ST. HELENS HOME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8353, 13 February 1913, Page 9

ST. HELENS HOME

DR MAKGILL’S EVIDENCE. INQUIRY ADJOURNED TILL MONDAY WEEK. Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 12. Tho St. Helens Home inquiry was continued to-day, when the matron explained to the Commissioner the difficulties that had to lie overoomb when the home was full, even crowded, and there were still applicants clamouring for admission. Tho Commissioner; I know you can t do impossibilities. You want a new hospital ? . Tho matron (with conviption); 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 officer in charge at St. Helens. There was a good deal of doubt as to tho interpretation of septicaemia, and various practitioners interpreted it in different ways. It was obvious that every case of sepsis was not intended to bo notified. Since tho foundation of St. Helens there had been only four notifications of cases of puerperal septicaemia, two in March, 1908, and two in September, 1912. Disinfecting had been undertaken under the supervision of his department and was entirely effective. Ho was familiar with the circumstances of Mrs Chamberlain’s death, and had seen her in St. Helens. Ho knew also that a baby born in the home had died at the ago of six_ months from tubercular meningitis. This death so young and from such a cause seemed to suggest that infection had been derived from tho maternal source. He thought that a now maternity home was required, but he was not aware of any case that had suffered through the structural disabilities of the home. He had compared statistics from various maternity homes, and they were extraordinarily favourable to New Zealand and to Auckland. This result was really a feather in the cap of the staff which secured such a measure of success against such disabilities. Dr Makgill also gave technical evidence regarding the effects and the characteristics of septicaemia. Subsequently the inquiry was adjourned till Monday week.