SURGEONS BAFFLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 7

SURGEONS BAFFLED

GLASS IN THE LIVER BOY'S DEATH AT PAHIATUA 1 Per Press Association. ] PAHIATUA, March 28. The inquest on the death of Leslie Wilfred Murphy, the boy who was injured on Feoruary 6 by an explosion, in the science room of the Pahiatua District High School opened before the District Coroner, Mr J. D. Wilson.

The victim was nearly 16 years of age. Doctor Dawson said when admitted to the hospital the boy was in a very collapsed state, suffering from shock. There were two wounds in the | abdominal skin over the region of the liver, about two inches apart. Next morning when he was in a fit condition and partially recovered from the shock, witness opened the victim’s abciomen and found a triangular pece of plate glass about an inch and a half each way lying under the liver. Both witness and Dr. H. Paterson macle a very careful examination for any further pieces, but they could find no more, nor any marks of laceration made by the glass. A few days after the operation au abscess developed. Witness described the next step taken. {Subsequently the victim had a very profuse attach ot haemorrhage. Witness suspected there must be some glass undiscovered in the interior of the liver, but he was unable to find any more glass. The boy seemed well for another two or three days, but when he commenced to move about in bed, he had another attack, bleeding from the liver. Witness then rang up the secretary of the Wellington Education Board, saying he wished to have other surgical advice. The Board secretary sent Dr. Gordon Anderson from Wellington. Dr. Anderson gave it his opinion that there was still some glass m the liver and he advised a further operation, which was conducted in the presence of witness and Dr. Paterson, but without detecting any glass. The victim passed away from toxaemia, plate glass having penetrated the abdominal cavity. The inquiry was adjourned to Wednesday next to give the representatives of tne Education Department an opportunity to be present. The Coroner said all evidence as to how the accident actually occurred would be left till then.