Serious Allegations Against Medical Staff of Porirua Mental Hospital

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 7

Serious Allegations Against Medical Staff of Porirua Mental Hospital

tiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmiiiMiiimmimiiimHiiiimiiiiiimimiiimmimmmmmuuim

WAS she inadequately attended to and fed m. a Haphazard fashion,/ without any thought to proper treatment? . Moreover, did the authorities, m diagnosing her trouble as hysteria,, and treating it as such and m locking her door, try to force the girl, back to', work m order to give her some interest with a view. to complete recovery? •■■,.. ... ■These are some of the charges which nurses employed on the staff of the hospital, and intimately associated With -the dead girl level against the institution. 'Edith Paynter, they say;-, was unfit for duty when she resumed work, ajid the should, and could have, seen it.' ' ■ Was there, a lack. of treatment and a. diagnosis m her case and did the dead girl return to her duties for "peace, and quietness" sake while laboring under the strain of a violent headache caused ..by... an , almost ruptured blood vessel, at the. base of her brain? /. - • ', : . Then again, did the medical superintendent and the matron at ,the hospital consider there was nothing wrong with the girl, and because they thought there was .nothing wrong with her, lock her fnto her room so that she would .willingly return to her work and .. .daily companionship? It was these questions with, which M.. J. S. .Barton, S.M., acting m the capacity of coroner, had to deal when he opened the enquiry 'recently into the cause of Edith Paynter's death. Mr. A. B; Sievwright,' acting on behalf of a number pi the- nurses from the ■institution, watched the proceedings throughout, while Mr, A. B.

What Sister Said

Buxton up to a' certain point, followed the enquiry m the interests of the deceased's relatives. ' ■ Mr. C. A. L>. Tread well represented Dr. Hayes* the medical superintendent, arid Senior-sergeant Butler conducted the enquiry on behalf of the police. '■■•■"'. .' ' •> In giving IVer' evidence at the official enquiry into the cause of her sister's death. Ethel Payriter made no complaints against ' the' authorities. . The dead girl's body was embalmed arid shipped back to her people In the . Chatham Islands. On the same boat sailed her twin sister, bow,- . Ed down with : grief at the sudden and tragic demise of her life-long playmate. . •'■": The boat sailed at 1 p.m. on the day of the enquiry— before the time fixed for the inquest at the ' hospital, so Coroner Barton formally heard the girl's evidence, at mid-day m his room at the Magistrate's Court m Wellington. . ■ In her narration of what -she knew of events leading up to' her sister's death, Miss" Paynter said the dead girl was working m a ward occupied by the Borstal girls. In ; consequence of the assault perpetrated on one of the nurses, -m . which her sister was involved, she -was confined to her bed. She had not been well to within a •week of that time, but the occurrence j made her. worse. P.rior to ,the assault j her sister did not report sick; but comt plained of headaches and giddiness. About a fortnight ago, after a month of illness, her sister went on duty for ' half, a.- day, but :tHeri ' returned to bed. > During the' period of her illness, no nurse was detailed to look after Tier i and. when .she (the witness), came off duty she attended to her' sister's l -wants, except when she was removed to Rauta, where an inmate of the mii stitution, capable of doing the work, •was instructed to do -what was re- ' quired. '. •. Questioned by Mr. A. B. Sievwright, ' Ethel Paynter said her sister was reI moved • from ■ her "top room" m the

Not Fit For Duty?

