INQUEST AT FRANKTON.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 45, 3 October 1863, Page 1 (Supplement)

INQUEST AT FRANKTON.

An inquest was held at Frankton, on Monday, touching the death of John M'llroy, who died at the Hospital on the 24th Sept. Owen Handy, sworn, said he was lying on bis bed opposite that of the deceased in his tent at Pleasant Creek on the 10th September. There was a gun lying on deceased's bed. He went to take it off to shoot a dog, and in drawing it towards him, the blankets must have caught the hammer, which caused the gun to explode, and the contents went through his arm. Witness took his jacket off and bound up the wound, and then sent for the doctor at Maori Point.

By the Jury—lt was an hour and a half, or three-quarters before the doctor arrived. I had stopped the bleeding. He had lost a good deal of blood before I got his jacket off, and nearly fainted. Charles Combe, sworn, stated that he was a surgeon, residing at Maori Point. Was sent for on Tuesday, the 10th September, by one of the mates of deceased, to proceed to Pleasant Creek. It was about noon when he was sent for, and he was about three-quarters of an hour going up. Found deceased lying in a very weak state in consequence of severe hemorrhage. Enquired into the way the accident occurred, and learned both from deceased and his mates that it was through the accidental explosion of a gun. Examined the wound, but did not find any of the balls; and by that time the deceased had lost so much blood, that witness did not think it safe, even had he the proper ligatures, to have tied the arteries. Had therefore to apply a compressory bandage upon the artery above the wound, and desired his mates to take him to the Frankton Hospital as soon as possible. They went the next morning. There was no haemorrhage from the time witness saw deceased till the time he reached the Hospital. Heard through one of deceased's mates last Thursday, that he was then doing well; and on Friday that he was dead, through the blood-vessels having burst again. By the Jury—lf I had had the ligatures by me, it would have saved deceased great loss of blood. I have seen the body this day and exposed the artery, which was ruptured; but I cannot say whether it was before or after the accident that it was ruptured. His death was caused by secondary haemorrhage. I think it was quite possible for a gun-shot to cause the rupture. Dr. Pelley, surgeon to the Hospital, deposed that he received deceased, John M'llroy, into the Hospital on the 12th September, suffering from a wound on the internal side of the right arm, about two inches above the elbow-joint. This was a penetrating wound, and communicated with another ou the front of the arm above the elbow-joint. Such a wound might have been inflicted by the penetration of balls or slugs. The arm, forearm, and hand were very much swollen, owing to the tightness of the bandage placed above. The wounds were suppurating. Loosed the bandage, and placed him under treatment. The case progressed favorably up to September 22nd, when he was sent for on account of haemorrhage. Cut into the elbow, and secured the bleeding points at the bend. Haemorrhage ceased until the following morning, when a larger spurt occurred higher up the arm. Sent for Drs. Douglas and Croft. When they arrived, did not think it advisable to tie the brachial artery, owing to the previous loss of blood. Deceased died on the following morning at a quarter to six. The cause of death was secondary haemorrhage. By the Jury—There was further bleeding after Drs. Douglas and Croft left, but not to any great extent. I heard deceased had exerted himself, endeavoring to put on his boot, but he denied it. He was in a very weak state when he first came to the Hospital, but rallied very quickly. The exertion of pulling on a boot would produce secondary hasmorrhage. If a person with proper appliances had been on the ground when he received the wound, it might in all probability have saved the man's life. I should not have attempted to tie the artery unless I was sure arterial haemorrhage had occurred from one of the large branches. Dr J. Douglas, surgeon, residing at the Arrow, said that on the evening of the 23rd September he received a note from Dr. Pelley asking him to go to Frankton Hospital On arriving there, was taken to see the deceased, John M'llroy, who was then in a state of prostration. His lips were bloodless, and his Le exceedingly pale; his pulse was beating

very japidly, and at the same time very weak. Drs. Pelley and Croft had been with him before, and agreed that no operation could be performed, to which he assented. The cause of death was secondary haemorrhage. By the Jury—Under all the circumstances Dr. Combe was justified in not operating; and from the history of the patient since his arrival in the Hospital, I consider that it has further justified him. Dr. H. M. Croft, surgeon, residing at Queenstown, stated that on Wednesday, the 23rd instant, he received a note from Dr. Pelley, asking him to assist in taking up the brachial artery of the deceased, John M'llroy. Found him very weak and in a state of prostration, owing to the previous loss of blood. In the afternoon he held a consultation with Dr. Pelley and Dr. Douglas, and did not consider it safe to perform the operation that evening. Removed the man from the bed, and also put him on dry clothing, and had the bleeding come on again, the cause of death was secondary haemorrhage. Feel certain that the deceased would have died under the operation, had it been performed. By the Jury—l think Dr. Combe was fully justified in his treatment of deceased. Under the circumstances I consider that the combandage used by Dr. Combe was correct. Had two surgeons been there it would have been proper to take up the artery, had they the proper ligatures. The jury returned a verdict that deceased "came to his death accidentally, from the effects of a gun-shot wound, and that no blame attaches to any of the medical attendants."