CHILD’S DEATH.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1923, Page 1

CHILD’S DEATH.

SWALLOWED A PIN. CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 26 An inquest was held last night by i\lr Wyvern Wilson, Coroner, into the death of a child named Joan Elizabeth Carrington, who swallowed a laroc pin at* the residence of her parents, 176, Hereford Street, and who died in the Hospital on June Id. Heat rice M ary Carrington, mother of the child, said that about 2 p.m. on June 0 she noticed that the child* had something sharp, evidently a pin, in her mouth. 'VI hen witness asked her for it she took a lew steps hackward, away from witness, lost her balance, and fell on her back. Witness sent’ for Dr Whcttor, and followed treatment lie ordered. Ihe child seemed to he quite lively the following day, and to have nothing wrong with .her, hut she coughed spasmodically during the next lew days. Witness and her husband, on Dr better’s orders, took the child to the Hospital on the Friday evening. Witness was told that ii was a veil-pin, or small hatpin. l)r .). P. Whelter said that he first prescribed a treatment that probably would result in the pin passing thruiic.h the * 111 id. but as it did not pass through he ordeied her removal to the Hospital to he X-rayed. Article.’, swallowed, ill a very large proportion of eases, passed through the intestines without hindrance if a meal of a thick substance., such as porridge, was Liken, and lie did not consider it neees-

saw in X-ray 1 lio child at first. In a previous ruse ii child was reported to have swallowed a brooch, and she was sent In the Hospital, bill nothin" was found in her. Dr .M. l’obertson, house surgeon at the Hospital, said that the X-rays -how; d the pin with the head down in the left hroiuhuDr Muotlibhou operated at noon and at b p.m. on ’-'aimda\, hui could not dislodge the pin. It mis removed at o p.m. on Die Monday. T’nciiniuiiia had set ill. mill it; • child died from ii at I p.m. on the Wednesday. Or T. A. MaeOibhnn "live evidence as to lhi' position of the pin. The Cornier returned a indict that Ihe ohilil died ol pneumonia ari-ine: from her liaviii" accidentally .-wallowed a pin. He -aid that ti was rweitalilc that the pin was not loeated. in Hie way modem -cienee tm'de uo.--i!ile. as soon -a it was known «' 'cim dv that ; he i 'odd had swallowed it. Ihe chill, ii seemed, to him. would have had a much heller chance it ii was operated „n before the pin hepaii to set no the ' ronehicl iroubl' that re-u!led in pneumonia.