BLOOD TRANSFUSION TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1922, Page 1

BLOOD TRANSFUSION TRAGEDY.

LONDON, Alav 5. A wife who risked her life in a fruitless attempt to save her husband has died in Aberdeen. Air John S. Duncan, a pattern maker of 25, Justice street, was taken ill and the doctors decided that an o|>crntion was necessary. They decided, however, that before any operation could lie performed a transfusion of blood must lx’ made to stimulate the action ot his heart. A message to this effect was sent to Mrs Duncan, who volunteered at once to give from her own body whatever quantity of blood might he required to save her husband's life. She was a woman of robust constitution and sound health, and the result of medical tests indicated that she was a suitable subject. The transfusion was performed m the operating theatre of the Aberdeen Infirmary, when three-quarters of a pint of blood was drained from Airs Duncan’s body to that of her husband before the operation which lie had to undergo was performed. But in spite of this he died nine hours after the operation. On tlio eve of his funeral Mrs Duncan also collapsed in her own home and was removed to the infirmary, where she rapidly grew worse and died.