HOSPITAL SENSATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12436, 8 April 1908, Page 3

HOSPITAL SENSATION.

Nurse's Narrow Escape.

Struggle with a Demented Patient.

The usual quietude of Darlinghurst was lUaely- disturbed one night recently by one of the most sensational incidents that has- occurred in the history of hospitals in-'Sydney. From time to time the danger of nurses having to attend -to delirious patientS'has been pointed out, and the incident that ocourred at St. Vincent's Hospi-

tali emphasises the fact. The first intimation, that anything unusual was happening' was received at about 9.30, when the agonised screams of a woman were Ward coming from the northern balcony of thfe institution, which overlooks Burton Street. The attention of pedestrians was immediately attracted, and a glance upward showed that ome of the nurses was ihavihg' a desperate struggle with in of the patients. The man, who was in a state of wild delirium, had escaped from his bed and gone on to the balcony. On .noticing his absence the nurse went in •earch of him, and locating him she entieavoured to persuade him to Teturn to the ward. But instead of submitting quietly the patient seized the nurse in his arms, and attempted to hurl her over the balcony into the garden below, a distance of about 40 feet. She resisted him, however, and tier agonised appeals for help Njuickly attracted the attention of both patients and nurses. One of the former, TeaKsing that something desperate was happening, jumped out of bed, and was first to the rescue. He was quickly follow•d by & batch of nurses and wardsmen, with; the result that the nurse was rescued from the demented man's grasp, and the man himself overpowered «nd conducted back to his bed. The incident «»TiMd quite a kutter in the hospital, and it was some little time before the excite-

Kent passed away.