DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1454, 15 May 1905, Page 3

DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM

VERDICT OF THE CORONER’S JURY

The inquest upon the body of Mrs A. Howey Walker, who died on Thursday last while undergoing an operation, was held at Auckland on Friday. The deceased’s husband, Mr A. Howey Walker, surgeon dentist, first witness, said that the deceased was 28 years of age. In consequence of some trouble which the deceased had on Sunday last, Dr King was called in, and as it was found that hemorrhage had set in, it was decided that an operation should be performed upon the following Thursday. The deceased was fairly conversant with the nature and effects of chloroform and other anaesthetics, and had been attended by Dr King before. Dr De Clive Lowe said that at seven minntes past two on Thursday afternoon he was called by telephone to 191, Queenstreet, Upon arriving there he saw the deceased, whose body, though quite warm, was dead. The only persons in tbs room when he got there were Drs King and Walker, Mr A. Howey Walker and the nurse. At the coroner’s direction he performed a post-mortem examination yesterday afternoon. He found burns upon the chest, which had evidently been caused by the proper application of hot towels to restore the animation of the heart. On opening up the body he found that the lungs were in good condition, while the heart was somewhat fatty. The heart muscle itself was very flabby, which would indicate a weak heart, Although that was so, there was nothing to indicate externally that it WB3 not s, case for chloroform. After describing the condition of the other organs of the body, Dr Lowe went on to say that, in view of the fact that deceased had been under chloroform upon two provious occasions, he considered 1 that everything that was essential wa3 done by tho medical practitioners. He found tbat death was due to tho fatty condition of the heart and to tho fatty condition of tho body generally, the chloroform evidently causing cassation of tho heart’s action and death.

Dr King, who performed the operation, stated tbat he had known Mrs Walker for about two years. He had given her chloroform before. After the deceased had acquainted him of what she thought was her trouble, ho decided to perform an operation, and accordingly made arrangements with Dr Walker to administer tho amesthetic. The operation, which lasted for about 20 minutes, was accordingly conducted on Thursday.afternoon, everything going well. Dr Walker then spoke to the deceased. Soon afterwards witness saw that she was collapsing, and drawing Dr Walker’s atfcentiou to the fact they tried artificial rsspiration, but this was of no avail, as the patient succumbed in a few moments.

Dr Walker deposed that after making

the usual inquiries and tests, he applied the "chloroform, which was taken very satisfactorily. Altogether the deceased inhaled about 2£ drams of chloroform, or 14 drams less thaD any quantity known to have been fatal to an adult. After Dr

King had conducted the operation, witness patted the deceased upon the ohoek, saying that “It was all over now," and “ All right." To this she replied, “Is it?’’ About five minutes inter Dr Kiog drew his attention to the stats of the patient, which was that of general collapse. He agreed with Dr Lowe’s opinion as to the cause of death.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with tbo medical evidence, and expressed the opinion that everything that could have been done for the patient was done, and that the anassthetio was properly administered.