main building- to Rauta because the ftfrmer place was' wholly unsuitable and too noisy. : ' • ! • : . She took her sister's meals to her m the main building, but the patient performed this office when , her sister, Edith, , was removed toi Rauta. Miss Paynter . said : she .was not certain whether Dr. Anderson visited the sick room every day, but she .kne"w the visits had been frequent, and , occasionally Dr. Hayes_ called. ■ . Mr. Sievwright: Did anyone sug- ] gest that during the latter part of her illness she should be back on duty?— . As' far. as I can tell the doctor did. . They suggested it?— Well, , my sister said she would be better and happier working than lying there, because it was so lonely. She knew her sisterwas m a good deal of pain. "I don't think she' was' '• really, .fit 'to be working," said Ethel Paynter, "but she was happier, than when left alone m her room." Describing her sister's condition after she came off duty at the end of a day, Ethel Paynter said her sister's head was so bad and she was so tired she hardly knew what she was doing. On the Sunday of her death, her sister lay do^n on her bed .at 7.30. Her. head then was as: bad as ever it was. She asked her sister for an apple and when this was brought about eight o'clock she was lying huddled up behind the bedroom door. ' She must have been- dead then. For the five days prior to her 'death she could not say whether the matron or Dr. Hayes could see she was not fit for duty. Her sister certainly looked very ill and pale, but "I thought she was better off when with someone." .'. .. -.-..'•,. Dr. Hayes had examined her sister and told her he had diagnosed her trouble as hysteria. : Sergeant Butler: You do not think the authorities forced her to go on duty? — The matron went down and asked her if she would like to start and" my sister said "Yes.'.' . This appeared to be as much. light

as Ethel Paynter could throw on the circumstances surrounding, her sister's death and the inquiry was formally adjourned to the Porirua hospital, where further, witnesses, were heard. At the hospital, Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell put m an appearance; and as the inquiry opened received official notification to watch the proceedings on behalf of '■ the superintendent. Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Wellington Public Hospital, who conducted a post mortem examination the day following the girl's death, tendered to the coroner his i-eport,. stating that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. , The best illustration he could give of the trouble w"hich caused Edith Paynter's death he gave by describing a bulge m a certain blood vessel at the back of the head. He likened it to a bulge m a motor car tyre, which, when the walls become thin, finally bursts. That, he said, was exactly what occurred. The wails of the bulge were so thin that there had been a continual drip which had formed quite a clot. This dripping had occasioned the terrible headaches the girl, suffered from. , A post mortem examination was the only way of discovering such a condition and death would occur any time, whether working or not. "I do not see how it would be possible for the doctor to ascertain what the trouble 1 was," he said. "The bulge would be something between a match head and a pea m size and the vessel about as thick as a darning needle." The observed symptoms would not enable a doctor to diagnose properly. They would not be indicative of any definite trouble. ■- • ■' ■ ;\ ■

Appeared To Be 111

On headache and vomiting alone one would not diagnose hysteria. To those who knew her, said Mr. Sievwright. the girl appeared to be ill. Was , it reasonable to expect her to be,, working m that condition? Dr. "Lynch said he could not say. To Mr. Buxton, the pathologist said there was no possible treatment for the .trouble the girl was suffering from, even, had there, been a correct diagnosis, which was not likely. A fatal termination was a certainty. Dr. H. D. Hayes, medical superintendent of the hospital, told the coroner what he knew of the girl's past history. 1 She suffei'ed from emotional stress. Two years ago m the Chathams she had suffered from insomnia and was violently sick on the boat coming back from her last leave. In fact, so bad had she been that it was thought advisable at one stage to stop the boat. This was not resorted to, however. The girl, he knew, took aspirins, presumably -to relieve her headaches. On January 4, said the superintendent, he was called to "F" AVard annexe to see Nurses Tee and Paynter. There was no evidence of injury. Nurse Tee had gone into the room and was attacked by one of the Borstal girls. She .then fainted. Nurse Paynter came „t o 'her assistance and fainted also. Both the nurses were put to bed and Nurse Tee returned to work In a day or two. He examined Nurse Paynter some little time later and suspected hysteria. \ , > Quieter ■ quarters, at '. Rauta were ■found for her. He saw the girl every Sunday— on. January G, 13, 20, and 27th. It was on the 20th that- he examined her. He could find no evidence of organic trouble and "she seemed a trifle better. Her headaches were less, although she was tired about the eyes and suffered with pains m her limbs. . ' . "I suggested,", said Dr. Hayes,' .."that- if she resumed work she. might have some interest, but it

