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We have had evidence of it, in spite of all the care of the secretary in keeping the whole institution as sweet as possible uuder the circumstances. 3270. Mr. Solomon.] During your twelve years' experience outside of the Hospital, how many cases of erysipelas have you seen ?—Only one case outside, and 1 do not think that it lasted more than a few days altogether. 3271. But that was not within the last two or three months, was it ?—lt was not. 3272". How much would you say is the length of stay of patients in the Hospital affected by the condition of the institution ?—I cannot state that absolutely. 3273. It has been suggested that this Hospital cannot be in a bad state, because, even supposing that there have been three or four cases which have gone wrong from septic poisoning, there have been a very great many cases which did not go wrong. Is that any answer to the fact that cases have gone wrong from septic poisoning?— No. Since the introduction of antiseptic treatment hospitals that are in an unsatisfactory condition may have cases go on splendidly for a time and then septicaemia may occur. 3274. For a while cases may go on splendidly, and then septic trouble may break out in an unaccountable manner ?—Yes; but by taking every care you may minimise the danger. 3275. I understand you to mean that under present circumstances you may go for a long time and have everything go on all right, and that then you may have a run of bad cases ?—I was extraordinarily successful for a long time in all the cases I operated upon. Ido not remember a single case that I operated on in which there was septicffimia. 3276. The Chairman.] In the Hospital ?—Yes. 3277. You never had a case go wrong? —I have had cases of compound fracture which have suppurated which ought not to have suppurated, but I do not remember a case in which there was septictEmia. 3278. Mr. Solomon.] Do you still say that the condition of the Hospital produces a risk of septic trouble ?—What I say is that you have the conditions there which may generate it. 3279. The Chairman.] But I understand you to say that your precautions have proved sufficient to overcome and control the unfavourable conditions of'the Hospital ?—Yes. 3280. Mr. Solomon.] But it would only be fair to say that notwithstanding these precautions bad results may occur? —They may. 3281. Supposing that the sanitation was satisfactory, do you think that the same results may occur, notwithstanding that skilful operators have taken every proper precaution ? —No ; there is little or no danger then. Besides, if there were good sanitary surroundings you need not take the same precautions. 3282. Have you noticed any cases of injuries of the knee-joint that have developed symptoms like what we have been discussing after being brought into the Dunedin Hospital ?—I remember one case of excision of the knee-joint some months ago which did remarkably well; it healed by first intention; and some five or six weeks afterwards the child got septic sore-throat, and then erysipelas in the limb. 3283. That happened in the Hospital ? —Yes. I was just about to tuna the child out of the Hospital because it was getting strong and well; the wound in the limb was sound when the child got septic sore-throat, and then it got erysipelas in the limb. 3284. That would be septic poisoning ? —There is no doubt about that. 3285. Was there anything in connection with that case to account for what happened, or do you think it was due to unhealthy surroundings ? —At that time the ward was in an unhealthy condition. Three of the patients had sore throats, and the head nurse had a sore throat, the latter afterwards getting pneumonia. 3286. Was that Miss C ?—lt was the nurse who was attending the boy. 3287. That was nearly two months ago, was it not ?—lt was about that time. 3288. It is perfectly plain, in these cases at any rate, that the nurses and patients were poisoned in that ward?—l cannot say absolutely that the erysipelas arose in that ward, though the child had been well for some months there. 3289. If the ward had been healthy, was that a surprising state of affairs ? —lt was. 3290. But if a hospital were in a state that it should not be in, would the state of affairs then be surprising?— No. It was not a properly-constructed ward where the child was. 3291. Then, the result which you found there was not surprising?—lt was not surprising to me. 3292. Do you remember the case of a man who came down from Lawrence into the Hospital suffering from a wound in the leg?—l recollect a case that was in the Lawrence Hospital for some months. 3293. That is the case. What happened to him within a few days after his admission ? —He was affected with erysipelas in the leg. 3294. He had apparently nothing the matter with him when he came into this Hospital ? —I think he had a slightly open wound at the time. 3295. But it was a healthy wound ?—I cannot say. He was attended to by another surgeon. 3296. Was it surprising to hear that he should have been attacked with erysipelas? —It did surprise us at the time. 3297. Mr. Chapman.] What was the name of that patient ? —H . 3298. And the name of the boy ?—E F . 3299. Mr. Solomon.] That boy is in the Hospital now ?—Yes. He was just going out when he was attacked with erysipelas. 3300. How long had he been in ?—Between two and three months, and was just about to leave when he got the erysipelas. 3301. In what condition is he now? —He remains in with a residual abscess still discharging.