HOKITIKA HOSPITAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 108, 22 January 1866, Page 2

HOKITIKA HOSPITAL.

Tho following explanation on the part, of D r Ityley has been communicated to us, and wo give it publicity as a matter of course :—

Dr llyloy, as temporary surgeon to tlio hospital, dot's aceitain amount of work for Iho hospital for a certain remuneration. When thnt woik is dono, ho is in Iho position of a ]>rivnto practitioner, and pcrfeo'ly at liberty to practice. It is not a part of his duly to visit patients In connection with the hospital any more than it is Iho duty of any other practitioner in town, who, on professional grounds and on those of humanity is under the sinio obligation lo visit patients gratuitously as Dr Ryley. Nor is it iho custom of hospital surgeons, cither in the colonies or in England lo visit pationts at tli<ur own residences. Formerly, and before the hospital was enlarged, Dr Kyloy did so of his "own accord and as a matter of charity, but was obliged to cease doing so, except in a few coses, in order to avoid what has now occurred, viz., tho consuro of juries, as tho public would not give him credit for doing so voluntarily, and insisted upon his doing more than lie was able, viz , to visit them as often as. they would like, ar.d tho instant ho wa<i called for, as a matter of duty, and under pain of censure. 'When Dr. Uylcy found ho could not exercise v private charity without running a risk of boiiuf consural by juries, and .submitting lo actual abuse from the recipients of his services, if ho had not the power of übiquity and tho insult of being reported at tho camp for neglecting his duty, ho refused to visit in all cases whero ho was demanded lo go as v right, reserving to himself Iho priviloge of .attending on a few when ho could sparo time, who know how to nppreciato his kindness, and would not basely abuse it. Not many months since a man came from the Totuu with v a bad wound on his face. Ho could not got ndmittanco to tho hospital, and Dr llyley offered, ns it was his frequent custom to do, lo attend him gratis ; buj ho was obliged (o sond for some instruments to tho hospital, and a dolay of Iml f an hour occurred. When he arrived at tho hotel whore Uio patient was placed, another mrdical man who resides in tho houi.o was attending to the case; and Dr Uytey was aalu.illy "Joed," and insulted by a, mob of people in tho houso in reward for his kindness. Dr Ityloy has constantly 80 patients to a' tend in tho hospital, besides, at an average, six out-door patients daily. 1 1 is impossible for him to do his duty towards "those patients and al tend to his other oiiicial duties, and visit about a dozen patients in different parts of tho town ; for such a number, at the very least, ho would have to attend' if Jio under, took the task. Dr. ltytcy is quite willing to do his fair sharo of work gratuitously, and has always dono the lion's sharo ; but ho is unable, even if ho wero willing, to do it am,, and do justice to his hospital patien's and himself. Dr. ltyloy gives his most solemn assurance, and is ready lo certify on oa h, that what tho witnesses arc reported to havo stated on oath at the recent coroner's inquest is a gross perversion of tho truth. Dr. JJyley was engaged with a patient when Mr, Ilackelt called mid demanded his attendance. Dr. Kyloy explained to him that it wafe no more his duty than that of -\ny other practitioner lo attend such case?, and that ho had only a shoit time previously paid visits to two patients without fee, that ho was then engaged with a patient, that, any oilier practitioner was us much under obligation as ho was to alleiul to (bo ease, and thoro woro flvo olhora in (own ami dose at hand. 31 o further slated that if none of tho other medical men would go to see Iho case ho would go. Mr ll'nekefl monlioned thai Iho mini Was destitute, having only 15s. in tho world ; but this was not offered to Dr. llyley, and Dr. Kyloy novor suid a word about a full fee. On lrnckott asking Dr. %loy if ho (Dr. Kylcy) was tho proper porson to apply to for admission into tho hospital, Dr. Eyjiey answered ho was— not that ho was tho proper porson to apply to in all enspa of distress— and it is Dr. Ryley's m'actieo to sond such oases as ho cannot roliovo to (ho camp. Tho gentleman who was in Dr. Ryley'a consulting-room is willing to substantiate this statcmont on oath. Dr. Ryloy has good grounds for belief that this cuso wasgot up througji professional .jealousy, whilst the pauso of his unpopularity in connection with tho hospital has been hi'a inability to make v hospital, having accommodation for thirty patients, accommodate from sixty to n hundred, and Iho general ill reputo of tho present system of hospital management. Jlo maintains thaj.it is unfair to blanio him for cither pf these things, and alleges that ho has done all in his power lo mako amends for deficient, hospital nucoinniodation, by devoting every day, from morning tiUnight, 'to outdoor patients. The new hospital is now nearly completed, anil as Dr. Kyloy is now appointed to tho ollieo of surgeon-siiperinrondont, it is hoped that Iho causes of complaint will shortly bo at an end."

The Empeior .said to Moray, who lemarked to , him that ho could not understand how he remained friends with England, where tho daggers were sharpened against him, " England and Franco aro married, and, acconling to tho French law, thero is no divorco. All tho other slates aro merely mistresses, with whom Franco can break oil' tho iiahun at any moment ; hut wo are married ( o England."'— Napoleon the Third ut«l Itti , C'uio'l. By a retiicd Diplomatist.

. Thoro h a rumor allout that a young man forged bills of oxclmngo to tho amount of LIOOO, and, gavo tho whole of the proceeds to a young actress for the honor of her acquaintance for ono d.iy. Tho atliiir is to be brought bofov the lawcourts, '