A SINGULAR DEATH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4888, 28 November 1894, Page 2

A SINGULAR DEATH.

The somewhajijihgniar : death of a patient in tho Moih(View Lunatic 'Asylum named James Alexander' s"*i Teaze,was the subject'of an enquiry j| held at the Wellington Hospital ybs- "■ Y%|f! terday before Mr Ashcroft, Coroner, ' « and a jury of whioh Mr E. Praser .i-%& Jones. "was 'Dr, King, ?; Medical' Superintendent of the -ff Asylum, deposed tliat deceased admitted to. the Asylum on 28th De- V cember, 1887. In July last, at the * Porirua Asylum lie evinced Buicidal » -''i proclivities,' and attempted to, take v'l'jj his life with a dinner knife. On tho i\ wound healing, he,was removed to r p Mount View, hut he then refused food and lost flosh. As he persisted in his refusal to eat, it was found necessary to feed him by means of a soft flexible indiarnbber.tube passed • ij|| through the nostrils into ill e stomaclt, - but oven then the patient endeavoured to regurgitato the nourishment, On Saturday Teaze was being fed in the _ ; 'ojj manner described,'whpn he attempted ;|is|p t6 eject the food, which consisted of - - egg and milk, Is was quite possible that in his efforts some of (ho food might have got into the windpipo and bo into the lungs, and this, , with a weakened heart action, might hava _ $ caused collapse. The cause of death was collapse owing to weakoned heart =• action and embarrassment of breath* -Z& ing owing to the regurgitation. At- ■ tendants Heise and Kelly deposed to t • the careful use of the tube while feed- s\. ing the deceased. DrEwart, Medical Superintondautof the Hospital,'also deposed that ' the mode of feeding adopted was the best imdor.tlie oir- ; : k" 5] ouinstances. A verdict in accordance „' ; ;; with Dr King's evidence was re- ,>. turned.—Post. ''