SERUM BY PLANE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 49, 20 October 1931, Page 3

SERUM BY PLANE

URGENT TRANSPORT FOR OPERATION ON MR. F. GOODSON. FLIGHT FROM HAMILTON The valu,e of the modern transport* methods in cases of emergency was demonstrated on Sunday when a plane was requisitioned to bring a speciaL serum from the Waikato Hospital tb Rotorua. The serum was requiredfor an urgent operation on Mr. F. Goodson, who is at present lying seriously ill in King Street Hospital. On Sunday, Dr. H. Douglas of Hani- . ilton was called into consultation by Mr. Goodson's medical advisers and.. it was found necessary to carry out. a second operation, amputating the patient's left leg above the lcnee. Mr. Goodson had his left foot badly" crushed by the slipping of a heavy . drainage pipe which he was levering out of a railway truck, and when "' complications" set in, a first amputa--tion had to be carried out on Friday. This however, did not stem the complications and on Sunday a further operation was found to be necessary. Unfortunately a special serum required for the operation could not be obtained in Rotorua. Realising that it was a question of life and death and that the serum would be of no avail if sent through the usual channels the Medical Superintendent of the Waikato Hospital - (Dr. M. M. Hockin), enlisted the services of the Hamilton pilot, Mr. S. J. Blackmore. The serum, contained in phials, was rushed by motor car to the Te Rapa aerodrome, and the plan took off at 2.50 p.m. Flying conditions were not ideal, a fairly strong head wind being experieneed practieally throughout the trip After a run of 50 minutes the machine landed at Rotorua, where the phials were taken delivery of by relatives of the patient. It was reported by the hospital authorities last evening that the condition of the patient was as satisfqctory as could be expected.