Death Of Woman From Severe Burns

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1949, Page 5

Death Of Woman From Severe Burns

WELLINGTON, July 30. The attention of the,proper authorities is to be drawn to the danger of ,hts sudden ignition of certaiu types of •.ynthetie fabries, as a result of the iu ^uest into the death of Alrs. Margaret Aluriel Burns in the Wellington Hospi al on July 7 from toxemia from burns iceidentaliy received. The Wellington pathologist (Dr. P P.' Lynch) said he understood that on luly 1 Mrs. Burns had been dressed for the British Aledieal Association ball in i frock of synthetic fabric. "It seemed that the material exploded rather than caught alight," he -,aid, "and only in that way could the ixtent and severity of the burns be aeeounted for. "I thought it might be a matter for mquiry to ascertain to what exteni langerously inflammable materials arc ased for frocks, ' ' said Dr. Lynch. He had no knowledge of similar happenings in New Zealand, said Dr. Lynch, but he had been told of refermces.tQ them in American medical literature. There was no comment in the literature except to refer to the langer of such materials. If the materials were so highly inflammable they would be a potential danger in dance halls where there were eigarettes and carelessly lighted matche?. Dr. Lynch felt that in such cir'cumstapees there was a very real danger of a similar tragedy being precipitated. Mrs. Burns suffered extensive burns to the face.and arms.

Miss Elizabeth Scally Brown, Dommion seeretary of the New Zealand Reg.ste.red .Nurses' Association, said that on the niglit of July 1 she was to look ifter the six-year-old son of Air. and Alrs. Burns while they went to' the ball. While the people in the house were preparing to leave, Aliss Brown sudden; ly saw Alrs. Burns ' ' enveloped in flames. right up tO her head." Help was quiekly given to her, and Miss Brown said everything was over 'in a matter of seconds, Alrs. Burns being quite consqious. She was taken to hospital. "I am sure everything possible to. give her immedlate atteirtion was done, ' ' said Al'iss Brown. Although it was not mentioned in the evidence, there was a radiator in the room, said Air. Alellish, and this must have been the cause of the frock igniting. A disturbing feature of the accident was the extreme rapiditv with which the frock fiared up and eaused the burns, said Mr. Alellish. ■ It may have been due to good fortune that there had been no other such liappenings in New Zealand, said Mr, Alellish. Most women, he observed, seemed very anxious to acquire that type of m'aterialt