Suspected Hysteria

was left to the girl herself if she resumed work." She went off duty the same day, hut he saw her again on the third of the month, and the girl said she was feeling better, although tired about the eyes. Still following- out his hypothesis, he suggested to her -that if she liked, she could return to work later. He did not see her again' -until February 10, at 8.5 p.m. when he found her dead. To Mr. Treadwell, Dr. Hayes said he made the suggestion that the girl's relatives should be represented at the inquest. ' ' - ■ Mr. Treadwell: It has been suggested that the deceased did not receive proper attention m the way of meals and company? — I- never heard of it. Did the patielnt complain of anything?— No. Did anyone on her behalf lay any complaint concerning lack of proper food? — No* As for medical attention, Dr.' Anderson saw her. every .day. Hysteria was a disorder of the nerves and Dr. An- ■ derson- (a lady), suspected this, asking him to come, and examine the girl. ' Mr. Sievwright wanted to know if- the incident m January when the nurses were assaulted would have any effect on the dead girl...' Dr. Hayes said he would say it would. . The person who committed the assault was a Borstal prisoner from Point Halswell. Mr. Sievwright wanted to know if it were not a fact that these girls were sent to Porirua because they threatened suicide. They did this because they had a far easier .time at Porirua than at Point Halswell. ;-. . • Mr. Barton, however, said he could not thevn go into the policy of why these girls were sent to Porirua. He was conducting ah inquest into the death of a nurse. Mr. Sievwright: My instructions are that these girls are not under

WAS NURSE VICTIM OF NEGLECT?

Miss Paynter Was SaidTo Be In Serious State WHleStill Doing Ward Duty

REPUDIATION OF GRAVE CHARGES AT INQUEST

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative)

Sick Girl's Room Was Locked And Nobody Was Allowed In, So Nurses Declare

They were strangers m a strange land. Edith Mary Paynter and her sister, Ethel Charlotte, were twins. Hailing from the Chatham Islands they had a common interest m their work at the Porirua Mental Hospital. A month-old scuffle with ,

one of the patients, an illness which may have been accelerated by the scuffle and now Edith Mary Paynter is dead. The post mortem' examination revealed clearly the cause of her death, which medical men held was inevitable, but during 1 her month of illness was the girl denied the rights and privileges of the sick — that of seeing and conversing with her friends and receiving the care and attention her state of health warranted? Allegations of neglect were made at the inquest but were as emphatically denied. - . . ■'

proper control and trouble does exist.' Mr. Barton intimated it was rather a coincidence that he had representations made to him that this par r ticular girl, Ivy Squires, was too much under control and was a perfectly quiet-natured girl. "We have had examples before," he said, "at inquests where extraneous matters 'have entered into the question." ' : . Mr. Sievwright: No one was detailed to look after the deceased or clean out her room. Is that not so? — I am not aware of it. It was at this . point that the court decided that' when clear or definite evidence of neglect * were brought forward it would, recalj Dr. Hayes. In the meantime it, was hardly necessary to question him along the lines adopted by counsel. • \ • To Mr. Buxton,. Dr. , Hayes said the charge /nurse would, tell the girl to go off duty if she felt unwell. The deceased's . sister made no complaint to him.. ..-.■;"• Dr. Anderson, m. answer to the police sergeant, said, she attended to the girl throughout her illness. She did not think she suffered any knock on the occasion of the assault as she was leaning over- Nurse Tee when she fainted. At the time, it was her opinion that the. , girl .was; suffering .from, 1 hysteria." ■ Subsequently, she was' called again as the girl. was throw■^ing herself about. Nurse Paynter was usually , a .bright and happy girl, but after -the trouble she was different. Later, the girl said she . would rather be on duty than walking about the ground. She went back 'to her work on Feb- . ruary 1. To the coroner, Dr. Anderson said

she did not think the girl was neglected m ' the matter of \ meals and companionship. To Sergeant Butler, the doctor said the girl was working on the day of her death. Dr. Macky, assistant medical officer, corroborated the testimony of the other doctors. He saw the deceased on February 4. He made a provisional diagnosis of hysteria and prescribed a milk diet and auiet.

