CORONIAL INQUIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2785, 16 September 1924, Page 2

CORONIAL INQUIRY.

A coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of' Jack Moffatt, who died suhdenlv at his parent’s residence, at Oroua Downs, during the night of Friday, September 12th., was held at the Court House, Foxton, on Saturday afternoon, before Mr Alf. Fraser, Coroner,

William Moffott. father of deceased, a farmer, at Oroua Downs, gave evidence Hint his son was 22 years of age—would have been 23 on Thursday. Five years ago he had a fall from a horse and had been rolled on. Tie had injured his chest and had-never been the same boy since. A week after this accident he. had visited a doctor in Palmerston X., in consequence of chest pains. After overhauling him, the doctor told him he had no bones broken but had strained the muscles of In’s ohosl. Some time later deeeased had a nervous break-down and was medically treated for indigestion. Since then he had experienced good health right up to the time of his death. Twelve months ago lie won (he quarter of a mile race at ihe Oroua Downs sports and had been playing football continuously. On Friday, night last, deceased re-

tired to bed at 7.3 d p.m. Just prior to retiring, he said lie wanted to take his mother in to Foxton the following day to witness a football match. At 4 a.m. on Saturday witness was called to his son’s room by bis wife. TTis wife bad been aroused by a gurgling noise, and had called out to a younger son who was sleeping in the same room as deceased, thinking it was him. He, replied (hat he was all right but that his brother was making a noise. On going into the room witness found his son in a dying eon

dition. Medical aid was immediately summoned from Foxton but bis son expired almost immediately. Marshall Moncrieff Moffat i, aged 13 a brother of deceased desposed that be slept with deceased on the night of Friday last. He retired to bed at 5.30, an hour after his brother. When witness went to bed, deceased was not quite asleep and asked witness to put the blankets around him, which he did. Deceased was then quite as usual and did not complain of feeling unwell. At 1 a.m. on Saturday witness was arousod hv his brother making a gurgling. groaning noise. When his mother called out witness tried to rouse his brother by shaking his shoulders. Witness’s mother then came into the room and witness left (lie room. Was not roused previous to this during the night and did not think his brother woke either.

Questioned by the Coroner, Air Moffnll said bis son had not been of a nervous disposition. He bad been taking no medicine lately, Hie last he took being about a month a go, when he took cough medicine for a cold.

Dr. E. M. Wyllie gave evidence as to holding a post mortem on the body of Jack Moffatt and said that the heart muscle was quite normal hut both ventricals of the heart were found to he dilated. The mitral val-

ve showed a slight stenosis hut otherwise was normal. This in itself was not sufficient to cause death. The lungs were normal as were the stomach and abdominal organs. The thyroid gland showed no external peculiarity but both lobes were p«>storially much lai-gex- than norma. I, considerably pressing- the trachea, and running upwards and backwards among the nerves and vessels of the neck to a much higher level than normal. In his opinion the pressure of these lobes upon the nerves ami vessels in the neck was sufficient to account for sudden death, especially so since in this case there was a defect of the mitral valve and also a suggestion of recent strain as shown by the dilatation ~f the heart. Shortly, death was due to cardiac failure, primarily due to enlarged thyfojd gland and its pressure -on the important nerves ami vessels of the neck, and contributed to by the fact that the heart showed slight weakness. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.

The funeral of the late Air Jack Moffatt. took place yesterday after-noon.-there being a-large cortege present. The Rev. McDonald was the officiating clergyman, services being held both at the house of the deceased’s parents and at the graveside. A great many floral tokens were forwarded, showing the high* esteem in which the late Mr. Moffatt was held throughout the districts