SUDDEN DEATH.

Western Star, 18 October 1932, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH.

Mrs D H. S. Booth, a respected resident of Aparima, died suddenly at her residence on Saturday. An inquest was held on Monday before Air G. B. Burns (acting coroner) and the following jury: Messrs A. F.isher (foreman), D. Ballam. L. Harrington and W. C. Sinclair. - Mr Booth deposed that deceased was his wife and had enjoyed fairly good health. Twenty-five years ago she had a severe attack of pleurisy, and in 1918 she had the influenza, again having a touch of pleurisy at that time. On September 15th lie left home for a holiday, and intended to come back in a week’s time, but his wife requested him to stay longer. Hi s wife was apparently in good health. "Witness returned home on October 11 and found his wife ill in bed. She complained then of a pain in th e right side and the hack and formed the opinion that she again had a slight attack of pleurisy. Hi s wife said it was not worth while getting either a doctor or a nurse, as sh e was not ill enough. Dcoeased appeared to improve, and on Saturday morning she said she had no pain. He had occasion to go to Otautau to order manure, and returned home about. 1-20 p.m. He went into her room when she sat up and talked in the usual way. About 2 p.m. she took a turn and he supported her. His wife closed her eves and became slightly limp and vomited., after which she got her breath. His sou John returned at this time and they both assisted her out of bed and in again. One son, Hector, was sent, for the doctor to Otautau, and could not be found as he bad gone to Invercargill. When Hector returned home, Mrs Booth expired. Had the doctor been there lie was of the opinion that if would have been too late. Hector Booth, son of deceased, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and stated liis mother took ill on 16th September and remained in bed for four days. His mother seemed to •improve, but did very little work. On October 2 she took ill again

and returned to bed. She refused to have the doctor, but h e said he would get the nurse, hut she replied “Never mind.” He talked the matter over with his brother, and a s lie was going to Otautau he called on tli fi District Nurse whom he brought back with him. Tli e nurse said bis mother had caught a chill. He wa s ordered to go to the chemist and procure some poultices for her. After three days liis mother improved H e called on the nurse the third day at her request and infomed.her how liis mother way get-

ting on. conveying a message from her that she was much better. Ili s father* arrived Uac-k oil October 11, when his mother was still in bed and appeared to be improving. On Friday, October 14, he again called on the District Nurse to inquire when liis mother could get out of bed. She complained of a little pain sometimes. He last saw hi s mother alive at 1.30 on October 15, when she inquired what work lie was going to do. She had enjoyed fairly good health, but was ill in 1918 with the influenza. District Nurse Potterton, gave evidence that she remembered October 3, when Hector Booth called on her and asked her to come out and see his mother. She went the same morning and found Mrs Booth in bed. her condition being fair, and she did not ajipear to be very ill. Her temperature wa s 160 and her pulse 96. Sh e complained of a slight pain in her side, but- had no cough. She prescribed antephogestein plaster. She wanted to wait and apply this, but Mrs Booth informed her that the boys could manage quite nicely. She had a couversatiori with her but did not see the son again, and asked her t u let her know how she got on. She thought Tt was the third morning after when the eon called and told witness she was improving. The son called last Friday to inquire whether liis mother could get up, and witness told him she could only ge| out of bed for a short time during the warmth of the day. Mr Booth called at her residence on the following day, and informed her

that Mrs Booth had passed, away, and at his request she went out to Aparinia with him. There wer t . no marks on the body, which she laid out. She noticed the body was slightly blue, the toe and finger nails being very blue.

In her opinion, and from lier experij cnee she would attribute death to heart failure. "Witness saw no reason , "'by a doctor should be called in on - the occasion to her visit to deceased,. Dr AV. J 3. Reekie, Otautam said he first, saw deceased at 5.40 p.m on the afternoon of Saturday, October 15. As she was then dead and as there was no visible evidence of the cause of 1 death he informed Mr Booth that he was unable to give a certificate of death and therefore an inquest would I lie necessary. AVitness reported tli e cir-' eumstances to Constable White on his return to Otautau. Oil Sunday, October IG, lie was ordered by the District Coroner to conduct, a post-mortem examination on deceased. This lie did the same afternoon. A s a result lie found that deceased had old-standing valvular disease of the heart, thinned anil weakened heart muscles and fluid and adhesions all about thy lower half of the right Jung. From these findings (lie cause of deceased’s death was sudden failure of the heart supervening upon acute pleurisy. Had lie been home there would have been no possible hope of saving deceased, He would like to add that under the uni/'iial circumstances in order to clear file family of any neglect that they were misled by the false sensations of well-being made by deceased. A verdict wa s returned in accordance with the medical evidence, and ib 0 acting-coroner conveyed the sympathy to Mr Booth and family in',the sad Mow they had sustained. *