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1234. And when by this very slow process did you come to the conclusion that the cases were going out unduly slowly ? —I cannot say. 1235. Did you ever, before this inquiry, arrive at the conclusion that your cases were being unduly retarded? —Yes, certainly, and I reported cases of unnecessary delay. I think I can show you that in print; then probably you will believe it more readily than if I simply made the statement. * I refer you to the cases of Alexander's operation. They occurred some time ago. They were on two women, and the operations were followed by suppuration, which went on for a long time. 1236. Have you referred to these cases before?— Yes. I sent this paper to the Trustees the day before their meeting at which they passed a series of resolutions condemning me hotly. They had. that paper in their hands when they made their speeches. I suppose they had their speeches all prepared —they had them in their brains, in fact—and could not stop the delivery of them very well. It seems to me they had prepared their speeches, and you may judge of it from the speeches that were delivered on that occasion. Of course, these are only their opinions. 1237. Who were the Trustees that you complain of in this way ?—I will give you their names if you wish. I should like to say, Mr. Chapman, that you have drawn this out of me. I wished to avoid it, and I do not think the Trustees ■will be much obliged to you for your action. 1238. Ido not care whether the Trustees agree with it or not. You complain of some unpleasant treatment by the Trustees ? —I do, undoubtedly. 1239. When ?—I forwarded to them a printed document, and, although they had it in their hands at the time and knew they should inquire into it, they never even referred to it, but had their discussion printed fully in the newspapers. 1240. You say they had the discussion printed in the newspapers?— Yes; their meetings are generally held quietly, but this meeting was fully reported. The report showed to the general public that I was condemned for my injudicious utterances, when I was not heard in my own defence, and when they had the whole of my statement in their pockets. 1241. Did you intend this address of yours for private or public discussion ?—I was perfectly willing to discuss it with the Trustees any way they liked ; and I did not think they would condemn me behind my back. 1242. And you complain of the Trustees acting unfairly to you? —I do indeed. 1243. Were you acting fairly to them, having this knowledge of the insanitary condition of the Hospital in your mind, and never having made one word of complaint to them on the subject ? —We did make complaints. 1244. Who are "we" ? —The medical staff. 1245. Did you complain to the Trustees?— Certainly. 1246. Can you show me a scrap of paper in proof of that? —I have told you before that there were so many things that we complained about that we actually did not know where to begin. 1247. Can you point to any record in your minute-book of the medical staff, or any other book, in condemnation of the Hospital on account of its sanitary condition?—No, I cannot, but I can point out many other things that we considered more important. lam exceedingly sorry to have to go into this, but you have forced it on me. 1248. Did you consider the question of nursing was the most important ? —I thought the nursing was very bad; and that it was a more important question than that of the septic condition of the Hospital. Bad nursing is apt to spread septic troubles. 1249. Yes, the nursing was the most important?— Yes, and it was the most radical change that was wanted. 1250. The necessity for a separate female ward —was that important ?—Yes. from my point of view it was. 1251. The circumstance that the Hospital was a hot-bed of septic disease was more important than the insanitary condition of the Hospital?—l never said anything of the sort. But if you like to put it that way you can. 1252. I have taken down that expression-—that the Hospital was a hot-bed of septic disease— from the lips of your own counsel. Not only did that expression fall from him, but has he not, on two subsequent occasions, asked you if it were not a fact that certain cases were of doubtful result, and would have been so had they remained in the Hospital; and that that doubt would have been determined only by death. Mr. Solomon : I do not think my learned friend will say I put it seriously in that way. It is utterly unfounded on fact. Mr. Chapman : I certainly thought you meant it. Mr. Solomon : I did not think you thought I meant it for a moment. What I asked witness— and I repeated it about a dozen times and always got the same answer—was that no medical man could speak positively as to certain results arising from one case. 1253. Mr. Chapman.] Now, Dr. Batchelor, you have given a very qualified opinion as to the cause of death of Mrs. S , and several others in the books ? —I think I have given a decided opinion. lam not going to swear to it, if you mean that. 1254. Do you suggest you could not ?—I said I would not. Perhaps some men would. 1255. But you say you consider Mrs. S 's death due to entirely unhealthy influence ?— Yes. 1256. And had she been operated on in a healthy ward with healthy surroundings you say that she would now be alive and well ? —Yes, I indorse every word of that. 1257. And when did you "come to know that the ward and its unhealthy surroundings was the cause of death ? —I think I have had pretty good experience during that week, but I had had my suspicions a long time before that. 1258. Have you had anything more than suspicions ? —I have had growing suspicions,