DEATH BY CHLOROFORM.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1138, 21 March 1872, Page 2

DEATH BY CHLOROFORM.

■The .Christchurch papers: report the death of an old and much respected aettler itf Canterbury— Mr-Douglas Grahamy of Riccarton. This sad event took place on Saturday week suddenly, while under the influence of chloroform. On Saturday forenoon, Mr and Mrs Graham, and two friends, were driving in a dog-cart from the Homebu3h station to the farm of Mr Graham; of Southbridge. The^ deceased was sitting in the back seat of the dog' cart, holding a led horse by : a rope. In consequence of a fright the horse pulled suddenly back and dragged Mr Graham from his seat, and all but tore off his little finger. 'He came to town by the last train, and called upon Dr Turnbullj who on examination, foiled it necessary tojremove the finger at the joint/ Before doing 'so chloroform was administered by Drs Turnbull and Powell, and as Dr Tumbull was- -about to remove ; the finger, .; it was found that the patient's heart had ceased to beat. Recourse ,was immediately had to customaiy- restoratives, and persevered in for upwards of two hours, but without avail. Both practitioners are at a loss to account for this melancholy result, as. he went under the influence of chloroform with; f air ,-. average, facility, v and as no disease of the heart or lungs has been found. Dr Turnbull was Mr, Graham's medical 'attendant for many' years, and he was fully satisfied as to the condition of important organs, and saw. no ireipoii why chloroform should not be administered. . The funeraiof Mr D. : Graham was .one of the largest funerals seen in Canterbury for many years, numbers of friends of the deceased coming from all parts of the province, to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of a man who had by his integrity and honorable dealings made hosts of friends. The: cortege comprised some; sixty carriages, amongst them those of his Honor the Superintendent and numerous old colonists. The deceased gentleman, who was fifty-five yeai» of age, arrived in the colony in 1853,' and : assumed the position of steward of the ; Riccarton property. During the! time he held that office he was exceedinglyriuccessfi.il, both in agriculture and in stock-p-----raising the Riccarton estate, taking prized yearly in both departments. He was a menib,er of the Agridiiltural arid, Pastoral 'Association j /and a warn! sxippotter of it, there being few shows in the province at

which he was not present. He was one of the earliest members of the Scotch Church in Canterbury, and was an elder of St. Andrew's Church at the time of bis death. The deceased gentleman was also in Borne sort an historical personage, being a descendant of Tarn O'Shanter, whose exploits are supposed to be recorded in. Burns' poem of that name. His death has caused universal , and , wide-spread regret' throughout the province, and it has lost a colonist of the truest Btamp.