DIED UNDER ANAESTHETIC

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 245, 11 July 1921, Page 5

DIED UNDER ANAESTHETIC

INQUEST ON HOSPITAL PATIENT, An inquest was held on Saturday morning by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on, Oliver Scott, who died in the Publiq Hospital on Thursday last at 11.35 a.m., after an anaesthetic had been adminis? tered. • Mr. P. R. Woodhouse, medical superintendent at tho Hospital, said that' Scott was admitted on April 18, suffering from corrosive burns of the mouth and gullet. He was treated for his burns and later developed scarlet fever. He was transferred to the fever ward on May 4. and was brought back to ths main Hospital on June 8. While he was in the fever ward his mouth healed well, but he experienced difficulty in swallowing his food. An X-ray examination, was made on July 1, and this disclosed a stricture of the gullet. It was decided to examine the patient further under an anaesthetic, and this was done -about 10.80 a.m. on July 7. The patient took the anaesthetic well, but after about 20 minutes showed signs of failure of the heart. Ho was removed to the ward, and efforts to revive him were made. Ho recovered par»ially, but finally sank and died at 11.35 a.m. Prior to the administration of the anaesthetic witness examined the patient’s heart and could detect nothing abnormal about it. Witnessfelt quite justified in proceeding with tho operation. In the opinion of witness the cause of death was cardiac failure, following the administration of the anaesthetic, James W. Scott, brother of the deceased, stated that before admission to the "Hospital his brother had been in good health, but had suffered from rheumatism at times. There was no reason for which ho should have intentionally taken poison. Before he left for work on the morning of the day on which he was admitted to the Hospital ho complained of not feeling well. When witness saw the patient at the Hospital the latter stated that ho had taken the poison by pure-accident, thinking it was distilled water. Dr. Harrison, who was present in the operating theatre when tho anaesthetic was administered, confirmed the evidence given >by Dr. Woodhouse. J. C. M'Lellan, storeman in the employ of the Harbour Board, said that Scott was in his workshop on April 18 at 10 a.m. He then complained of feeding ill, and was given a drop of brandy. A little later, when witness returned from another part of the building Ho heard Scott groaning. Scott stated that he had taken the contents of a bottle thinking it was distilled water. The bottle contained caustio potash. Witness gave him some oil, took him to a chemist for further attention, and finally had him conveyed to. the Hospital. Scott was popular with his fellow workers, and was not the sort of man who would have taken poison intentionally. At this stage tho inquest was adjourned to a date to Im fixed later.