DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE TIGHT LACING.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8160, 15 April 1895, Page 1

DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE TIGHT LACING.

Litely Mr Parker, County Coroner, hold an inquiry at the Preston Infirmary, touching the death of Amy Buddon (23), domestic servant, who died on Saturday night at the surgery of Mr Nathaniel Miller, dentist, Fishorgate, after having inhaled gas for the purpose of aiding tooth extraction. Mrs Willan, deceased's mistress, said aho had noticed that doceased seemed to bo tightly laced, and had taxed her with i f , bub she had denied it, and always seemed able to run about without any difficulty. Mr Nathaniel Miller, dentist, said deceasod came to him on Saturday to have a tooth extracted. Sho asked for gas, which from her »ppcaranco ho had no hesitation in administering The tooth was extracted, the deceased's brea'hing being normal throughout tho whole operation. Sho recovered consciousness, but subsequently developed symptoms which alarmed hint, and ho at once applied nitrato of ainyl. This was always given in cases of heart affection. He dispatched his maid for Dr Collinson, and while sho was away resorted to artificial respirati' n Dr Oollitißon arrived within three minutes, aivl injected ether. Deceased was then placed on tho floor, and they began to remove ht-r clothes, bub they were unable to remove her corsets, which had to ha torn off. Hot towels were applied to the region of the heart, but all their efforts woro in vain, and she died, Dr Collinson corioborated tho ovidenco of Mr Miller. Tho measurement of deceased's waist under the stays was 2,'{ inches, while her htaya measured only 18 inches. Ho and Dr Turnbull Smith mado a post-mortem examination on Sunday morning, and tho appearance of the internal organs denoted that tight lacing had been habitual. Death was due to asphyxia, under the conditions stated, which interfered with proper breathing. Tho verdic of the jury whs as follows : " That deceased died from niiaadvonturo while under tho influence of nitrous oxide gas from suffocation, or stoppage of the heart's notion, caused by excessive tight lacing ; and we consider Mr Miller in no wise to blame, as he con* ducted tho operation sa'isfttctorily,"