CHILDREN’S DEATHS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1928, Page 4

CHILDREN’S DEATHS

AN INQUEST. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, Feb. 3. An inquest was held to-day concerning the deatli of Edna Third, eight years, and Fay Third, five years, who were Knocked down by a car while crossing the road to attend the Awnpuni. School, on Wednesday, the elder girl being killed instantly and the younger dying in the hospital this morning. The children were standing on the footpath as a rubbish dray came along. When it had passed, they stepped out behind and ran across the road, being knocked down by a car proceeding in the opposite direction. The evidence of the driver of the car, a .Maori named Tom Dennis, was to the effect that on turning into tne road from the country he slackened down to 22 miles per hour, but on nearing the school he slowed down still further to about fifteen miles, and seeing the dray approach the road not being wide at that point, he sounded, bis horn and swerved slightly to the left to pass the dray. About eight yards from the dray the two children, hand-in-hand, commenced to run across the road to the school ground. When about half way across, they hesitated and then ran on. Wtmess jammed all his brakes on hard and slewed his wheel to the left, running on to the grass by the roadside, which by now the children had reached. The children were struck by the left front door and knocked down. Martin Henry Petersen said he win working within two chains of the scene of the accident. In his opinion tii car’s speed was reasonable. He confirmed Driscoll’s statement in regard to tooting the horn, and swerving, stating that in witness’s opinion, the car could not have missed the children. Coroner Levvy, S.M., said he would decline to comment on the speed of the car, or as to the driver’s method of progression, anti returned a verdict that the death of the elder girl was due to serious injuries to the head and skull, and in the case of the younger girl, death was due to injuries, both occurring through being struck by a car driven by T. Dennis.

inURSE censured by coroner CHRISTCHURCH, Feb.

On Monday, December 12, Bruce Gamer Ke'ler, aged (i, was driving with Ins mo.her in a motor-car, when they met with an accident, and the boy's face was cut by a broken wind screen. The cut was not severe but it was desirable that that it should be stitched, and he was taken to the Christchurch Hospital. Ihe boy was given an anaesthetic and the wound was stitched, and he was returned to the ward. There lie commenced to vomit and undigested food from the stomach 'blocked the passages to both lungs, causing death. At an inquest, conducted to-day by Coroner Young, S.M., Dr Cotton stated that lie had examined the hoy on admission, and administered the anasthetio. and Dr Church stitched the wound. The evidence of the mother ot the hoy, was that the lad had had a meal of mince and peas at four o’clock, and an hour later, a piece of sponge cake. This she told to Dr Cotton.

Dr Cotton’s evidence was that the piuents did not seem sure of the exact hour at which the child had taken food, but thought it was about live or fivethirty. The operation was delayed till eight-thirty, because he considered three hours would he sufficient lor digestion to he complete.

Dr Crookc who conducted the post mortem, said that he found the stomach full of undigested food. The shock ol the accident had undoubtedly retarded digestion, and the stomach should have been washed out lieiore the anaesthetic, was given. When the blockage occurred. tne only expedient would Imvc been immediate tracheotomy, and lie did not. think this would have saved the hoy’s life.

The Coroner returned a verdict that the cause of death was asphyxia, caused I>v blockage by vomited food under an anaesthetic. ’* Under the circumstances set out in the evidence.” said the Coroner, “ I think that the contents .of deceased's stomach should have iieen removed before the anaesthetic was administered. In my own opinion the nurse immediately in charge of deceased did not exercise the skill and promptitude which the circumstances demanded. She should immediately have called the house-surgeon, who was only a lew cards away.”