EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 276, 22 November 1943, Page 4

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

, MARTON MAN’S DEATH WHILE UNDER AN ANAESTHETIC A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned by the coroner, Mr. S. M. Dixon, when an inquest was held concerning John Henry Gill, aged 52, farmer, Marton, who died in the Wanganui Public Hospital on November 1 while an anaesthetic was being administered to him. The cause of death was acute suppurative pericarditis and medical evidence was to the effect that it was not. due to the anaesthetic. Sergeant F. J. Bennington conducted the inquest on behalf of the police. Gill, who lived at Putorino, Marton, took ill on the afternoon of October 31, and was removed to the Wanganui Public Hospital by the St. John Free Ambulance. Dr. L. A. Aitken said in evidence that the symptoms indicated a perforated gastric ulcer, and he prepared to operate, but during the induction of the anaesthetic the patient collapsed. Restorative measures were applied without result. “I examined the patient, and found that his heart was not enlarged,” said Dr. W. J. Weston, house surgeon at the hospital. “The heart had a regular rhythm, and there were no cardiac murmurs. He was inducted with ethyl chloride before changing over to ether. The patient had taken approximate!” half an ounce of ether when his respiration became shallower and he ceased breathing.” Dr. G. H. Robertson, who made a post-mortem examination, described symptoms which indicated “a fatal condition, and one which causes sudden death.” “It is almost impossible to recognise, and may give rise to such stomach as suggests that an ulcer has burst. If that were the case, an immediate operation would be Ihe only chance of saving the patient’s life. I found no signs to suggest anaesthetic poisoning.”