To Mr. Sievwright, Dr. Macky said he saw the girl on the day of her death. She then said she was "keeping better." The testimony of the nurses began to throw some light on the alleged neglect and inattention paid to the dead girl. The first to give her evidence was Nurse Tee, the one involved m the struggle with the inmate from Point Halswell. It was some five weeks ago, she said, since the assault. The girl who assaulted her was sometimes inclined to be quiet and sometimes violent. She Avas m the girl's room about to search for a pencil when the girl jumped on her from behind and caught her by the' thr-oat. When she called out, Nurse Paj r nter came to her assistance. She was struck m the face several times and her cap was pulled off. She remembered falling and someone dragging her out of the room. That was all. She subsequently learned that while Nurse Hutchins puiled her out. Nurse Paynter held the patient and tried, to shut her back m the room. That night, Nurse Paynter told them the patient held her up against the wall and she had a struggle to get free. A third nursecame, on the scene and caught Nurse Paynter when she fainted. Nurse Paynter had said she must have hit her head, : biit she did not say whether it was m the room when the struggle was on or whether it was when sTio fell. Nurse Paynter, she said, related this to her the same night. The Coroner: Did she connect this incident with her illness? — She was always bright and well before. Nurse Paynter may. have said something about headaches before, but she did not take any notice. .To Mr. ■ Treadwell. witness said the conversation she had .related took place m the girl's bedroom: At the time, Nurse Paynter was groaning quite loudly . and said she had struck her head at the bar-k. The girl was never cheerful again, as she was before the incident. Mr. Sievwight: You saw a great chnntro m Nurse Paynter after this incident? — Yes, very great. Do you rkuppose it would have been seen by anyone who' knew her before? —Yes. . • She was: fnr from well until she died ?— Yes. She was never the same as she used to be. She used to moan and groan every night .in.fl was not fit for work. (Nurse Tee later explained that sir* -pl^nt m a room opposite Nurse Paynter). "I would not have allowed her on, duty to work," said Nurse Tee. "She

was just able to walk and that was all." -■■■'.. Did you know when she was ill m the top room if there was anyone detailed to clean her* room ?— No, .there was not. ■•-<■■'-• Mr. Treadwell: Do you. know that? — Yes, I did it myself after coming off duty. Witness said that at Rauta, Nurse Paynter had one of the inmates,! who did that class of work, to take her her food. ' . • : ' . Mr, Sievwright: You saw . that she was neglected during the day?— Yes. , Prior to her death did she ever speak of extreme loneliness?— Sometimes she did. ■.'..:.-'••.■ : '' .'-• . "I used to look-in during the. evening when off duty, but for a few days, three or four, the door was, locked

(check-locked) and no one was allowed m. There was a notice on the door." Nurse Tee said she used to call out

to Nurse Paynter, - who used to say: "Let me have a look at you." Witness,- used to go round to the window. During this period she did not have anyone to visit her except the patient who brougut her meals, the charge nurse who had .the,, check key and hersister, when off fluty. '■„. ^-}. : \ ■■.-■. '-..j,.. ■-.■', .<.. Mr. Sievwright: Was -this method, usual? — I never heard pt it being done. She did not think that '- Nurse" Daiby; her mate, saw her when the door "was check-locked. ' She could, not y say why it was done or whether it was to force her back to work. The Coroner: Did she make any. complaint about it?- — At times she said she was lonely. . To Mr. Sievwright, she said that

when the door was not locked m this way other nurses used to visit the girl as they came off duty. In answer to Mr. Barton, Nurse Tee said she supposed if the doctors had ordered quiet it was reasonable to lock the door to keep things so. To Mr. Sievwright, she said that, from the beginning of the present month up to the time of her death, Nurse Paynter Iqo£ed ill and unfit for duty. She always complained about her eyes and said she could see two of everything. Mr. Sievwright: Could the authorities' — or should they — have seen she was not fit for duty? — Well, yes, I think so. To Mr. Buxton, the nurse went on

Door Kept Locked

had seen her do it even if the authorities had not. . , , When a person was lying' m bed all day, said Nurse Tee, a certain amount of dust always accumulated. The room was swept, yes, when she did it herself. The patient who took Nurse Paynter's meals m to her may, have made her bed during the day. Nurse Bailey, m relating what she knew of the struggle, told the coroner she heard someone call. When she arrived on the scene, Nurse Paynter <was endeavoring to shut Ivy Squires into the room. . Shortly after, Nurse Paynter said to her (when bending over Nurse Tee) : "Oh, Tee, Tee," and then almost immediately: "Oh, ,Bailey, my eyes, my eyes; my legs, my legs." She then fell back into her arms.

