A WOMAN’S DEATH.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18076, 21 July 1930, Page 5

A WOMAN’S DEATH.

MEDICAL EVIDENCE. UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Saturday. Unusual circumstances were revealed in the medical evidence at an inquest this morning on Mrs Margaret Domini (30), who died at Cook Hospital yesterday under an anaesthetic. Deceased was undergoing an operation for goitre, and Dr. Hall, the medical superintendent, stated that about an hour and a-quarter after the anaesthetic was .administered deceased ceased to breathe. Artificial respiration caused breathing to recommence, but five minutes later breathing again stopped, and the heart ceased to heat. Artificial stimulation and the administration of drugs were without avail. Heart massage caused the heart to beat, but finally the heart ceased altogether. To the Coroner (Mr Harper, S.M.) witness said it was very unusual for the heart to go on beating without breathing continuing. Dr. Wall stated a post-mortem showed that all the organs were normal, but the thymus gland behind the breastbone, which usually grew smaller in adult life was enlarged. In many cases of death jinder anaesthetics it was found that this gland was enlarged, though witness had no authority to say It was the cause of death. A thorough examination of the heart was made before the anaesthetic was administered. Everything was done for the patient. The Coroner found that Mrs Domini died under an anaesthetic, the cause of death being respiratory inhibition secondary to the operation for thyroidectomy, and it was probably accentuated by the condition of the thymus gland causing difficulty in breathing.