DEATH OF LORNA BOOT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 18, 16 October 1943, Page 6

DEATH OF LORNA BOOT

Inquest Reveals Unusual Cause “I cannot but help expressing regret that this young woman, in the prime of life, should have been cut off as she was, said the coroner, Mr. G. L. Hellish, when finding yesterday at the inquest in M ellington on Lorna Hinepare Boot, 2a, wite of Captain V. P. Boot,, -well-known New Zealand athlete, that deatn was due to a fulminating blood stream infection.. The evidence revealed no suggestion of poison--111 Deceased’s father said his daughter had always enjoyed the best of health. On September 14, she had had a meal in town during the day. She had later remarked that it had not been nice to eat. After her evening meal at home she had vomited, but had recovered and spent the evening at friend’s place. When she went to bed she made no complaints, but the following morning complained of severe pains in the stomach and stiffness ot the joints. A doctor was called in and prescribed tablets, but she became worse, a rash developing. The doctor returned about 6 p.m. and immediately advised that her condition was serious. Me injected stimulants. but they had no effect and she died at 7 p.m. . The report of Dr. J. 0. Mercer, pathologist at the Wellington Hospital, stated that the post mortem examination, disclosed a rash such as was associated with an acute bloodstream infection. There was no evidence of any chronic disease. A number of haemorrhage spots had also been disclosed on the abdomen, which were characteristic of a fulminating infection. There were no appearances suggestive of poison. The cause of death was a condition known as meningococcus septicaemia. . When meningitis was prevalent, a proportion of cases of that type occurred. It was a most rapidly fatal infection and he had never heard of any recoveries, no matter how early treatment was begun. _____