. -. .girl, but she may have had her head bumped against the wall. To Mr. Sievwright, : Nurse Bailey said the deceased always seemed to be m a stupor. She certainly appeared ill, although she was all right before the occurrence. A very marked change was evidenced. 1 . . . , .. • : : -Nurse Paynter was a girl with great will power and would not give m if sHe could possibly help it. She once -asked her to give up, but the girl replied: "I can't, 1 Bailey." ' She always tried to bear up. ' '. She was. told it had been said by the authorities that Nurse Paynter should get back to work. She also heard that the girl was not well looked after. Nurse Bailey went on to say she also

heard the girl was "locked up because rfhe was not properly sane enough." She was told to keep away from her and thought the girl was going a bit mental. Nurse Atkins, on cook-house duties at the time of Nurse Paynter's illness, said tea and toast for breakfast, a hot dinner of meat and vegetables, with pudding, and tea and toast again m the evening, consisted of the food supplied to the sick girl. There were no eggs or anything and the girl never touched the food' sent clown to her. On one occasion she asked for an egg as she knew the girl was eating notning, but the charge nurse refused it. She said it was for Nurse Paynter.

She did not Dump her head on the floor, nor did witness actually witness her m holts with the Borstal

Nurse's "Treatment Was Not Right"

to say that up to the time of the assault Nurse Paynter was a very good worker, but afterwards she could not hurry and walked along slowly. ' "I used to walk up with" her from Rauta," said Nurse Tee, "and she used to say to me: 'I don't know how I am going to last out . the day.' I once told her a holiday would do her good and she told me she would be taking a long holiday shortly." ' ■ She never asked the charge nurse for the key to go m and see deceased. She used to speak to her through the window. She formed no idea; why the door was locked unless it was to keep things quiet.. Counsel suggested that it usually followed the nurses looked after their sick sisters. Others at the institution

On the day the girl again commenced work, witness had a - conversation with her. Nurse Paynter said she did not think she could last till dinner time. The girl did gro back to her bed and witness asked the charge nurse what she could prepare for their sick companion. It was some days before the girl came back to work, but she was not fit to do so. The authorities should have seen that. It was Nurse Findlay who refused the egg, and it was she also who had sent the dinner back. In the opinion of the witness, the treatment meted out to Nurse Paynter was not right.It was cruel. The Coroner: Was there any compulsion put upon her?— 7 lt seems like it. She went, on to work for peace sake. The matron and Dr. Hayes were

THE ELSIE WALKER INQUIRY

IT is gratifying to observe that the Minister of Justice has paralleled his views with those of "N.Z. Truth" as to the cogency of a public demand for a penetrating) enquiry into the untimely death of Elsie Walker at Papamoa. . Equally, reassuring is the- appointment of Mr. E. Page, S.M., as commissioner. He will inquire not only into the nature and extent of investigations made by the Auckland division of the police, but also report upon the advisability of laying 'down new methods of procedure for official crime investigations, should similar cir- - cumstarices arise m the future. He is empowered carefully to scrutinise any books and, records which the police may have relative to the disappearance and death of the unfortunate girl from which it. is patent that the Hon. T. M. Wilford intends to thresh the situation to its uttermost limit. .

always getting on to her about returning to work. Mr. Sievwright:, Words and conduct of Dr. Hayes and Matron Brand compelled her to go back to work? — She always said she was not fit. She went on duty for peace sake. Mr. Sievwright maintained with some earnestness that the phrase was . not his and this is borne out by a previous question he put to the girl. She had used it m giving him her answer. Continuing, Nurse Atkins said the girl was secluded m her room so "we could not see her." She was unable to say why the notice was placed upon the door. Moreover, she could not understand the sister's statement that the deceased made no complaints. The matron was with Ethel Paynter ;''mostly" : after the girl's death. Mr. -Sievwright: By . whom was ■. . she accompanied whenever you. i met her?— The matron. Witness had not seen her talking to anyone else since her sister's death. ■ 'To the coroner, Nurse Atkins - said the girl went without food all tne time she was at Rauta — three weeks. That was, so far as she knew. She did not get any from her. "I don't know where else she could get it." ! ; ' Mr. Treadwell wanted to know why, if the pathologist found a stout, wellbuilt girl, Nurse Paynter could have been without, food for three weeks. Nurse Atkins said that was as far as she knew. The girl's friends may have taken her a certain amount of fruit. If she went on duty voluntarily she did so after three weeks with, nothing? —She did. When did you first hear Dr. Hayes and the matron trying to compel her

