Hazel May Vivian, 1905-22/10/1918.

 

GIRL'S DEATH.

FOLLOWS TEETH EXTRACTION.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, October 23. Hazel May Vivian, aged 13 years, died unexpectedly yesterday. She had teeth extracted on the previous day under an anaesthetic, and afterwards complained of feeling ill, and died about 24 hours subsequent to the operation.   -Ashburton Guardian, 23/10/1918.

Deaths

VIVIAN. — On October 22. 1918 (suddenly), at her parents' residence, 17 Mechanic street, North-east Valley, Hazel May, the dearly loved only daughter of Thomas Henry (Harry) and Jessie Vivian: aged 13 years. Deeply mourned.  -Evening Star, 23/10/1918.

INQUESTS.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A GIRL. 

The Coroner (Mr H. A. Young, S.M.) held an inquest at the morgue on the 23rd inst. into the circumstances surrounding the death of a girl named Hazel May Vivian, 13 years of age, who died at her home, 17 Mechanic street, North-East Valley, on Tuesday afternoon after a brief illness. The child had had some teeth extracted at the Dental School, being put under an anaesthetic. Afterwards she complained of feeling ill, and Dr Evans was sent for on Tuesday morning. He attended in the afternoon, but the girl died at 4 o'clock.

Evidence was given by Jessie Vivian (mother of the child), Dr Evans (who was called in and made a post-mortem examination), Dr Emily Siedeberg (who supervised the administration of the anaesthetic), and Wm. D. Rose (surgeon at the Dental Hospital). The Coroner said the post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death as collapse following upon degeneration of the liver and kidneys. Dr Evans was unable to say whether the fatty degeneration existed at the time the anaesthetic was administered or whether it followed on the administration. According to Dr Evans this fatty degeneration could arise within a few hours after the administration of an anaesthetic, but Dr Siedeberg said that from all the authorities she had been able to consult the only cases where degeneration had arisen were from a protracted use of this particular anaesthetic, and then only within about a week after the administration. This case might be an exception, and it might be that this degenerative condition followed on the administration of the anaesthetic. This anaesthetic was one ordinarily administered in cases of this kind, and was looked upon as a safe and easy method. Assuming that this condition of fatty degeneration existed at the time the anaesthetic was administered, the evidence showed that it was not possible to detect it at the time, and that there was no indication that the anaesthetic would have had a detrimental effect on the patient. The evidence showed that all care and skill were used in the administration. He would find that the cause of death was collapse following fatty degeneration of the liver and kidneys, and that all care and skill were used at the Dental Hospital.   -Otago Witness, 30/10/1918.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.  DCC photo.