NURSE’S MISTAKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4498, 30 August 1930, Page 4

NURSE’S MISTAKE.

CAUSES IDEA TIT OF HOSPITAL PATIENT. Christchurch, Last. Night. At The inquest yesterday into the .lentil »l: Violet Monica Salmond, aged 37, headmistress of the, Craighead Diocesan school, Tiinaru, while a patient in St. George’s Hospital, the Coroner returned a verdict. ‘‘That death was caused hv alkaloidal poisoning duo to cocaine which was t»v mistake instead of neo cocaine injected round the tonsils of deceased prior to an operation for removal. No 'blame is attached to the operating surgeons.” A nurse gave evidnece that she tailed to realise that 'the operating surgeon Dr. P. A. MeGihbon, wauled neo-cocaine and when he asked for an anaesthetic in a. syringe she pit cocaine and adrenalin in it and handed the syringe to the doctor who started injecting. On the hotlie was a label “Dor local application and not for injection.” Witness did not read the label properly or she should have 'known not to use it. Dr. MeGihbon in evidence said: “The only explanation I can give is ilia I the nurse was hurried and did not understand that the co-caine-adrenalin mixture was not used for injections. 1 took it for granted Dial she would 'know what ! wanted and I did not; specify neo-i-ticn inc."