Hansena Thompson

Died In The Chair

A Dentist’s Patient is Given Chloroform and Paralysis of the Heart Ensues

The Second Administration of the Anesthetic Results Fatally to Mrs. Hansena Thompson in Dr. Charles' Office Yesterday - The Coroner's Inquest and the Post Mortem

Mrs. Hansena Thompson, wife of Isaac Thompson, a farmer near Bellevue, died suddenly in the dental rooms of Dr. J.B. Charles in this city, about half past eleven o’clock yesterday morning, while she was placed under the influence of chloroform, for the purpose of having several teeth extracted. When it became apparent from her symptoms that she was passing beyond the point in which it was safe to go under the influence of chloroform, the dentist applied restoratives, endeavored to revive her and called in assistance, but to no purpose.

None of the friends of the patient were with her at the time of the operation, and it was not know then where they were. This was her second visit to the dentist’s. She had taken chloroform without ill effects on the previous visit, about three weeks ago.

Coroner Jacobs was notified and the body was removed to his undertaking rooms after noon. A jury was summoned for an inquest and a post mortem examination was held.

The story of the sad affair is told in the evidence given on the inquest, which is summarized as follows:

The Testimony
Mrs. Schimonsky, wife of Mr. Schimonsky, owner of the farm on which the deceased and husband are employed, and with whom, and Mr. Schimonsky, deceased came to the city yesterday, testified that Mrs. Thompson had lived with her for four months; had not made complaint of sickness in that time; that she knew deceased before deceased came to the far; that she had never known deceased to complain of being ill; deceased was in apparent good health; deceased is a sister of Mrs. Jos. Witter, who lives at Gilmore, Sarpy county; witness testified to the circumstances of the going of the deceased to the dentist’s; stated that deceased had seven teeth extracted four weeks ago by Dr. Charles.

Dr. Charles testified: About three weeks ago gave deceased and her sister, Mrs. Witter, chloroform, and extracted teeth for her; deceased came up yesterday to have other teeth extracted; gave her two applications on chloroform; about two [illegible] in all; there were two successive applications; the first seemed to be insufficient; when the color returned to her face and she showed signs of recovering from the influence of the chloroform, he made a second application of chloroform; she became wholly under the influence of the chloroform on the second application; then he saw indications that the influence of the chloroform had gone too far and that some action was necessary to restore her to consciousness; he pulled two teeth in the hope that the pain would revive her; after this he slapped and chafed her face but without the desired effect, after which he took her from the chair to the floor and applied ammonia to revive her; then sent the office boy for Dr. Peabody; boy returned, having failed to find Dr. Peabody; after which sent him out to find any doctor; boy returned with Dr. Morriam, and Dr. Chadwick came subsequently.

Witness was questioned as to the position of patient when chloroform was administered and to whether she sat up or lay prostrate, the latter position being claimed to be the safer. He testified that patient partially reclined, sitting at about an angle of forty-five degrees.

Witness was asked whether he had an assistant in [illegible] administering the chloroform and said he had none; said he had no restoratives in his office except ammonia.

Witness was asked how long he had been practicing and where he studied dentistry. He replied that he had been practicing twenty-two years and studied dentistry but was a graduate of no college.

Dr. P.M. Chadwick testified that he made the post mortem examination; found the deceased afflicted with heart disease and disease of the kidneys; found that the patient died of paralysis fo the heart; found that this paralysis of the heart was induced by the administration of chloroform; witness testified that it was very dangerous to administer chloroform to a patient in a reclining position.

Lena Bessing, a patient, who was in the dental rooms at the time, testified to the circumstances corroborating the other witnesses.

W.H. I?? [illegible], Esq., who came in the room while the doctors were trying to restore the patient, testified to the circumstances.

Dr. Morriam testified that he was called to the dental rooms; immediately applied restoratives; felt for the pulse of patient and found none; found no respiration; made all efforts to restore patient but without avail; assisted in post mortem; found the heart diseased, and the kidneys also; in witness’ opinion, it is unsafe to administer chloroform in a sitting position; it should only be administered in a reclining position and never without a medical examination of the patient to ascertain if the patient has heart disease, it a professional examination had been made, the disease could have been detected; under patient’s diseased condition, chloroform should not have been given; believes cause of death to be paralysis of the heart, induced by the use of chloroform.

Dr. J.H. Peabody testified that he assisted in the post mortem; found a diseased condition of the heart and kidneys; found that the heart was about twice its normal size and weight.

In response to the question whether the administration of chloroform comes within the scope of the dental profession, witness replied that he himself had studied dentistry and the college in which he studied it gave no training as to the use of chloroform; that was before the days when chloroform was much used for dentistry.

In reply to a question as to his opinion of the cause of death of the patient, Dr. Peabody replied that she died with paralysis of the heart that, under the circumstances, must have been caused by chloroform. That he himself had administered chloroform with patients in other than reclining positions, but it was dangerous and should not be done except in emergencies.

Dr. R.M. Stone testified to the enlargement of the heart and its condition and substantially the same as those preceding him in regard to the manner in which the deceased came to her death.

Mr. A. Benton, of Elkhorn City, who was present in the dental rooms, testified to the circumstances.

Dr. G.W. Werts, a dentist testified that it was his custom to have the patients call their family physician when they wished chloroform administered. He deemed it unsafe to administer chloroform to a patient in a sitting posture; the dentist should have restoratives at hand in case of accident, and should have assistance.

Dr. A.S. Billings testified substantially with Dr. Werts.

Bert Laughton, the office boy, testified to the circumstances.

The verdict was as follows:
"That the deceased came to her death from paralysis of the heart, induced by chloroform, administered by Dr. Jas. S. Charles."

The Dead Wife
Mrs. Thompson was twenty-seven years of age, a Norwegian by birth, and had been married five years to Mr. Isaac Thompson, who was born in Finland. Both were very [illegible], industrious and frugal, and had saved money and sent tickets to Mr. Thompson’s parents, who are expected to arrive in this country next month.

The husband arrived in the city at 7 o’clock last evening in response to a telegram. The body was encased in a neat casket and was taken to Bellevue last evening.

From the Omaha World-Herald, (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated April 28, 1882