COOK HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 98, 18 January 1918, Page 6

COOK HOSPITAL

INQUIRY AS TO ITS MANAGEMENT EVIDENCE REGARDING AN OPERATION By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, January 17. s Tho hospital inquiry was continued by the Royal Commission to-day. Dr. Walter Reeve, a member of tho honorary medical stall', gave evidenco that he acted as superintendent during the superintendent's holiday. Witness reviewed the cases of unrest at tho hospital, and attributed them to attempts to enforco discipline among the staff after a long period of laxity.

AVitness was questioned by Mr. M. Jlyers, counsel for tho petitioners, regarding certain allegations against Dr. Bowie, medical superintendent at tho hospital. Referring to the case of Mrs. "White, who was operated on in March, Mr. Jlyers askecl who performed the operations. AVitnoss: Dr. Bowie and I. Mr. Myers: Did anything happen in tho first operation that should not have been done? Witness: Yes, the bladder was opened when perhaps it was not desirable. Mr. Myers: Was it an accidenti 1 Witness: Yes; one which often happens in highly-skilled hands. Mr. Myers": That necessitated several operations ? Witness: Yes. Mr. Myers: Do yon remember, shortly after the operation, being in charge of the hospital, and something being reported to you? AVitness: Yes, the sister showed me a swab which had been removed from the body, from the passage where the dressing should not have been. It had fallen into the bladder. It might have remained in the bladder, but the wound would not heal. It might have appeared, but a third operation might have been necessary. The presence of the dressing was the fault of the dresser who dressed the wound.'

Mr. Myers: So tho presence of the dressing in the wound was not due to any fault-of Dr. Bowie? Witness: Oh, no. , Mr. Myers: Have you heard any statements from Dr. Bowie detrimental to Matron Tait? AVitness: Yes. He said she was lacking in tact, did not handle tho purses properly, and on one occasion ho referred to her as suffering from delusions. Mr. Myers: Do you remember when be told you about her? AVitness: About a 1 year ago. Mr. Myers: Have you discussed the matter with him since? AVitness: No. Ido not remember what the details were, but ,1 know there • was friction between the two heads of tho institution at the time. Mr. Myers: Have you noticed any justification for any statement derogatory to her.?, Witness: Afes. Mr. Myers: Hare you any justification for any statement derogatory to her? AVitness: No, "certainly not. The Commissioner: What was the impression Dr, Boiyie left in your mind when ho said - she was suffering from delusions ?

AVitness: Ordinarily, when that is said wo think they are rapidly qualifying for a mental hospital. That was tho impression made in my mind. Mr. Wauchop: "Which, of course, meant that she was more or less incapable of conducting her duties, and of course you would consider her a great danger? Did you take that meaning from what Dr. Bowie said, that she was in such a mental state that she could not carry 011 her work? AVitness: Yes. ' ;

Mr. Myers: Was not this what Dr. Bowio said: "That she was suffering from delusions of persecution by Drs. Collins and Scott, and that he was ill league with the nurses?" Is that not what he conveyed to you?

Witness: He might have said something of that kind. Mr. Myers: But I want you to remember, for it means a, great deal to a medical man, and of course you want to see fair play to a brother doctor.

Witness: He commenced by saying: "I am something of a specialist in mental disease, and I have been watching the matron ever since she came to the institution, and she is suffering from delusions." Mr. Myers: He referred to delusions of persecution—was that, not it? Witness: No. Mr. Myers: Then the impression he left ou you was that the matron was mad? , , i Witness: That is rather a heavy definition—there are many degrees of mental deflection. Mr. Wauchop: You remember your remark of the operation on Mrs. White. If the nurse had dene her duty, would the accident have happened to the bladder? . Witness: The bladder certainly had urine in it, and it was the nurse s duty to empty it. _ Other witnesses examined were Dr. Kahlenbiirg and Dr. Wilson, ex-suner-intendents at the hospital, and G. W. Humphreys, ex-chairman of the Hospital Board. The inquiry is developing slowly, the principal questions so far relating to the resignation, under jiressuro by the matron, of Nurse Higgins, for insubordination, and her subsequent reinstatement and transfer, after inquiry by Departmental officers and the Minister, and the treatment of certain specific cases, including that of Mrs. AA lute, at the hospital. • i 4. The inquiry will oc continued tomorrow.