HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2087, 1 November 1880, Page 3

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Tho official inquiry regarding the Christehurch Hospital was resumed before Dr Skae at ten o'clock this morning, there being freoent Dr. Skae (Commissioner), Drs. Tins, Townend, Campbell, Ned will, Irving, JTrankish, and Mr lok (deputy chairman of the Hospital Board). . Dr. Nedwill put in a Hat whioh had been prepared since last meeting, showing what cases of fever had boen repo*tod to the Board of Health, and by whom. The return showed that since July 7ch twenty-five typhoid cases had been reportod from the whole district, 32 per cent, being from the Hospital. During the first twelve weeks 18 per cent, came from the Hospital, and during the next fifteen weeks only 2£ per cent, being from the Hospital, and that 2£ was represented by the single case sent in by the Health Office, and suddenly, when pnblio attention was aroused, they had risen to 32 per cent. Mr Gordon, secretary to the Board of Health, put in certified copies of correspondence between tho Hospital Board and Board of Health relating to the reporting of infectious diseases. Mr March, secretary to the Hospital Board, also put in certified copias of correspondence which had passed between the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards in reference to the reporting ef infectious diseases. Dr. Campbell remarked that it had been decided that counsel should not appear, and it was auspicious that counsel was now surreptitiously introduced. Mr Cowlishaw, whose firm represented the Board of Health, was present, and posted up the Medical Officer, and he would simply draw attention thereto.

Dr. Nedwill—l do not think there can he any objection to his being present. Dr. Skae—ls he going to remain throughout ?

Dr. Nedwill —I really do not know. Mr March was then called and examined

Dr. Prins—How long has the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board been established ? Witness—Since July, 1878. Dr. Prina—ln your books is there any authority given to any House Surgeon or Dr. Daviea in particular, that cases should be reported until last June ? Witness—The first letter was dated the 30th November, 1879. Dr. Nedwill—The chairman of the Board of Health wrote to the Hospital Board on the 17th November, 1879, asking them to report cases of infectious diseases received in the Hospital ? Witness—Tes.

Dr. Medwill—And on the 20lh November, three days'afterwards, the Hospital Board answered in the affirmative to that ?

Witness—Yes. They gave directions to the House Surgeon to comply with the request. Dr. Prins—Who was House Surgeon at that time ?

Witness—Mr Pridgeon was both House Surgeon and dispenser. Mr lok, the Mayor, was next examined. Dr. Prins—You are now acting as chairman of the Hospital Board.

Witness —Y*s. Dr. Pries—You have been on the Hospital Board since you have been Mayor. Witness—Yes. Since complaint has been made about not reporting cases I have made enquiry into the matter. Dr. Prins —And you have discovered that the admission book was irregular ? Witness —Yes.

Dr. Prins—lt is kept by the dispenser, and the House Surgeon is not responsible for it ? Witness—l believe not. Dr. Prins—lt was reported some irregularity had taken place ? Witnesß—Yes; and we ordered that all cases should be diagnosed before being entered in the Hospital book. Dr. Ned will—What was the irregularity—was the disease wrongly stated ? Witness—l am not an expert, and would not give an answer to that. Dr. Nedvyill—Are you prepared of your own knowledge to swear that the dispenser did diagnose caseß ? Witness—Certainly not; lam not prepared to say anything about the medical arrangemenU in the Hospital. Dr. Nedwill—Why are you called here then?

Witness—l don't know. I did not oome here at my own wish. Dr. Ned will—The fact of the matter is that you only know what you were told about these irregularities ? Witness—l only know from what has taken place at the Board. Dr. Nedwill—And what you have been told?

Witness—What do you mean Dr. Nodwill by those insinuations ? I wieh you distinctly to understand that I have had neither correspondence or conversation with any of the staff respecting this enquiry. We did not hold the House Burgeon at the time responsible for entries in the admission book. Dr. Campbell, at this stage, again drew attention to the presence of Mr Cowlishaw, mud his consulting with Dr. Ned will. Dr. Sitae—l have not the power to hinder him having counsel. Mr Ick pointed out that it was an understood thing neither side should employ counsel.

Mr Oowlishaw said they were gratuitously assuming he was appearing in the enquiry. Examination continued:—

Dr. Nedwill—Who do you consider responsible for patients in tho hospital ? Witness—The house surgeon. By Dr. Prins—l consider it a misfortune Mr Thompson is not here, as he might have been able to give material information. Dr. Skae—What do you consider the irregularity ? Is it the dispenser entering the diagnosis ? Witness—Yes; I think the whole enquiry has turned upon that. It has been thought that a proper medical man should diagnose cases, and the Hospital Board has given instructions accordingly, and that has been done ever since.

Dr. Prins—Have you any recollection of the object why the bed head cards were changed, and authority given why diseases should not be stated upon them ? Witness—lt was done, I believe, during Dr. Chilton's time.

James Field, formerly assistant in the Hospital dispensary, gave evidence to the effect that the admission-book was always kept by the dispenser during his term. Dr. Campbell—We both admitted that the book was kept irregularly, and our object is to prove that these cases, admitted on the simple assertion of the dispenser, were not typhoid. Dr. Nedwill submitted the inquiry was to ascertain whether certain cases had or had not occurred.

Dr. Davies, house surgeon, was called. Dr. Prins—You remember the inmate, Mo' Daren. What did he die of ? Witness—Phrenitis.

Dr. Prins—Was there any circumstance connected with the Hospital that brings it more prominently before you ? Witness —I remember ycu passing through the waH one day. Ycu saw the patient tied down and you remarked that it was delirium tremens, and I said it was a case of phrenitis. This was a few days before death. Dr. Prins—Were there any other cases sent in by medical men said to be certain diseases and which turned out to be something else ? Witness—l have noticed several. Dr. Turnbull sent in a man named Armstrong who he said was suffering from typhoid and it proved to be pneumonia, and Dr. Turnbull also sent in a pneumonia patient named Gaffney for typhoid. Dr. Nedwill had no questions to ask the House Burgeon. Dr. Townend, who attended Polly Morris in the Hospital, said her case was one of simple, and not typhoid fever. It was about the time of the alleged falling off in reporting cases that witness had given instructions to the dispenser not to report cases unless they were typhoid. This arose through a number of cases of high temperrturo and simple fewer having been reported as typhoid. Witness had reported all cases of typhoid coming under hia notice. Dr. Campbell—Are you aware that a few years ago you reported cases of soarlet fever w Ohriatchurch, and Dr. Nedwill wrote to the capers to the effect that there was no scarlet fever here ? Witness—Yes ; I have reason to remember that.

Dr. Campbell—This evidence is given as analogy, as Dr. Nedwill holds it to be strange there should be so many cases of gastroenteritis. A few years ago, when Dr. Townend reported scarlet fever, Dr. Nedwill wrote to the papers stating that scarlet fever did not and had not existed for many years, but he has since admitted that it has.

Dr. Nedwill—That is years ago. What has it to do with this ? Dr. Townend—l have said that these cases of alleged typhoid fever were gastro-enteritis,

and for the seoond time, sir, you have oontra dieted me. Dr. Nedwill—What has this to do with it ? Dr. Townend—The same feeling which prompted you to deny the existence of scarlet fever may lead you to deny that of gastroenteritis.

[heft sitting.]