MILLIONTH CHANCE
OXYGEN TENT CATCHES FIRE. HOSPITAL PATIENT’S DEATH. The chances are 1,000,000 to 1 against an oxygen tent catching fire. Yet the millionth chance came off, bringing death to ’ 5B-year-old Richard Thompson, of Downham, England. He died after an oxygen tent in Lewisham Hospital, where he was a patient, caught fire. An electric spark, generated by the friction of blankets in the oxygen atmosphere, is believed to have set fire to the tent. The pioneer of oxygen tents in Britain, Dr T. W. Adams, told a reporter later: “The flash-point of a material is lowered in an oxygen atmosphere —it burns at a lower temperature. Normally the humidity in the tent would prevent any electric spark from firing it. “I have used oxygen tents under all conditions, and I have never known of such a case. The risk is infinitesimal. “Tents are usually made of some mackintosh fabric,” he added. “Only steel would be absolutely flame-proof.”
After returning a verdict of death from natural causes, the jury added that if possible non-inflammable material should be used for such tents.
The coroner pointed out that this was a problem for scientific investigation.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19380812.2.73.7
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1938, Page 7
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192MILLIONTH CHANCE Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1938, Page 7
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