DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 219, 16 March 1914, Page 3

DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC.

CORONER'S INQUEST. The inquest was continued on Saturday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., into the death of Sydney Lcary, of Leach street, New Plymouth, who died in the New Plymouth Hospital on Friday morning, while an operation for trephining his skull was being performed. Ernest Faber Fookes, of New Ply- : mouth, medical practitioner, depised that he made the post mortem examination on the body of the deceased. He found on the base of the skull a tumor which was involving several of the cranial nerves and exerting pressure upon the ange formed by the junctionlof the cerebrum with the brain proper. This had been responsible for a great increase in the intra-cranial pressure, and for this pressure an operation for trephining the skull had been performed. The cause of death was primarily the effect of the intra-cranial pressure, and secondly the paralysis of the respiratory centre of the brain, which paralysis was in his opinion the result of the depressing action of the anaesthetic ad ministered, and the sudden relief of the sudden relief of the intra cranial pressure. These circumstances could neither be foreseen nor guarded against, and the operation was one usually performed under such circumstances. David Storer Wylie, of New Plymouth, medical practitioner, deposed that the deceased was admitted to the New Plymouth Hospital under his care, suffering from an intracranial tumor. In order to relieve him of the effects of the tumor, the operation of trephining the skull was necessary, and was Jierformed on Friday morning. The operation was practically completed, and the wound was in process of being closed when the patient's breathing became embarrassed and gradually stop ped. The usual efforts were made to restore animation but without avail. He had heard the evidence of the previous witness and agreed with it. Dr. Walker assisted in the operation, and Dr. Home administered the anaesthetic. The operation was designed only for relief, the. growth being recognised as an immovable one.

Ernest Alexander Walker, of New Plymouth, medical practitioner, deposed that he assisted in the operation on the deceased. It was a necessary one, and was curried out in the usual manner. He had heard the evidence of Mr._ Wylie describing the course of events, and had nothing to add. He had heard Dr. Pookes' evidence as to the cause of death, and agreed with its details. George Home, of New Plymouth, medical practitioner, deposed that he administered the anaesthetic to deceased during the operation. He put the patient under a mixture of ether and chloroform, and continued the administration of pure chloroform, thinking it more suitable. After the skull was opened, very little anaesthetic was administered, and none at all for fully a quarter of an hour before the cessation of respiration. Towards the end of the operation the breathing showed grave cerebral disturbance. He considered the main cause of death was the relief of pressure in the brain causing a physical disturbance, affecting the vital centres.

A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.