FEARFUL CRUELTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1991, 7 January 1890, Page 2

FEARFUL CRUELTY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I beg to draw attention to the following particulars My wife was confined on the 27th November last; Dr Hayes attended her, and Mrs Dyson was nurse. Mrs Dyson was attending the girl Warne at the Same time, and Dr Hayes knew it. Dr Hayes went away, stating my wife was getting on all right. A fortnight afterwards I had to call in Dr Blunden, and he said she was suffering from blood-poisoning. Dr Blunden attended her for the next fortnight, after which I consulted him about taking her to the Timaru Hospital, and he gave me a letter stating what she was suffering from. I had by this time spent nearly all the money I had, and on the 3rd of January last at 9 a.m. I left Temuka with her in Mr Davy’s express, and accompanied by Mrs Spooner. At about a quarter to 3 o’clock X arrived at the Timaru Hospital. I had two letters : one from Mr B. A. Barker ‘ asking the hospital authorities to admit her ; and the other from Dr ' Blunden, stating the nature of the disease. I reached the hospital at a quarter to 3 o’clock in the afternoon and presented my letters to Mr Jowsey the steward. He stated the hospital* doctor was ill, and he at once telephoned for Dr Hogg, who arrived at about 3 o clock. Dr Hogg said that ! under no consideration would the case , be admitted inside the walls of the hospital, on the ground that the disease was one which the hospital authorities did not admit. He insisted 1 tbat 1 should take her back to Temuka snd I refused, and told him the house I had to live in was a sod whare without a floor, and that it was not fit for her. He said I had better put i her into a boarding-house in the town. He felt her pulse, and said it was no use : she could not be admitted, and added, “ How dare you bring her j here?” Mr and Mrs Jowsey were , extremely kind, and did all they could i to make her comfortable, but they ; dare not move her, and she was kept • in the broiling sun all the time. Not • one word of sympathy or kindness escaped the lips of Dr Hogg. I refused to take her out of the hospital , ground, and at about 4 o’clock' Mr . Jowsey, telephoned for the secretary Mr Orwin. He came shortly afterwards, and was very kind. After a > consultation between Mr Jowsey and : Mr Orwin, we decidsd to take her to a ■ boarding-house. Mr Orwin then went Ito look for a boarding-house, and , after considerable difficulty, succeeded* in getting Mrs South, ot the Lyn- ; wood Boarding-house, to admit her. I had to pay three men to assist me to take her into the house. Mr Orwin then went away, and some time afterwards returned, stating that owing to . the nature of the disease three doctors-i refused to attend. This was about. 6 o’clock. He next went to see Mr , E ? ss b Chairman of the Hospital Commissioners, promising to return between 7 and 8 o’clock, but as he did not return by that time I went to Mr Boss myself. I found him in his office, and asked him was he going to find a doctor. He said; “ I have done my best. The doctors refuse to attendbut I will go and see Dr Hogg. In the meantime,” he said, “go yourself and try to get a doctor.” I went to Dr Lovegrove’s house, and his daughter tdd me there had been a messenger for him to attend the same case before that afternoon, but that he had to go to Waimate. I wen t to Dr Maclntyre’s, but in the meantime Dr Maclntyre had been to see my wife and when I returned to the boarding-* house I found he had left, after examining her. Dr Mrclntyre stated that she was not suffering from bloodpoisomng, and promised to come again to see her next morning. This was between 9 and 10 o’clock at night. About this rime Mr Orwin returned, and told Mrs South that the board womd be responsible for one week and no longer I have three children —one five weeks old, whom I have put out to nurse; another two years, who is also out to nurse; and Mrs Spooner has taken one, who is four years of M™’^ 1 have , no language to thank Irs Spooner for the kindness she has shown me. She accompanied me through all my trouble, and only for her I believe my wife would have died. I have abo to thank Dr Maclntyre, who came the first moment he was asked ?e£u 0U f h f a)1 thQ ° ther doctors had refused to attend. My treatmenf roughout was cruel an/hS b u l tbe most brutal of all was a man who ““S'®, and said to me when I was complaining 0 f no yourself "’“ ’n " a ?J M her Thomas Egan. stated that Mr Egan camf to’ t,“ d b ? said that Mrs Egm desS to hl “ .“ d S r h^ h »r at U ated Cl th* oS ; re SU ° h an hut the nature of the disease (in andS?s g „° v 6 ,P Ller P eral septkmi a Egan toT P ‘ C Ho ad ™cd Mr o 4^r: h « Soie”tr ceif