HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2081, 25 October 1880, Page 3

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

The official inquiry re the Chriatehurch Hospital was resumed before Dr. Skae at ten e'oloek this morning, there being present — Dr. Skae (Commissioner), Mr I<* (DeputyChairman of the Hospital Board), Messrs Pwrker and Hobbß, Drs. Prine, Campbell, Townend, Herman, Frankiab, Nedwill, and Davies, and Mr March. Dr. Print, inter alia, asked if the Commissioner was going to allow Dr. Nedwill to put in a letter as evidenoo from a Mr Grimes, who had left for Melbourne. This Mr Grimea had been an assistant to Dr. Townend, with whom he lost a law suit, and whom he had maligned, ultimately going away under a false name. Was the Commissioner juatined in taking as evidence a written prepared statemant put in from an unqualified man, who had been trying to unlawfully extract money, and who went away under a false Dame ? Dr. Nedwill was understood to say he could

get Dr. Grimes' book. Dr. Prins—lf Dr. Grimes ia summoned, Mr Henry Thomson should be summoned and brought back to give evidence, and I think you have power to postpone further proceedings until then, as the phyßiciana think his evidence material.

Dr. Nedwill wished it to be distinctly understood that he apDoared as the representative of the Board of Health, and not in hia private capacity. Mr Thomson knew no more, about this matter than the man in the moon.

Dr. Skae—How do yon know ? Dr. Prina—Dr. Nedwill haa put in a lot of letters in reply to circulars, and we want to know with what object the letters are put in.

Dr. Skae would not aay whether they would be allowed—that question must stand over for consideration.

Dr. Prina urged that tho physicians interested, the house surgeon, and himself, deemed it of material importance that Mr Thomson should be present. The honor, reputation, and credibility of two physicians and the house surgeon were concerned. He did not at first think that hia name would appear in the matter, but now, as he was prepared to defend hia colleagues, he aßked for the honor, reputation, and credibility of those concerned that Mr Thomson and all necessary witnesses •hould be present. Dr. Skae—That matter has been already settled. The Government were aßked by Mr Thomson to delay the inquiry until he came back, and they refused to do so. Dr. Nedwill—Mr Thomson ia not a material witness. He went away in apite of the known faot that the Commission was about to be held, and I do not think he can give any evidence aa to the cause of death.

Dr. Skae—l should require strong evidence that Mr Thomson's evidence was actually necessary before requiring him to come back. Dr. Prins remarked that he was almost an independent man in the place, and he gave it M his opinion that however this enquiry might end, it must be detrimental to the profession. He had taken the trouble to go through the boobs, and was prepared to defend it.' He asked whether it were just to drag the profession through the mire, and throw discredit upon them. The enquiry would simply be that one gentleman would say that it was " typhoid," and another would say it was not. The physicians were prepared to substantiate what the house surgeon had done.

Dr. Kedwill—The Board of Health is of opinion that there are oases to be investigated, and I ask you to proceed with the enquiry. A letter, embodying a resolution passed by the Board, appointing Dr. Nedwili to represent it at the enquiry, was read. The Commissioner proceeded to call witnesses.

Louis Arthur Hawkes, dispenser to the Hospital, examined by Dr. Nedwill, said ho made the entries in the Admission Book. The house surgeon diagnosed cases admitted, and witness filled up the bed head cards. He did so by direction of the bouse surgeon or visiting physician. He did not see Mary Keetley when admitted.

Dr. Campbell objected to the question being -put as to what Mary Keetley was suffering from. Witness was a layman, and could not be qualified to express an opinion. He (Dr. Campbell) intimated his intention of objecting to any but experts giving a diagnosis of any case.

Dr. Kedwill—l represent the Board of Health, and am. not here as an official expert. I shall refuse to be examined on anything I hare not done in my official capacity as health officer.

By Dr. Campbell—Witness filled up the admission card, and on hie own responsibility placed upon it tbe word " ententes." By Dr. Nedwilt—Mary Keetley, when admitted, had a high temperature (the temperature chart having been since destroyed) and ■ha was delirious. Witness made numerous entries in the admission book on his own

diagnosis. By Dr. Campbell—lt was an understood thing between the House Surgeon and himself that he should make the entries, and sometimes he made the entry without the knowledge of the House Surgeon. Mary Koetloy was unconsoious when admitted.

By Dr. Skae—He was wholly responsible for the entry in the admission book : " Mary Keetley—Ententes"; and it it was done without the knowledge of the House Surgeon. Dr. Skae—Would no one be able to give evidence except by memory of this thing ? Dr. Prins—No one except by memory. That book is simply meant for the guidance of the dispenser. Thomas Keetley said his wife was attended by Drs. Grimes and Townend before she was removed to the Hospital. Dr. Grimes did not express an opinion as to what was wrong with her, but Dr. Townend said it was a severe attack of typhoid fever. She was afterwards admitted into the Hospital by an order from Dr. Townend.

Dr. Townend—Are you prepared to say whether I said it was "severe typhoid" or "symptoms of typhoid ?" Witness —I will swear you said "severe typhoid." Dr. Townend challenged the accuraoy of this evidence, and stated he had no recollection of ever having seen witness. By Dr. Campbell—Mary Keetley was ill sixteen days before her admission into the Hospital. Witness believed the words;D<\ Townend used were "a severe attack of typhoid fever." At one time Dr. Grimes •aid it was l">w fever. Mr Fridgeon also saw her, hut did not state, it to be typhoid. After bis wife's illness Dr. Nedwill called at the ■hop where he was working and asked him to call at his consulting room. He did so, and at Dr. NedwilPs request wrote a note to the effect that his wife's illness had been ascribed by Dr. Townend to typhoid fever. Frederick Henry Barnes, assistant Inspectcr to the Board of Health, remembered when the Keetleys lived in Peterborough street' and having illness in the house. It was re ■ ported to be typhoid fever, and witness saw Dr. Townend concerning it. '.He spoke to his assistant, Mr Pridgeon, who Baid it was typhoid fever, and Dr. Townend said " Yes; a bad case of typhoid fever." Witness subsequently saw Dr. Ned will, who asked him to writs stating what Dr. Townend and a Mrs Williams had described the case. Dr. Townend intimated his intention of calling witnesses to contradict what the last witness had stated. Alice M. Keetley deposed that Dr. Townend attended her son's wife during her illness. He told her she was suffering from typhoid fever, the case being a bad one. By Dr. Prins—Witness oould not say how many times Dr. Townend s:iw her.