Sarah
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The Western Flying Post, Sherborne and Dorset Mercury, Yeovil and Somerset Times. Tuesday 07 May 1867
Page 4 Column 7
STOKE ST. MARY
DEATH FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHLOROFORM. - An inquest was held at the Taunton and Somerset Hospital, on Saturday afternoon, before Mr. W. W. MONCKTON, county coroner, on the body of John GILLARD, aged 27, labourer, of Stoke-St. Mary. On the 17th ult. the deceased was unloading hurdles from a waggon, when he fell and fractured his arm. The swelling was so great that it was not until Thursday last it was sufficiently subdued to enable the surgeons to strap up the arm. With the man's consent chloroform was administered by the house surgeon, by means of Clover's apparatus. GILLARD took it very well, but the dose was not quite sufficient to take effect. A few drops were then put upon lint, and the man became partially insensible, although even then there was no stertorous breathing(?). The surgeon in charge of the case (Mr. J. H. ALFORD) then commenced the operation, with the assistance of the house surgeon. In three minutes the patient commenced retching, and then turned pale. The surgeons then at once applied restoratives, but in ten minutes more the man was quite dead. On a post mortem examination being made a few spots about the size of a pin's head were found on the ventral valve, but not at all sufficient to account for death. The man was strong and healthy; and the two surgeons considered it a proper case in which to administer chloroform. Mr. CORNISH, senior surgeon of the hospital, concurred. The jury found a verdict of “Accidental death, resulting from paralysis of the heart, caused by the administration of chloroform;” but they considered every precaution had been taken in its administration.