A BROKEN JAW.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 11 December 1925, Page 13

A BROKEN JAW.

ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE BY DENTIST. By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON N.,.Decpmber 10. , In the Supreme Court-, an action being heard in which J. Andresen, engine driver and his wife, Emma, claim 1:703 damagos from J. T. Rowley, surgeon dentist. The plaintiffs allege that defendant extracted two teeth from' Sirs Audresen’s lower jaw without her consent, and in doing so, fractured Hie jaw, necessitating, hospital and medical attention. ■ , The defence was a general denial, and that the teeth were taken, < frenn the jaw by another practitioner atdefendant’s suggestion, and if “there was any negligence or default, which was denied, defendant was not responsible: Numerous witnesses, jnedical and dental, of standing, were called to testify that the tooth and the jaw were abnormal. It was stated by witnesses /that they would have followed the same procedure as defendant and Dr Wylie in extracting the tooth. There was nothing externally to show abnormality, and a break of either tooth or jaw\ would have occurred.

.Defendant, in evidence, said that after inspection of Mrs Andresen’s mouth, he advised the extraction, of all four teeth. She agreed. He felt quite confident in handing over the operation to Dr. Wyllie, as he knew froip conversations of the latter’s ability at tooth extraction. After the jury liad : for three hours, a majority vote gave a. verdict for defendant, Costs, according to scale, were entered against' plainfilfs.