WOMAN'S SUDDEN DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1917, Page 7

WOMAN'S SUDDEN DEATH.

CORONER'S VERDICT. Tho inquest touching the death of Ethel 'Marie Griffey, wife of John Griffey, hairdresser, Waitara, was continued and concluded before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., New Plymouth yesterday, acting-Detec-tive Fitzgibbon representing the police. Dr. Walker, medical superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital, stated on September 'B ho was consulted by Mrs. Ethel M. Griffey, who had been sent to him by Dr. Campbell, of Waitara, with a view to an operation on an enlarged thyroid gland, which had been rausing grave pressure symptoms on the trachea. Witness concurred with Dr. Campbell's advice. The deceased entered the hospital an Septembr 10 and the operation was performed one day later, starting at D.45 a.m. The removal of the tumor was all but completed at 11.25 when grave symptoms presented themselves. The heart's action suddenly failed and breathing ceased. Every effort was made to restore voluntary respiration and to stimulate the heart's action, but without success, and at 12.10 further effort was abandoned. The direct cause pf death was heart failure with the contributing causes of (1) chronic toxae : ffiia; (2) the prejudicial effects of preseiire from the growth; and (3) additional effect of the operation and anaesthetic. Dr. Wade administered the anaesthetlo imd Dr. Fookes assisted at the operation. Dr. Wade deposed that for the early induction of the anaesthesia ho used a mixture of one part of chloroform, and two parts of ether, and then continued for the remainder of the time with pure ether by the open method. Deceased took the anaesthetic fairly well until almost the close of the operation when urgent 6igns of cardiac failure occurred, follow-i-d immediately by the heart stopping beating and a cessation of breathing. Immediate measures were taken to try to overcome the condition, and were continued for about 40 minutes, hut without avail. He concurred with Dr. Walker as to tho cause of death. The coroner returned a verdict in actordance with the medical evidence.