ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1673, 13 February 1913, Page 5

ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY.

AT AUCKLAND,; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) 1 Auckland, February 12. The St. Helen's Homo inquiry was continued to-day, when tho matron explained to tho Commissioner tho difficulties .that had to bo Overcome when tho homo wns full, and overt crowded, mid there were 6tillftpplicants clamouring for admission. Tho Commissioner:' I know you can't dor impossibilities, • You want a new hospital? '•'■■' Tho matron (with conviction) i I do. Dr. Makgill. District Health Officer and Government Pathologist, said that, it was probably the cases of general septicaemia that were reported to him by'the- dffioer in charge, at: St,-; Helen's. Tlwi-o. wai r a' good deal of doubt as to tho interpretation of septicaemia, and various l , practitioners interpreted, it in different ways.' It was obvious.that cvdry case of &op«is was not intended to bo notified, Since the foundation of the St. Helen's Home there had been- only four notifications,of caws of puerptiral's-jptica-smin—two ill March, IOOS,' and two. in September, 1912. Disihfecting' had 1 been undertaken under tho supervision of his .department, and wns entirely effective. He was familiar with tho Circumstances of Mi's. ChnmborlwVs death, and had seen her in the home. He knew «l«n that her baby ; had bcri l»rn in the home, and had died at tho age of six months from tubercular meningitis.- This death, so young and from such a cause, penned to suggest that infection had been derived from ft mtiicrnnl eonrco. He thought • that. a now maternity home was required, but he was not aware of any case that hud ■sMffer«d. through the structural disabilities of the home. He had compared statistics from various uiiiternitv homes, and they were extraordinarily favourable to TTcw Zealand and In Auckland. This result wn* really a feather in the cap bf the Mail', which lied recured such a; measure of success against, shell disabilities. ' Dr. Mtvkirill nl l * gave technical evidence regarding the effects and,the ehararleris. tics of septicaemia. Subsequently the inquiry was ndjMiriied till Monday week. '