MAN'S UNUSUAL DEATH

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1949, Page 7

MAN'S UNUSUAL DEATH

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*» . Intoxication Concealed Spinal Injury

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CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. ' ' 4 his is an inquiry into the cause oi death of a man whom oue might call unfortunate, who was in a state of aleoholism and whose death has given rise to the neeessary •inquiry and a searching inquiry. ■ This is not the place nor oecasion for an- attempt 10 fasten the blame, if aiiy is fastenable, on anybody at the hospital br anywhere else. This is merely an inquiry into the cause of death but in the course of ; the inquiry it has been neeessary to cover extensive ground.. The evidence given by the doctors speaks for itself. . They appear to haye taken consider- j able care and tro'uble. I leave ' the matter there. ' ' This comment was made by the Coroner, . Mr. Rex C. Abernethy, S.M., at the eonclusion of an inquiry today into the death of William MeCarroll, aged 63, labourer. The Coroner returned a verdict that MeCarroll died in the Christchurch Public Hospital on January 27, the cause of death beirig shock due to injury to the spinal cord following a dislocation of the neck, the injury being acci'dentally suffered when the motor vehicle MeCarroll was driving struck a pole, and being assoeiated, with a state of aleoholism. Mr. D. W. Russell appeared for the widow and Mr. D. E. Wanklyn for the North CanterbUry Hospital Board. Constable R. G. Brader said that when he Vrrived -at the "scene Of th.e accident MeCarroll was - lying on the side of the roa'd. . There was a ■ very strong odour of aleohol which Smolt 'ike fr.esh beer. MeCarroll did not ■snpni to be iniured. . He was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital and witness followed. MeCarroll was in the out patients' department and 10 minutes later was examined by a doctor. MeCarroll was kicking his feet ,about. The doctor stitched and dressed the injuries to MeCarroll 's elbows and then told witness he could take MeCarroll to the police station. "While he was being attended, the injured man made an attempt to walk from "the stretcher but when I saw liim eollapsing, T helped him baek to the stretcher," said Constable Brader. "He was unable to stand so I went to the police station and got another constable who helped me to carry the injured man to the police ear aud we took him to the police station. He was placed on a mattress in the cell and I)r. Reott examined him>pthere- Aboyit 19 mintues later, on Dr. ftcott's instructions, an ambulance was summoned and the injured man Was taken back to the hospital. About 8 'p.m. that same da.y fiergeant Walsh and I went. tp the oospital in the^pol/ce ear. We 'again ••arried MeCarroll but to the police car and t.ook him 'baek to the police station where we plaeed hihi on a mattress in the cell. He was still unable to walk and he seerned in the same state as before; - It was 9. p.m. when Drc. Reott again examined him and arrangements were made for the injured man to be returned to the hospital by ambulance, ". said witness. Dr. F. L. Reott said lie examined MeCarroll at the Central police station at 2.30 p.m. on January 22 and learned that he had alreadv been to the Christchurch Public Hospital for treatmeht of his injuries. He showed signs uf having consumed liquor. ' . . Witness sent MeCarroll baek to the hospital. He saw him again in the police cell at 9 p.m. on the same dav and sent him back to the hospital for admisison because he suspected a spinal injury. Dr. A. Wanty said he was on duty as easualty officer at the Christchurch Public 'Hospital on January 22. He examined MeCarroll about 2 p.m. MeCarroll was under the influence of aleohol. He had a slight cut on each elbow, one requiring two stitches and the other one stitch. He also had a slight scratch on his nose. There were no other signs of external injury. "'I examined him carefully and found no clinical evidence of fractures or signs of a head injury," said Dr. Wanty. "He was conseious but in a confused

state due, I attributed*t'o his alcoholi'c l condition. He said he felt no pain anywhere and I could see no reaction for pain durnig my examination. He was able to sit up but could not walk without help. I consider ed his condition was solely alcoholie and he was assisted to leave ■ the , hospital ;by the two eonstables. As the resuit of a telephone conversation wlth Dr. Seott, 1 agreed to have the injured man back in the out patients' department fpr observation until he showed signs of sobering- up. It would be abopt 2.4 j p.m. when he returned to the hospital. I then made another thorough examination' of him but could find no clinical evidence df any f racture or head injury. There was no evidence of shock. He remained on the stretcher and I visited him periodically. It seemed all througli that his condition was alcoholie. andihe was slowly sobering up. With the time about 8 P-m. I was satisfled his condition warranted his diseharge and I authorised his discharge from hospital. I did not see him leave because I was attending another patient. I fmished duty at 8.30 p.m and I did not see the injured mau again," said witness. To Mr. Russell, Dr. Wanty said fydid not suspeet at any time that Mc Carroll had an injury to his spine. Mc Carroll had to be held down while witness put stitches in his elbows. Evidence was given by two nursw? that MeCarroll had moved' his head) from side to side while his bed waa j being changed. Dr. K. D. Drayton said he was on duty in the Christchurch Public Hospi tal on the night of January 26. At 12.30 a.m. on January 27 witness was ealled urgently to attend MeCarroll and found him in a state of eollapse with his cervical traction apparatus displaced. He gave him restorative treatment but MeCarroll died at 12.40 a.m. James Leslie Will, director of orthopaedic surgery at the Christchurch Public Hospital, said that MeCarroll was admitted to hospital at 9,45 p.m. on January 22 with a note from Dr. Rcott who suspected an injury to the cervical spine. MeCarroll was then able to move his neck freely and he could movc his arms. He was placed in a specidl bed with his head between sandbags. On January 24 MeCarroll was considered sufficiently well to be X-rayed aa-:l this examination showed a three-quar |ter centimetre anterior displacemem | of the tifth cervical bodv on the sixtli. |A head sling was applied. "On January 25 he was very restless and interfered with the head sling," said Mr Will. ' ' He was so bad that it was neeessary to restrain him with wrist straps and ankle straps." To M: Wanklyn witness said that in his opinion MeCarroll died from a eom bination of things. ' ' The whole of histay in hospital was one battle to prt.yent t^e onset of delirium tremens an i it was absolutply impossible for asi\ nnrse or any apparatus to completely restrain him, so that all the time then were certain stresses and strains being thrown on the partial dislocation of the neck," said Mr AYill . "It is most un usual in this type of injury, for sudden death to occpa" or from a further iinjjjujy(.ttO--the coi'dmearly a week after. In fact, there are many patients with |a similar injury walking about tin streets. I think the cause of death was contusion ^)f the spinal column associa ted with post alcoholie ^ delirium. .1 tli|ftk that without the one he would uot hh:ve had the other." -Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist ai thb Christchurch Public Hospital said tfiat iu "his opinion the cause of death was shock due to injury to the spinal cord following dislocation of the neck.