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1681. Would that be the case of Mrs. Mary M , operated on on the 14th July, discharged the 30th July?— Yes; Dr. Gordon Macdonald operated. 1682. The Chairman.] Was that in the same ward? —Yes. In consequence of my cases going wrong I particularly wanted to see this case dressed. Dr. Gordon Macdonald, when I was present, kindly dressed it before me. I think he seemed satisfied with it, although I must say that I did not consider it by any means a nice-looking wound. It had not healed by the first intention, and there was some discharge about the dressings, but afterwards it did well, I believe. 1683. Mr. Solomon.] Did you see another breast case, that of Amy S ■?—-I saw her before she was operated on, but I do not remember seeing her afterwards. 1684. She was in from the 30th May to the 19th June. Do you call that a good or a bad recovery, as regards time ? —Time is only one element in the matter. 1685. Would you put that case of cancer, after operation, alongside of a septic case?—No, I should not. But you have not proved that it was put alongside a septic case. 1686. When you have operated for cancer you have got rid of the disease? —We try to get rid of it. 1687. You would not deliberately put a case of cancer alongside of a septic case? —No. 1688. Did you know anything about Kate W 's case? —No ; except from the inquiries made afterwards. 1689. Did you not make any inquiries of the house surgeon about her ? —lmmediately I saw that one of my cases had been moved alongside of her, I noticed the chart, and called the house surgeon's and nurse's attention to it. I was informed by them that it was not a septic case, but I now hold a different opinion. 1690. What was the date that you looked at her chart?—l do not remember just now. 1691. When you looked at her chart did you remember what her temperature was? —No. 1692. Would you be surprised to hear that her temperature was perfectly normal from the sth June ? —I should not be surprised. I was struck at the time I saw it with it being an irregular temperature. When Mrs. A • was removed back to the ward, to the bed alongside of Kate W , I noticed that the latter's temperature was'high and irregular, as marked on the chart, though I may not have noticed the date. 1693. I now want to ask you a few questions about Mrs. T 's case. That operation was performed —was it not—by one of your students under your superintendence ?—The best part of the operation was done by one of my students. 1694. Do you remember with what instruments ho operated?— With the Hospital instruments. 1695. At all events, he was not afraid to use the Hospital instruments?—l do not know I am sure. I thought it was a very trivial case, and certainly did not expect mischief to arise. The instruments required in a case like that are very simple onos, and all you have to do is to see that they are properly cleaned. 1696. Then, you do not complain of our Hospital instruments ? —I can tell you that Ido not like the Hospital instruments. I, however, use those that can be easily cleaned. 1697. What do you do in the matter of horsehair sutures?— Before I go to my operations I soak them in perchloride, in which they stand until they are required. 1698. Do you use the Hospital sponges?—l always insist on having new sponges. 1699. But in the Hospital ?—I will not use an old sponge in the Hospital. 1700. There is a pretty severe drain—is there not ? —on sponges ?—Yes; but I think I supply the staff with sponges. 1701. At the time of the operation on the 19th Mrs. 8 was very ill, was she not?— No. 1702. She was ill that same day ?—She took ill in the evening. I operated on Mrs. T at 9 o'clock in the morning, and Mrs. S took ill at 6 o'clock at night. 1703. That night her temperature was 102°, was it not? —I think it was 105° that night. 1704. The Chairman.] When you operated was Mrs. S ■ in good health?— She was fairly well. 1705. Mr. Chapman.] Have you Mrs. S 's chart ? —I have a copy of it. [Produced.] 1706. The Chairman/] It shows the temperature at 9 in the morning and 9 at night of each day?— Yes. 1707. Mr. Chapman.] The temperature seems to have been a little up the day before the operation —in fact, it was irregular for a couple of days ?—There was nothing abnormal the day before the operation. She was taking medicine. 1708. The Chairman.] When was she operated on ?—On the 16th. 1709. Mr. Chapman.] Yon have described Mrs. T 's case in a letter to the Trustees. Do you remember writing this letter [produced] on the 22nd ? —Yes. .1710. Did you see Mrs. T ■ at about that date? —In all probability 1 should have seen her that morning. Of course, I knew that she was ill, and I was anxious about her. 1711. At the date that you wrote that letter she was ill, because you say in it, " I was anxious about her " ? —Yes. 1712. How was she the next day?—l think that she had got better. 1713. Do you know that the next day she was sitting on the side of the bed, and dangling her legs?—lf she was, it reflects discredit on the nurses in the establishment, because she had no business to be doing so. 1714. But she was getting well?— How could she be well? That remark shows me that you are being misled, and also shows how incapable our Chairman of Trustees —to whom I give every credit for good intentions—is'of understanding the bearings of a medical case. If Sir James will recollect, when we were paying our visit to the wards the other day, there was a little argument about this case, Mr. Miller apparently had visited the wards the day after I had written my letter,