89

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1822. Before she was removed from the operating-room, could you say that the blood was welling up in the tube ?—There was no blood welling up in the tube. 1823. Would it be wrong to say that you had never succeeded in stopping the bleeding?— Undoubtedly it would be wrong. 1824. Was any blood taken out of the tube?— Usually some blood-stained fluid wells up to the top of the tube. 1825. Was it left dry—l mean before she left the operating-table?— You cannot leave the top of the tube bare; you must put something on top of it to absorb any moisture. 1826. But before that was done : did you see the nurse taking blood from the tube ? —All I can say is that there was nothing unusual; it was perfectly normal. 1827. I ask you again, did you not anticipate having to perform a secondary operation?—l certainly did not anticipate that. 1828. When did the idea of the possible necessity of a secondary operation first occur to you ? —At 6.30, when I visited the ward, and the nurse reported to me that she had found hemorrhage. 1829. That would be 6.30 in the evening ?—The same evening as the operation was done. 1830. And when did you perform the secondary operation ?—Between 4 and 5 the following morning. 1831. But when you went home you made ready for it?—To some extent 1 did. 1832. Then you expected it after that visit ?—I certainly made some preparations for it. I got my lamp ready, and told Dr. Copland to have things ready and prepare for it as far as he could ; but the probability is that he would have done so without being told, as he knew I was very anxious about the case. 1833. The lighting of the ward is one of the things you have complained about. Have you ever made such a ground of complaint before ?—For primary operations this want of light was certainly a ground of complaint. At one time when we operated in these wards we found light very inefficient. 1834. One of your complaints against the Hospital is connected with Mrs. T 's case ? — It is. 1835. You complain of the insufficient lighting of the ward ?—Yes ; and of the appliances. 1836. And of the distance that the nurses had to go for water?— Yes. 1837. Have they to carry the water a long distance ?- —It is a long distance when you are dealing with a case of hemorrhage. 1838. I understood you to say that Mrs. T was the private patient of a medical man outside?— She came down here from Christchurch, having been sent down, I think, by Dr. Hacon— but I was away at the time—to Dr. Maunsell, who transferred her to me. 1839. The case was one in which you say there was a good deal of bleeding?— Yes, she bled very readily. 1840. When did you ascertain that ?—At the time of operation. 1841. You wrote a letter, did you not, to Mr. Miller in reference to this case?—l did ; but I afterwards withdrew it. 1842. You did not actually send that letter in as a communication to the Trustees ?—I sent it to Mr. Miller for him to make use of and act on, but I did not withdraw it in the ordinary sense, or that I wished matters to remain as they were. It was really a question between the Chairman and myself whether this case should be made public and a Coroner's inquest held, or whether Mr. Miller should act in conjunction with the Trustees privately. 1843. Have you light by day?— Certainly. I should prefer operating in this ward by daylight. 1844. But for emergency cases at night, have you ever before had occasion to find fault ?—I have not. 1845. Then this was the first occasion that you had had to complain of the insufficiency of the light?— Yes. 1846. You say that there is only one gas-jet?— Yes. 1847. Is there not one gas-jet over the bed, and another on the opposite side ?■—But that other one is not of the slightest use. 1848. Would not a candle have been of assistance ?—You cannot see inside an abdominal cavity with a candle. Besides, you run the risk of dropping grease down. 1849. Was not the bed brought round so as to get you the best light?— That is where the patients' beds usually are. 1850. But her bed was not in its ordinary position ?—We may have moved it a foot or so. 1851. Did you ever suggest having a lamp for this special purpose, such as is used in other hospitals ? —ln the operating-room there is a very good light for night-work. 1852. You have never asked for such a lamp ? —No. What I have contended for is a special ward with special appliances, suitable for any emergency which may arise, to which these cases are subject. But the Trustees did not take my advice. 1853. When did you give them that advice?— From time to time. 1854. Since when?— Since that money was collected; but the Trustees would not take it. 1855. You further complain that the water-supply was insufficient ?—Yes, because the nurse had to run out of the ward for some. 1856. Did it take her long to do so?— Quite long enough to let our siphon run out. 1857. If you had had another nurse to carry the water that might have been obviated ?—I have no doubt that two or three nurses might have been got by calling them. 1858. But you had two nvu'ses and the matron present ?—They were doing their best, but the delay occurred nevertheless. I should like to say a word or two about this case. 1859. You brought up this case yourself, andjny reason for asking you these questions about it is so that you shall not complain of unfairness when we call evidence about it by-and-by. You are 12— H. 1.