The Portland daily press., 1868-04-17


THURsDAY-The day was taken up with the case
of Huse ct al VS.. Hart ct al. The testimony all
put in at o'clock, and Mr.. Barnes made the argu-
ment for the defendants. Mr.. Bradbury will follow
for plaintiffs Friday morning. 4 "
The docket of new entries for this term contains
only ITO actons-a great falling off, A large number
of these will be transferred to the docket OF the Su-
perior Court '~~'
Report of Dr. Tewksbury ON ihe Death of
William Hatch, and the Verdict of the
COroner's Jury. 'a594i7t a4
The coroner's jury appointed to hold an in
quest ON th6@body of VIM. Hatch who died
from the effects of chloroform administered on
Wednesday, April 9Th, met yesterday at the
Office of Coroner Gould to hear the report of
DR.. Tewksbury, and render their verdict. The
following is the report of DIR. Tewksbury:
To Charles Holden, Chairman Coroger's jury
d. case of death of William Hatch
DEAR SR:-In accordance with vote of
your jury that should make up the medical
opinion, and call to my aid such assistance as
l deemed necessary, 1 invited Drs. Buzzell
Foster, Gordon, Chadwick and Jordan to as
sst me at the autopsy in the case of William
Hatch, who died in DR.. Evans Office on the
afternoon of April 9Th, The post mortem ex-
animation was made April 9th, IL A. NJ, IS
usual appearances of a cadaver, except little
more paleness than is ordinarily seen. On
opening the chest the left lung was found
strongly adherent to the walls of the chest
showing signs OF a former pleurisy of q severe
character; the upper lobe of the lung was
found to be in an almost solid state, resembling
liver, and filled with foreign deposit called
tubercle, rendering the substance of the lung
entirely impervious to air; small part of the
lower lobe was in partial state of health, al
lowing some air to pass into its aircels; in
short the whole left lung was of but very little
service during life, inasmuch as it was much
contracted in size, and nearly destroyed. The
right lung was about normal in size, with some
adhesions of the same character as found in
the left, produced by the same cause. There
adhesions were at the upper front, and lateral
portions. The upper and middle lobes were
adherent to each other in the same way. The
upper lobe was nearly filled with tuberculous
matter, in more advanced state than that
found in the left, nearly destroying the func-
ton of this portion of the lung. The adhesion
between this and the middle lobe showed signs
of disease of long standing; the middle and
lower lobes of this lung were found in very
good and healthy condition. To sum up briefly,
| would say that in my opinion, not one half
of the natural capacity OF the lungs remained,
and even that, not in healthy action oIlN -
Examination of the heart showed it to be
of about natural size, nearly empty, and pre-
senting nothing unusual in its external APP
pearance. On opening the right auricle the
valves were found in a healthy condition; but
the walls of the right ventriele were unusually
thin, the muscular tissue, especially at the
apex being nearly all absorbed; the cavities of
the left side were found in healthy condition.
Examination of the other organs of the body
showed them to be in a healthy condition. As
understand the object of this post mortem
examination to be to trace, as far as possible,
the connection between the use of ether and
chorof0rm, and the death in this case, / wonld
submit the following considerations, as the
opinion of the medical men present: 4
First-All authority sustains us in saying
that both of these agents, ether and chloro-
form, are dangerous when used to produce
complete insensibility in persons far advanced
in diseases of the heart and lungs; especially
is this the case with chloroform, which is re-.
garded as far more dangerous to life than ether
Ether acting as stimulant may be used in
many cases even in serious diseases of these
organs, where chloroform, having powerful
sedative eff ct, could not possibly be used. In
view OF these facts, we deem it of the utmost
Importance that the physical condition of the
patient be we'll known and carefully consider
ed before either of these agents be administer
ed, and inasmuch as none but men acquainted
with the physiological action of the different
organs are competent to know this, such agents
should never be used except under the care of
medical men.
Secondly-We believe that the best ether
found in the market is sufficient to produce
complete insensibility in all cases where sur
pecially in the minor operations like the one
under consideration. Facts are abundant
showing death as the result of chloroform even
in persons in apparent good health, while
deaths from the use of ether are exceedingly
rare and those cf doubtful nature, so far as the
condition of the patient was concerned. We
would further say, that while under proper
circumstances these agents may and must be
employed, the greatest care and caution should
be used in their administration. In all cases
some one should be delegated whose whole
business should be to attend to this matter,
and nothing should be allowed to interfere
with him from the beginning to the end of the
operation. The pulse and respiration should
be carefully watched, and any deviation from
the usual phenomena should at once be SUBJ
jects Of alarm and be promptly treated. For |
this purpose all necessary means for resusci-
tation should be Immediately at hand that no
time may be lost. In the case under consider
alton, it is the opinion of the medical men
present at the examination, that the death of
Mr.. Hatch was induced from the use of chic
reform used by DR.. Evans to produce insensi-
bility for the purpose of extracting teeth; and
having heard the testimony of Dr. Evans and
others who assisted him, we are satisfied that
he used all the caution ordinarily used by dem
lists in its administration; and we further de- |
clare that from testimony of other dentists |
present, we are satisfied that it is the usual
custom for the profession to use both this
agent and ether for the purpose of extracting
teeth; and would therefore say, that we be-
lieve DR.. Evans was acting in accordance with
that custom, and with the usual caution of
members Of his profession; and while we can
not attach any blame to DR. Evans in this case
we do most earnestly enter our protest against
the administration of these agents by men not
qualified by medical study to judge of the con-
dition of the patient or to properly understand
the effect of such agents upon the human sys-
tenn. S. H. TEwKsBURY, M. d,
Portland, April 18th, 1868.
The following is the verdict of the jury
The jury find that William Hatch came to
his death on Wednesday, April 9Th, 1868, at 4
o'clock p. NJ while under the influence of
chloroform administered by DR.. Albert Evans,
for the purpose of operating upon deceased's
teeth-he having about two menths previous
apparent injurious results. 5s ,.sfil.I il1a :.
The jury find that Dr. Evans administered
this anesthetic with a good degree of pru-
dence and caution; but that in consequence
of the diseased condition of his lungs las illus-
trated by the post norton examnation) de-
ceased was united to inhale so powerful an
agent.
The jury discover no cause, from the evil
dence adduced, to censure any party for the
fatal result; but are satisfied that every step
was taken, promptly and efficiently, to recov-
er the deceased from the lethargy into which
he was thrown by this second administration
of chloroform. 1 Harge ~ HRf
Yet in view of the distressing result the
jury find 1T their duty to urge extreme caution
in the administration of this anastbetic es-
pecially when the health of the patient in the
least degree units him for its reception.
James s. Gond, Coroner: Charles Holden.
Foreman; Ferdinand Smith. S. D, Hall. j.
G. Ross, Alvah Libby E. M Pattan