DEATH OF A CHILD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 3 June 1919, Page 5

DEATH OF A CHILD.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. An inquest concerning the death of Victor Ernest Gnwcu, aged five, years, during an operation at the New Plymouth hospital on Saturday evening, was held on .Monday afternoon, before Air. H. R. Cattley, acting-Coroner, and a jury consisting of Messrs. H. E- I' 1 ”;' sell (foreman), R. Collins, AY. Inch, E. Allien, Ij. G. Geodacre. and A. E. Alartin. Tile evidence of Dr. E. E. acting-superintendent of the hospital, who performed i.hc operation, showed (hat the original trouble was appendicitis, of a grave type, resulting in a gineral acute peritonitis and obstruction of the bowels. The case was very critical and the only chance to save the life of the child was to perform an operation. The child tolerated the anaesthetic badly from the outset and as iitlle as possible was administered. When the operation was nearly completed the condition of the patient became alarming. The stomach contents were forced into the mouth and sufloeation resulted, owing to the obstruction of the air passages. Dr. AY. R, Wade, who administered the anaesthetic, said that aU was done that could ho done in the ' circumstances ;to .save the child’s life was a hopeless task.

Tlu ■ father, George Gowen. caretaker, residing nil the Mangorei Road, deposed that the child first showed signs of illness on Friday morning and became worse a.s the day advanced. llis wife administered a dose of castor-oil. but this bail no effect, and about midday on Saturday Dr. Wade was summoned. He arrived at 5 o’clock and ordered the immediate removal of the child to the hospital. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.