TEMUKA RESIDENT’S DEATH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 October 1926, Page 9

TEMUKA RESIDENT’S DEATH.

RESULT OP MINOR ACCIDENT. A minor accident, but one unfortunately attended with fatal consequences, occurred at Temuka on Tuesday last, when Mrs C. Sullivan, Waiapi, Temuka, slipped on a wet doorstep and sustained a broken ankle. Although medical assistance was at once obtained, and the unfortunate lady was quickly removed to the Timaru Hospital, gas gangrene set in, resulting in tho death of Mrs Sullivan at tiro hospital on Sunday. An inquest was held at the Timaru Courthouse last evening, the District Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., presiding. Senior Sergeant Palmy conducted proceedings for the police. Kathleen Sullivan, daughter of doceased, said that about cloven o’clock on the evening of Tuesday last sho had occasion to go out to the dairy, and deceased followed her out. AVitness heard a noise, and on turning round saw her mother on the ground. Deceased said sho had slipped on tho wet doorstep, and that she thought she had broken her ankle. AVitness examined her, and found an open wound with the bono protruding. Dr. Mclnnes was immediately sent for, and ho ordered her removal to the hospital. Michael John Sullivan, sou of deceased, gave corroborative evidence.

Dr. Parr, _ medical superintendent, Timaru Hospital, said that deceased was admitted to tho hospital on October 0 at 3.45 a.m. Sho had a compound fracturo of .the right ankle, and tho bone was protruding through a lacerated wound on the inner side of tho ankle. Tho wound had been infected with mud. It was cleaned, and the protruding . bono soaked with antiseptics for some hours, after which the deformity was reduced. On Friday infective gas gangrene appeared in tlm leg, and the leg was amputated high in tho thigh the same day. The following day gangrene appeared in the back, and the patient died on Sunday at about three o’clock. In bis opinion death was duo to gas gangrene, following tho injury received The Coroner said that death was puroy tho result of an accident. A verchot was returned in accordance with tho medical evidence.