HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1562, 20 February 1879, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Wepnisday, February 19. The ordinary weekly ineoiing of this Board was held at the Hospital at 4 o’clock. Present Messrs H. Thomson (chairman), the Mayor of Christchurch, the Mayor of Sydenham, John Evans, Brown, W. Montgomery, and Dr. Turnbull. REVISION OF RULES. An extension of time was given to the committee appointed to consider the revision of rule-. CREEK RUNNING THROUGH THE HOSPITAL GROUND. It was stated that the works committee of the Drainage Board had this matter in hand. The report of the committee appointed at the last meeting of the Hospital Board was as follows ; Your committee have to report that they nave examined the creek running’ through the Hospital grounds, and find that the only way of abating the nuisance arising from it will he to have alt tlie water running in it diverted and the creek lilleu up altogether. , _ They desire also to lay before the Board copy of a letter they have addressed to the chairman ot Drainage Board on the subject. Geo. Booth. In the letter sent to the Drainage Board Mr Booth said—They would therefore respectfully recommend to the Board that the water coming, down Lincoln road with the sewage from Hospital bo turned into the new sewer now being constructed in Antigua street, and that portion of water running through that Acclimatisation, grounds be diverted into the river. s HOttPITAL COMMITTEE. This committee reported that they had authorised certain improvements to the Hospital, including the cleaning of the walls of the wards, the papering of the house surgeon’s room, &c. The report was approved. RETURNS. A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary’s office, acknowledging the receipt of the half-yearly returns for the six months ending December 31st. PATIENTS. The House Surgeon reported 13 admissions during the week, and the House Steward 17 discharges, including 3 deaths. A number of individual Hospital cases were considered. ORPHANAGE. A number of Orphanage accounts were passed for payment. SUCCESSFUL CATARACT OPERATION. It was stated that the man Jordan, who had had an operation on his eyes for cataract, of which he was now cured, would be sent back to Patea, MEDICAL STUDENT. To the Chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Canterbury, and the other Gentlemen of the same Board. ” Sir and Gentlemen,—My son, Mr Paul Yain Neck, lias studied medicine, and has to a certain extent gone through the curriculum of education enabling him to qualify as a medical practitioner. Such studies continued for four years and upwards, as his cards of attendance on lectures will show. When I left England I was informed that hie position as an undergraduate of the University of Edinburgh would entitle him to assume the status in the colonial universities which he occupied, agreeably with the rules of courtesy extended at home by one university to another. On arriving in New Zealand, I found that a somewhat anomalous state of things existed with reference to the educations subject referred to, but Or. Chilton, who very kindly saw the dilemma in which my son was placed, asked me to send him down to him and talk matters over. My sou accordingly saw the doctor, who, of course, soon tested his professional attainments, and said that ho should be glad of his assistance, and would write to the Board for permission to do so. The doctor wrote to the Board, and the question was referred to the medical staff. The medical staff have refused the application, on the ground that there is no medical school for students, hut at the same time they admit Mr Hawkes to study chemistry in the dispensary. Now I did not ask the Board to admit my son as a student, hut merely to keep up the knowledge which he had acquired at the University of Edinburgh, until some school of medicine was established here. I refrain from making any observations on the subject, but ask you ns a matter of courtesy to allow my son to comply witli Dr. Chilton’s invita tion, Dr. Nodwill has told me that he shall he happy to take him round the wards wish him. I ask for no pecuniary remuneration, but morely for a coucos siou which, so far as I can see, can harm no one I do not ask you to open the hospital to the inspection of inexperienced youths who know nothing of hospital practice, but to allow my son, who is nearly twenty-one years of age, to have the benefit of your institution for the purposes of educational advancement.

I have, &c., Wi, Alfred Neck. Hereford street west, Christchurch, February 3rd, 1879. Ur. Turnbull said the lad had no status whatever. He was not the pupil of any of the staff, who could uot, therefore, bo responsible for him. It was not correct that Dr. Nedwill would be responsible. If the thing were allowed Brown, the dresser, and Dr. Chilton himself would be handing over their duties to him (Neck). A pupil should be worth AIOO a-yoar to a practitioner, and no doubt if ho became a pupil to any of the medical staff to that extent, then that medical man would become responsible. Mr Montgomery asked if Mr Neck was to practice in the hospital. The Chairman said certainly some one must be responsible for the conduct of any student who might be admitted to the hospital. Dr. Turnbull said tho staff had talked the matter over carefully. Tho Mayor of Christchurch thought it was only an assumption on tho part of Dr. Turnbull to suppose that Mr Neck, jun., would want to interfere in any of the cases. He wished to keep up his knowledge of medicine, and after his experience of four years in Edinburgh, and his age of twenty-one or twenty-two, they could scarcely say he was a lad. Mr John Evans Brown thought they hardly had sufficient information on the subject at present, It would be as well to call in Dr. Chilton to see if Mr Neck could render him assistance. Dr. Turnbull did not see that Dr. Chilton had anything to do with it. Mr Brown was entitled to his opinion. He should like to know before going any further whether Dr. Chilton really had expressed a wish to have the assistance of Mr Neck, jun. Dr. Turnbull said the' staff had declined to have him as a student. Mr Brown would certainly support the staff so far. Between a student and an assistant to Dr. Chilton there was a wide distinction. Mr Booth saw a great difference between Mr Neck and Mr Hawkes Still, if tho young man could be of any assistance in the hospital the medical st ff ought to give him every facility. The Chairman said Dr. Chilton had made no application to the Board for assistance. After some discussion, Dr. Chilton was called in, and in answer to a question said that absolutely he did not require any assistance. The meeting then adjourned until Wednesday week next, at 7.30.