DEATH IN A DENTAL SURGERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 886, 1 September 1910, Page 3

DEATH IN A DENTAL SURGERY.

THE INQUEST

At the inquest on the death of Mrs Esther Harriet Paul, who died last week in Dunedin while having teeth extracted, the evidence clearly showed that the deceased lady expired quite suddenly during the administration of ether by Dr Sydney Allen, and prior to any attempt having been made by the dentist to extract the teeth. In fact it was shown that only a very small quantity of ether had been given at the time of death. Dr Allen stated that he had while practicing given between 5000 and 6000 anaesthetics, and he could not account for the death—the patient just collapsed. The air passages were quite free. Death was not caused by asphyxiation. He had no reason to apprehend anything serious in giving the anaesthetic. The syncope was probably the result of excitement brought on by the impending operation. The Coroner, in summing up, said that Dr Allen appeared to have taken what was generally regarded as a safe method to administer an anaesthetic. The doctor had had considerable experience in its administration, and it seemed to him, had taken every precaution to guard against accident. The percentage of such deaths was infinitesimal, and the medical men were hardly ever able to account for them. If a post-mortem examination were held he did not think it would throw any fresh light upon the cause of the death of the deceased. He did not think there was the slightest want of care on the part of the doctor. In his opinion the cause of death was syncope, the result of over-excitement in anticipation of an operation for the extraction of teeth, during the initial stages of the administration of ether.