ALLEGED UNSKILFUL DENTISTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 23 November 1907, Page 3

ALLEGED UNSKILFUL DENTISTRY.

DrNEDIN, Nov. 21

At the Supreme Court to-day an unusual case was commenced before Mr Justice Williams and a special jury of twelve.

William Harrison Hatter proceeded against Philip Hubert Moses and Walter Douglas Brewer Pittar, carrying on business as the London Dental Company, for damages, alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff owing to negligent and unskilful extraction of his teeth by the defendant Moses, by which it is asserted plaintiff’s throat and lungs were permanently injured, and by which he has incurred, and will incur, further expenses for surgical and medical attendance and for medicine.

Mr Solomon, K.C., and Mr Payne appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Adams and Mr Hanlon for defendants. Dr Wm. Marshall MacDonald said he had, come to the conclusion that plaintiff’s larynx had been injured. After November 14th, . 1906, plaintiff improved rapidly, and then stopped, and had been at a standstill for nearly a year. Witness thought there was a foreign body in plaintiff’s air passage. Witness considered it absolutely necessary to have a medical man to attend to the anaesthetic whilst teeth extraction was going on, thus allowing the dentist to devote his whole attention to his work, otherwise there was danger of a tooth being lost.

The statement of the defence showed that defendants denied absolutely the charges of negligence and unskilfulnfess, and the injuries alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. They denied that any foreign substance bad gone down plaintiff’s throat, and stated that Moses had exercised proper care in conducting the operation.