to return to work? — Just prior to her going on duty. Was , she being asked if she would go 1 on or was it compulsion? — She said she was to ' go on duty. • She knew the girl was a , trier and wanted to give it, a "try," but she did not say she gave it a try voluntarily, but because ■' the matron asked her to go on. Mr. TVeadwell: Have you ever heard of any per-

son, desiring to go off duty on the ground of sickness, being refused ?— Not until recently. Give us an instance? — Nurse Paynter, came the stubborn reply. Counsel wanted to know why she hadn't told the deceased's sister about the egg incident instead of keeping' it to herself until she came to the inquest. "j. did not know it would come to an inquest," returned .Nurse Atkins. Questioned by Mr. Buxton, Nurse Atkins admitted that Nurse Paynter had not asked her for anything special. On the second day of the enquiry the coroner asked Mr. Sievwright what further evidence he proposed to. call and thjs gave rise to all counsel addressing the court. Mr.. Sievwright said the authorities had shown a lamentable ignorance m not carrying out a proper examination of the girl. The treatment given was not right and she should have been placed m a proper .ward. The friends of the sick girl were looking after her during their "off" time. Mr.. Buxton took the opportunity of stating to Mr. Barton that he had discussed what evidence that had already been tendered with Mr. Chatwin, of Fisheries,' Ltd., who was satisfied that death was due to natural causes. It was not the desire of the relatives of deceased or their friends to make their loss a peg on which to hang other enquiries. There did not seem to be any reason why Ethel Paynter should want to conceal or mislead anyone as to the treatment her sister had received prior to" her death. He had been instructed to take v no further part m the proceedings. ' Mr. Treadwell said the charges brought forward were scandalous and without the slightest shadow of foundation. If the charges were utterly frivolous, as he apprehended they were, they had nothing whatever to do with the death of the lady. There had not been any complaints at the time, but they were now coming from a few people with a grouch. Mr. Barton said he was satisfied as to the cause of death and could, as he was entitled to do,, close the enquiry then, on the ground that he had found the main issue. He proposed to continue, however. When there were charges of neglect, it was a grave, mistake to leave even the shadow of doubt; The evidence of neglect and loneliness seemed to be negatived by the girl's sister, but there was certain evidence to be rebutted m the matter of food. Nurse Violet Dalby, who had resignled her position on the staff the day following the opening of the inquest',

said she did not know of Edith Paynter being ill before the incident with Ivy Squires. Miss Paynter was required to go out on to .the. open grass .court at one period from. the top room and was not able to dress herself. ' She did not want to go and could only stay there ten minutes.' She did not want to get up. The deceased girl . had complained to her that the matron, and doctor had gone past her room and not looked m. She could not lie m; bed peacefully as she knew the doctor and matron wanted her to go on duty. The girl at this time was having lemons and oranges and once she went down to the village .and bought some eggs." With these she made a custard.crust and the girl. had some. To Mr. Sievwright, Miss Dalby said Nurse Paynter was not flt for duty. That was quite apparent to anyone who saw her. Nurse McKay said the sick girl could not eat the food sent to her at Rauta. She was not fit for duty, but said the matron asked her to "buck up and get on duty." 1 To Mr. Treadwell, witness said Nurse Paynter did not want quiet altogether as she was so depressed. She. had the girl m her room several times/ but there was .never "any. complaint .from the matron regarding this; She. was at a loss to, know why the sister did not make any complaints, nor could she understand .• why the family counsel should . renpunce all complaints against the" authorities. . She/had read the sister's evidence m the paper and did, np.t believe it. '■ Ir) relating, a conversation with th& deceased girl, Nurse McGlynn said when she met the girl one day

