A CONSUMPTIVE'S DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 23 June 1910, Page 5

A CONSUMPTIVE'S DEATH.

EXTRAORDINARY NEGLECT. By Telegraph—Press Association'. Christehurch, Last Night. At the inquest on Frank Fox, who died suddenly yesterday, the medical anil other evidence was to the effect that deceased arrived from England four years ago and was employed in the Tramway Board's office for two years. Apparently when ho arrived he suffered from neglected pleurisy, but did not consult any doctor. He lived a strictly careful life, but had a dry, hacking cough, and fits of coughing sometimes lasted for half an hour. Death was due to the bursting of a blood-vessel in the left lung, which was diseased, and the right lung was also extensively diseased. Replying to the Coroner, Dr. Symes stated that the case was a most extraordinary one, in that deceased had con- ' sumption and apparently no one was aware of the fact. He found it impossible to remove the left lung, which wa» .practically only a skeleton and simply a shell. The lung was so bod that it collapsed entirely whilst he was making the post mortem examination. The Coroner expressed astonishment that a man suffering so greatly from consumption should have been employed on a large clerical staff without the fact being detected. A verdict of death from phthisis f»a returned.