The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-29 00:00:00

Total 1.32.100 1 0

DEATH PROM CHLOROFORM.-IMPORTANT
CASE.

00RONKRI LNQIIi7IT.-(THIS DAY.)

- - -
This morning an inquiry was opened by Mr. H.
ROAM Widths+, the &linty sorceser for the musty of
Middle's:, at the Dock Hotel, Etat Smithfield.
Tower-hill, respecting the death of PfsrnPelletier, 35
years, a Freochman, lately smployed at We Anthooy Sabi.
Shade gold reliaery, ad 1j
the Royal Mint, Royal Mint.
street, Tower-hill, who died from the administration of

cieloniferm.
Mr. IL T. Winemte, the solicitor, attended to watch the
am by the direction of Sir Anthony Rothschild, and the
utmost interest was maaifested during the proceedings.
The body of the deceased had bees exhumed from the
Tower Hamlets Cemetery by the warned of the coroner, as
the deceased bad been interred without an inquest.
The jury having been swore, proceeded to view the
remains of the deceased, which were lying in the dead•
house of Aldgate Without, Cartwright-steeet, Upper Rest
Upon their return the followiag evidence wee adduced :
Pierre Dimmed, who resided at No. 19
Royal Mint-
street, deposed that he knew the deceased.who worked os
the same premises. He was present when the deceased died
from an overdoee of chloroform. He was present when the
drug wee administered to allay the pain of an operation
which be was to undergo for fistula. Deceased had been
afflicted for ten years, but he had been able to
follow his occupation. Dr. Diendonne, of Southamp-
ton-skeet, !Brand, a French physician, had been
his medical adviser, and he bad taken medicine for the
malady. The operation was to have been perforated at the
deceased's resideace on Monday, the 12th lest., and a cons
eultation took place there, when another French physician
and Dr. Marshall, of Tichboine-street, were present. The
first Named gentleman administered the chloroform by the
desire et the deceased, but the drug did not take effect for
several sates, when more of the chloroform was given to
him, sad he became unconscious. The next moment be
was foetid to be deed.
By the Coroner—l believe that the deceased died from
the chloroforms and before deceased became insensible he was
pinched and pricked several times, which showed that the
drug had not taken effect. After the deceased had expired
the physicians tried artificial respiration byrubbing the body
and bradhing i¢ the month, but their efforts were of no
avail. They left the deceased soon afterwards, and the
sitendeate thought that he breathed, when they sent for
Mr. Cook, the surgeon, of the Minorite, whose assistant
attended, but be prceaunced life extinct.
Mr. Frederick James Gant, surgeon and pathological
anatomist of the Royal Fro Hospital, wee then called, and
said that he had performed a post mortem examination of
the body dace the exhumation. He found sufficient to
account for death if chloroform was administered. There
wizatz existing disease of the heart, and death would
ensue from the administration of such an
mint. Ho found the walls of the heart very
thin, and the opening between the auricle and the
right • ntrele sufficiently large to admit four of hie
fingers ventricle
The 'heart had undergone fatty degenera-
tion. The lungs were 'dimity adherent throughout—more
especially the right lung. The adhesions were very firm,
and it required considerable force to remove them. He wee
of opinion that with the feebleness of heart and lungs the
administration of chloroform would stop the action ohf t
the
first named organ, anproduce paralysis and death o

y the Coroner—lt was very essential to ascertain the
eondition of the heart and lungs before the administration
of chloroform.
The Coroner asked if the medical gentleman wu present
who administered the chloroform, when Mr. Perry, the
summoning officer, answered in the negative.
The Coroner then gave instructions to the constable to
1111:1101011 the three medical gentlemen who had the an
under their joint charge, and adjourned the investigation
for their attendance.
The proceedings were accordingly adjourned.