"Would Do Her Best"

and remarked on her. not looking welj, Nurse 'Paynter replied: "Matron came up and said, 'Nurse Paynter, you must buck up and come on duty. 1 r said I.: would do my best and try and dress if she left the room." Witness thought Ethel -Paynter must' have changed her mind \vhen she gave her evidence. She could' not, understand it. "When I spoke to her on Tuesday ( after her 'sister's death I asked her if she \vas going, to say. anything 1 and she said:' '"if . l: speak at all I'll say too much and I '..will be sorry for it afterwards." ■ i <' Ethel Payntev, had said she did not want any publicity and that may have occasioned the change. The sister had been m. bed two days folloAving the tragedy, but the matron was mostly m her company. Witness spoke to • Ethel Paynter about their taking up a. silver teapot to her when her sister did hot get such attention. She wondered that Ethel could "stick up for them." . , To Mr. Treadwell, Nurse McGlynn admitted the girl was terribly shocked at her sister's .death. Nurse Dalby helped her pack on the Wednesday. On Saturday, February 9, she was acting-charge nurse, Miss Rusbatch told the court. The girl complained of pains m the head, and witness told the matron, who replied: "Nurse, the doctors say there is nothing wrong with her." . . . -", . ..... Further evidence- was 1 given by a number of other nurses. Concerning the work which Nurse* Paynter • had been doing, Nurse McShane said if. the girl was on light duty it was because her companions made it light. It had not been allocated to her by the authorities. Nurse Hastie tojd the coroner that, on one occasion. Nurse Paynter had, said to her: '"What do you think, Hastie, Dr. Hayes has told me to buck up and go on duty to-morrow morniner. I don't feel . a bit fit for it." Nurse Paynter said ; she was sure Dr. Hayes thought she was "putting it on."

"Always Groaning"

The deceased girl did not have a peaceful night, sajid Nurse. Begga. She was always groaning and moaning and was certainly not fit for duty. On the night before she started, she was m the girl's room when .she said they had Jisked her to. go on duty m the morning. She did not feel like it. She had made no other complaint. Called by Mr. Treadweli; Matron M. C. ! Noonan (related how the girl came to go out on to grass court. She was asked by' the .■ chief matron (Nurse Brand) if she felt she could go as the doctor said it would do her good. She saw the girl nearly every morning at Rauta and when she was working, nearly every afternoon. The girl was placed on a fluid diet, and she did not believe she had no food for three weeks. She had not received any complaints, and when the girl did return to work it was of a light nature. She was not compelled to return to duty. Matron Noonan said she told Nurse Findlay to place the notice on the door as there, was , too much noise being created m the sick girl's . room. This was hot" the treatment, for hysteria. To Mr. Sievwright, Matron Noonan said she thought the girl was fit for duty when she did resume. She did not have the impression that the girl was putting it on, but Nurse Paynter could have complained if she were ill. ■ About the last week m January she had seen the girl whistling and singing. Concerning the food, if the girl did not eat anything from the kitchen she was not aware of it. Nurse Findlay, .m answer to Mr.. Treadwell, said the sick girl was placed on a fluid diet for a few days and later put on eggs. She issued the eggs. She saw Nurse Paynter quite frequently and she made no complaints. There was no suggestion of the girl being forced back to, work. Witness never refused Nurse Atkins an : egg for the patient, To Mr. Sievwright, Nurse Findlay

Paynter she. was v unaware of it; They were issued for the purpose. She had no reason, however, why she . should doubt what Nurse Atkins had said on . the matter. Counsel wanted, to know if. the > notice on the door, and especially the check-locking of; "it were, notmore a matter of a little disciplinary measure to let the girl know she could not do as she liked but must obey orders.; This was not , so, said Nurse Fihd|ay. According to the girl's illness it was advisable she did not have visitors. Counsel: I put it to you that under" these circumstances " she should not have been : working? — -I did not think •■-- > she was looking well, but she was not working then. r • ..: ■ " To the coroner the witness explained the incident, of the food being sent back. The patient who was taking the dinner was under the impression that Nurse Paynter. had ..gone back _tP_,. „ bed,; w v hereas she had just been relieved from duty. : ■.:. "■'•■■••"' '.;;", -*i:^;"f 5>330 Senior- sergeant Butler, she 'said> .;• | it did not seem likely that anyone 'else:'. • would eat the eggs put out' for Nurse"; - Paynter. ' . . :• . ; :. Siabhra Gribben Lynch gave evidence, of -the massage, she gave to the decreased girl. There; were never any . complaints to her and she certainly J would have known if the-'girl was not eating. . ■'. V •■;.'" ' ..,.."'; , The chief matron of ; -the institu- ' tion, Nurse {Brand, related the symptoms as disclosed , m the- . girl's case. They were consistent • with hysteria. The girl never ■ made any complaints to her about inattention or lack of food. Her sister was the only i one to visit

