Robitaille's Case

This cause is an appeal from the decree of a Justice of the Superior Court confirming a finding of the Industrial Accident Commission. The original petition for compensation was brought by the widow of the deceased employee whose death it was alleged was the result of injuries received in an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. The deceased was one George A. Robitaille, an auxiliary member of the fire department of the town of Sanford. While in the performance of his duty at a fire he received burns of first and second degree about his head, hands and arms. Sixteen days later Mr. Robitaille died suddenly from what an autopsy disclosed to be a coronary thrombosis. The issue raised before the Commissioner was solely upon whether either the physical exertion or mental stress which Mr. Robitaille experienced at the time of the fire, or the burns themselves, directly caused the coronary thrombosis or so aggravated or accelerated a previously existing diseased coronary condition as to bring about the thrombosis at the time when it occurred.