157

H.—l

bleeding during the operation, and as the bleeding was rather free at the time it was decided to use a long glass drainage-tube. 3724. Then it was not virtually stopped?— Yes it was; because I particularly observed that all the dressings were absolutely dry. We watched the tube for some time, and found that there was no welling up. We thought it would be safer to leave in the tube, as, if there were any oozing, the blood would at once become apparent through the dressings ; that was the decision we arrived at at the time-. We thought it would be absolutely safer to leave the tube in, in order to guard against any bleeding. 3725. Do you remember stating that the bleeding had not stopped?— No. We knew that it was absolutely dry when she left the operating-table. 3726. Knew what was dry ? —The dressings and the tube. The tube was covered with absorbent wool, and the slightest oozing of blood would be apparent right through that in a couple of seconds. 3727. We have had it stated that the nurse found a quantity of blood, but that the dressing and bandages were still dry ? —Perhaps. 3728. Would you expect to see that?— No. 3729. But the nurse has told us that she has never seen anything at all, but nevertheless she found a large quantity of blood underneath the patient. What do you think of that?—l should say that it was improbable, because I particularly watched the tube before the woman left the table, and I am positive that there was not the slightest oozing from the tube. 3730. Do you remember Mrs. Burton meeting you on the stairs and you telling her that the bleeding had never stopped ? —No. 3731. Did you tell her that the woman was bleeding in the operating-room ? —No. The tube was absolutely dry before she was sewn up. There was no oozing whatever from the tube. 3732. Have you had great success with your cases in the Hospital ? —Yes, I have had fairly good success with my cases. 3733. You have been a surgeon operating there for a number of years ?—For about twelve years. 3731. And have done perhaps as large a number of operations as any one in Dunedin?— Yes. 3735. And are constantly operating?—l have been operating constantly, except during the last six or eight weeks. 3736. But up to that time you had had fairly good success?— Yes. 3737.. Had you anything to complain about want of success ?—No. The only thing was that we found 3738. Please speak about yourself? —I always operated with extra caution in regard to antiseptics. That is the only thing that I can say. 3739. And with extra caution you got on pretty well ?—Yes. 3740. You operated freely and with confidence, taking these precautions?— Yes, taking these precautions. 3741. Have you had to complain of deaths in septic cases ?—No. I do not remember any deaths from septicaemia. 3742. In your hospital practice ? —No ; not that I could say with absolute certainty were due to septicaemia. 3743. Have the Trustees ever refused any moderate or reasonable demand by you ? —No. They have never done so. As a matter of fact, I have found them very anxious to do all they possibly could to improve the condition of the Hospital. When I was a Trustee myself, I found that all my co-trustees were quite as anxious as myself to improve the condition of the institution, and recognised that certain things wanted improvement. The only difficulty in the way was financial difficulty. 3744. While you were on the Board as one of the Trustees, did the profession as a body, or did the honorary staff, make these complaints as to the unsatisfactory state of the Hospital—complaints which we have heard of since? —I am not sure whether it was done before then or not; but I know that every year the staff have brought up recommendations before the Trustees as to the necessity for improvements in the Hospital. 3745. Can you say whether the Trustees have adopted as far as they were able to do the recommendations or advice of the staff? —Yes, as far as they were able to do so. I know that when I got on the board of Trustees myself I intended to do great things, but I found out as soon as we completed the building of the operating-theatre that our funds were practically exhausted, and we were in debt —in fact, our hands were tied through want of funds, and therefore we could not make any further improvements. 3746. We have heard from some sources of wholesale and sweeping condemnations of the Hospital. Were these matters brought up at anytime before the Trustees by the profession?— No; they never made sweeping condemnations of the Hospital. 3747. You say that such a thing as a wholesale and sweeping condemnation of ihe Hospital was never heard of until quite lately? —Most assuredly not. 3748. And that such a condemnation has not proceeded from the profession as a body ? —It has not. The block system, on which our hospital is built, is, however, universally condemned. 3749. I am not speaking about systems of construction, but about its condemnation on the ground that it was in an unsatisfactory condition. I ask you, was it ever brought before the Trustees that this Hospital was in an unsatisfactory condition?—lt was reported by the honorary staff on several occasions that^t wanted improvement in several of the departments. 3750. That was about the extent of the complaints, so far as you were concerned ?—Yes. In regard to the nursing, I may mention that whiles I was a Trustee the then Chairman (Mr. Hough-