DEATH FROM CHLOROFORM.

Evening Star, Issue 3154, 29 March 1873, Page 3

DEATH FROM CHLOROFORM.

{Bruce Herald.) One of those sad events which seem to have baffled the highest scientific achievements occurred at BalcJutha on Tuesday, the 25th inst. A man named Charles Japies who Jyas for the last ten weeks a' resident at Balclutha, met with an accident at the fellmongery of Mr Flexman, Dunedin, about a fortnight previous to bis going to the former place. The accident referred to was the loss of two fingers on the left hand, which was dressed at the Dunedin Hospital, and the patient, thinking his injuries were progressing favorably, elected to leave the hospital. Subsequently he experienced so much inconvenience from the insufficient covering at the extremity of the amputated digits, that, at his earnest request, Dr Smith undertook to perform the operation of shortening the portion of fingers left, in order to secure a more effectual covering to the extremities. r ihe deceased appeared to regard the operation with great favor, remarking that his former experience under chloroform enabled him to suggest the desirability of having a few strong men to hold him, as he had been violent on former occasions. This suggestion, we need hardly say, was attended to, but from those present at the sad consummation we believe the precautionary measures were somewhat superfluous ; indeed, it was remarked that the patient was the most jovial member of the party. For the rest, we prefer to give the evidence adduced at the Cpyor ipquivy hell before Mr J. P. Maitland, R.M., on the following day. Dr. J. G. Smith, who performed the operation, deposed as follows : I have known the deceased about four weeks; he was cook at the Newmarket Hotel. About a fortnight ago he showed me his hand, and informed me that while working at Mr. Flexman’s fellmongery, he had accidentally chopped off two of his fingers with an axe. He went to Dunedin Hospital and remained there a fortnight, when the wounds healed, and he left. He said that since leaving, his fingers caused him very much inconvenience—that he could not work, they being so tender at the points. He asked me if any improvement could be made on them. 1 said it the heads of the first phalanx of the tiugers were removed there would be more muscular covering given to them, and thought they would not so much inconvenience him. He called upon me two or three times and asked me to perform the operation. Owing to professional engagements I was unable to perform the operation when requested, but on the 25th he again asked me to perform the operation, ppd I spud I woplfl. J asked, “ Will you take chloroform, or stand the pain ? " He answered, “Most decidedly I will take chloroform,” I then asked, “Have you ever taken chlorcform?” He answered, “Yes, in Queensland, when I met with an accident to my shoulder, and also in the Dunedin Hospital,” He further said, before getting thoroughly under the influence, “I am very violent, and struggle a good deal. You will require to get one or two strong men to hold me,” Yesterday, in the afternoon (it was in my own house the foregoing conversation took place), about 3 30 p.m,, i walked up to Mr Barr’s hotel, and came into the room we are now in, and said to Humphrey, “I am prepared for the operation ; are you ready ? As you are a tall man you had better lie on this table j we could hot get a better place, 1 ’ He took off bis coat aud lay down on the table. There were present Mr Rattray, Mr Glassford, Mr Fitzgerald, Mr James Whatmough, and Mr G. W. Hutchins. I then administered the chloroform on a piece of lint, lie was very violent for the first two or three minutes, and required the exertion of those preient to hold him on the table. He then became quiet. I said to Mr Hutchins, “Take the lint.” The deceased turned back his head and said, “ I’m not right, doctor, yet—l can see you.” I then administered a little more chloroform, aud he became quiet, I felt his pulse, and found it quite regular, I then went to the cheffonier for a knife, and made one incision into his finger, and then heard a sort of guttural sound in his throat, I then said to Mr Hutchins, to whom I had given the lint, “ Is he all right ? ” and at the same moment I pat my band on bis pulse aud felt that the

Eulsation was stopped ; I applied my ear to is heart and found heart action had ceased likewise. 1 then looked to see if his tongue had turned back in his mouth, and found it had not, 1 then said to the bystanders “He is dead.” Water was brought, and we rolled him on the table and threw water on his face and hands, but he never breathed from the time I said “Is he all right ?” to Mr Hutchins. Mr Hutchins is a chemist, and has. assisted me at many operations, I remember now that the deceased made the remark to me in conversation that he had on a former occasion made one doctor spin, before he was thoroughly under the influence, and immediately prior to the operation I said to him, “1 hope you will not make an example of me, you had better take your boots off,” and he did so. I have been in practice 17 years. During that time I have administered chloroform inhundreds of cases to men, women, and children. I gave deceased about four drachms of chloroform. On the Sunday previous I gave four times the quantity to another patient at Gatlin’s River (amputation of the toe), and then did not get the patient thoroughly under the influence. I have given repeatedly an ounce and two ounces without any harm. I adminstered the chloroform in accordance with the usual practice, keeping the lint saturated clear of the mouth, and allowing plenty of air to be mixed with the chloroform before inhalation. The jury returned the following verdict : “ Deceased died from the effects of chloroform properly administered, for the purpose of performing a surgical operation, and that no blame is attributable to his medical attendant.”