. He breathed hard fora short-time and then died.

Nurse Birss stated that on her advice Dr. Smith was called to Northcott’a house earlier in the evening, where ha examined the child and diagnosed the trouble as haemorrhage of the brain. Dr. Smith said he could do nothing for it there and advised the child’s removal to the Stratford Hospital. The doctor left Northcott’s house about 8.30 pan. and the nurse returned to her home shortly afterwards. Just after nine o’clock the nurse received another message to come at once as Dr. Smith had fainted on the road while going to pay a second visit to the child. She was driven to the spot in a lorry and saw Dr. Smith, and Mr. Northcott walking slowly towards the house. Someone, she believed Northcott, waved her to go on, but she had hardly entered the door when someone came to say Dr. Smith had fainted again. She immediately hurried back and found tjje doctor lying at the side of the road. His pulse was very weak. He died a few minutes later, not having regained consciousness since the nurse arrived. Constable R. J. Boyd gave evidence. That her husband enjoyed general good health and went out to the second visit to Northcott’s child in excellent spirits was mentioned by his wife, Mrs. Margaret Vance Smith. She said her husband had not complained of any illness for some time, and had not consulted another doctor for about three years. Three days before his collapse she saw him stagger on going from his bed to the bathroom after rising. She asked him what the matter was and received th< reply that he was “quite all right*’