SUDDEN DEATH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3103, 4 June 1892, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH.

* Dtt. W.LKHBI) MuitOH, who has been practising in RniniltDii for the past eevnn yours, died suddenly at his residence, Victoriastreet, on Thursday aftsrni-on about halfpast two. Deceased had been ailing for norne few days but there were no symptoms to cause anxiety or to point to a fatnl termination, up to within a few minutes before his death. The full particulars will be found in our report of the inquest given below. Dr. Mnrch wasiif a quiut and unassuming disposition and during his residence in Waikato—fir-it in Cambridge and then in Hamilton—had made many friends to whom his sudden death will come aa a severe Wow. He was very mnsicO and was a great acquisition in the township, being ever ready to give his services. Deceased leaves a widow and child in Hamilton to mourn their loss. THE INQUEST. Aβ inquest was held yesterday afternoon in the Hamilton Hotel, on the body of Wilfred Murcb, whn died suddenly on Thursday afternoon, before Mr W. N. Searancke, J. P., Cnronor, and the following jury : Messrs E. T. Davey, H. Howden, G. C. Manning. W. Stevenson, W. A. P. Sutton, and C. i. W. Barton, of who.n the last named was choien foreman. Constable Murray conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. Mra Murch, widow of deceased, deposed that deceased had been ailing for about a week and for the last two days confined to his bed. He complained of sleeplessness and a thumping of his heart. On Wednesday morning he was up for about half an hour, but returned to bed. He was not taking any medicine and no medical man was called in as he did not appear bad enough. Deceased took no food beyond drinking a little coffee for the last few days. On Wednesday nieht, let inst,, deceased complained a little more than usual about his heart. Witness last saw him alive about half-pasb two on Thursday afternoon, 2nd. inst. Hβ was then quite conscious and spoke to witness, and drank some coffee. Witness left the room and hearing him groaning in about five minutes, she returned and found deceased as if in a fit. He was not able to speak and appeared to be struggling for breath. Witness tried to rouse him and make him speak, but could not, and then deceased lay quite still as if dead. She at once sent for Dr. Kenny but he was dead before Dr. Kenny arrived, which was in about twenty minutes. Deceased was 52 years of age. Hβ has two brothers and throe sisters in Australia but no relatives in New Zealand. To the Coroner : Up to within the last two days he hud been able to attend to his practice, and on Monday he went to Huntly. On Wednesday, witness suggested that she should call in Dr. Kenny, but dn-ceas-sd said that ho did not consider it necessary. Until within the last month deceased had not complained about his heart. R. F. Sandes, chemist, Hamilton, deposed th'it he had known deceased intimately for tlin past five or six years. On the 2nd. inst., he was sent for by Dr. Kenny and went over to deceased's place. Dr. Kenny told him that he thought Dr. Murch was riead and wished him to go in with him while he made a thorough examination to sob if there was any sptrk of life left. They made anexnmination of deceased, who was lying in bed, but could find no sign of the heart's action or of breathing; the body was quite warm. There were no marks to indicate anything but that the deceased had passed away quietly. Witness had never heard deceased complain of any affection of the heart or liver, and he always appeared to enjoy robust health. He was of opiuion that death was caused by failure of the heart's action through alcoholism.

To the Coroner : The action of the heart would be weakened by the use of alcohol, G. G. Kenny deposed, that he was a duly Qualified medical practitioner residing at Hamilton, and Surgeon Superintendent at the Waikato Hospital. On Thursday, about 2.30 p.m., he got an urgent message at the Hospital to go and see Dr. Murch, who wa* thought to be dying. He arrived at Dr. Murch's residence in about ten minutes and found deceased lying in a room by himself quite dead. Before making any extensive examination of the body he sent for Mr R. F. Sandes, as he wished to have a witness present during the examination. On his arrival, witness, with Mr Sandes' assistance, made a careful examination of Dr. Murch"s body. The pupils of the eyes were normal and he found life perfectly extinct. There was nothing in the body or the surroundings to indicate that death was not due to natural causes. On searching the r<nm they found nothing but a bottle containing a little whiskey, and a small phial containing carbolised glycerine. In the chamber at the head of deceased's bed was a little vomit which appeared to be coffee which deceased had lately drunk, and a fewapecks of blojd. Witness had never attended deceased professionally. The blood had come from deceased's throat, as Mrs Murch told him deceased had complainod of a aore throat due to retching. Witness examined Mrs Murch as to what had occurred, and as to her husband's previous stataof health. She said that for the past three weeks deceased had absolutely eaten nothing in the shape of food, with the exception of a little milk and a little coffee, and very little of that, but that he had been taking small quantities of stimulants all the time; that for some time past deceased had complained of pain and palpitation in the region of tho heart, but that he was taking no medicine prescribed by himself for this or any other condition, and that lately he had been extremely weak —hardly able to stand. Prior to sending for witness she prepared a little coffee for deceased, of which he took some. She left the room for a few minutes, and on returning found him dying. Witness gavo his opinion on the fonr following reasons :— 1. The obesity of deceased. 2, That for three weeks his body had absolutely no nourishment supplied to it. 3. The constant depressing action on the heart of alcohol. 4. The exhaustion produced by a state of constant retching. These four, working together produced the cause of death, viz., syncope. The jury returned the following verdict: "That d»iikh resulted from natural causes brought on by failure of the heart's action."