Was Blunder Made ?

her over a certain period, apart . . from' those looking after her. > Mr. Treadwell:' lt has; beefi' suggested the girl was locked m to force her back to work? — She was never asked to :go on duty: ,; ■ ' Cross-examined, Matron Brand related her qualifications for the position she held; Her experience had been gained over a number of years m various institutions here and m the Old Country. ' The girl was treated for hysteria and she was encouraged I . to do light duties and given an interest. She did not appreciate the fact that a blunder had been made. ■■'•She failed to see that was so. The" matron said -she remem-. bered the conversation with Nurse Rusbatch, but at that time she was still of the opinion that' the girl was suffering from hysteria. . Counsel: Then apparently Nurse Rusbatch had a better appreciation of the -actual*' position'- than* either you or Dr. Hayes?— NoV I 'will hot'say that. The matrdn, further questioned, said it would surprise her to -know that Nurse Paynter was scrubbing a floor the day she resumed work;. . There was no sick bay at the institution for nurses, but, .said ' the matron, one would be opened shortly.. . That had been her aim ever since, she. took up ,her duties there. ■Technical 'medical evidence was given by Dr. T. G. Gray, director general; of mental hospitals. He said he. had'^heard all the evidence and it was his opinion the girl was suffering from I hysteria.. ~^ : ..-- ■,:■•. -. •■ .—>... To Mr; Sievwrighß, Vthe. "doctor; said he based this on the' past- history -of the girl and on the evidence.. In hysteria there were frequent symptoms simulating other, diseases and no organic disorders could be found. Counsel: Can you point to anything that was not an actuality or referable to the. post mortem? — . Yes, the headaches, pains m the shoulders, m the legs, rolling of the eyes are all symptoms of

Dr. Gray V Evidence

hysteria when taken m conjunc- :> ; tion with the past history of., the ; v. case. ' . ,;,:./' " - \.;\ He did not suggest the "headache;;; was. not an actuality:/ It must: have ;| ! been referable to the aneurism 'which-: '■ I caused the girl's death. "But,!N went;. ( on Dr. Gray, "such a headache would.:, have been, m my opinion, a continu-: ous headache without remission,/ whereas there is ; ample evidence thatV the patient was quite brighf and happy at times. . The aneurism 1 may 'have had some.thing to do with the pain m the Shoulder, but 'he x did not think it pro- " bable that' the pressure on the spinal column would effect different parts, and cause pain, m the body. He would not deny that vomiting might occur, but it would have certain characteristics which would distinguish it from ordinary vomiting. Double vision was not uncommon m hysteria and he did not think it would be due tp the aneurism. Counsel: This nurse had headaches, .. . vomiting and visual trouble. "Would these not be certain symptoms of an aneurism or of a tumor on the brain? — I say, yes, provided it excluded the presence of other symptoms. Counsel: I put it to you there was no hysteria m the woman? — That" is ridiculous. The whole case is hysteria from start to finish. The fact that it was co-existent .with the aneurism- does not alter, my opinion that the girl suffered from hysteria. The whole treatment as carried put by the hospital authorities was m the best interests of the patient. The door was locked because of the inju- " dicious conduct of the girl's friends. Dr. Hayes, re-called, gave evidence on similar lines. .There was nothing In' common, he skiA, between an aneurism (unless large), and,. a cerebral tumor. N Up' ; to th^,.. last,, 'he had; not given an ■ : aneurisn}\a thought, but considered possible cerebral tijquble. At this -/juncture the enquiry' was. further adjourned. ;' '. . ' " • : A full report of the balance of the proceedings. will appear m next issue.