H.—i.

wards, and that it was proposed to have the waterclosets isolated'?—l am sure that the building* out of the closets would be satisfactory. 5243. Dr. Truby King suggested that a partition might be put up so that the closets should be entirely cut off from the ward, and so provide ample ventilation ?—So far as my knowledge of the structure of the wards goes, I do not think that that would be satisfactory. 5244. The Chairman.} I suppose that the real difficulty is to find the money, which has to come from the public, who must be thoroughly informed of the reasons which render the expenditure necessary ?—Just so. 5244 a. And a conference with the Trustees would in some degree answer that purpose. 5245. Mr. White.} I understood you to say, in answer to Mr. Solomon, that you do not admit that nothing has been done in the way of improvements?— Since my connection with the Hospital in 1884 I have seen very great improvements effected, and they are going on constantly. Mr. Eobeet Heney Hogg sworn and examined. 5246. Mr. Chapman.'] What is your name?—Eobert Henry Hogg. 5247. What are you?—A medical student at the Otago University. 5248. Do you remember the case of Mrs. S , who was a patient in the Dunedin Hospital ? —I do. 5249. Are you attached to Dr. Batchelor in any way ?—I was Dr. Batchelor's clerk at that time. 5250. That was in July last ?--Yes. 5251. The notes in part of this book [Dr. Batchelor's private case-book handed to witness] are in your handwriting, are they not ?—Yes. 5252. Kindly read them ?—" E. S ; aetat twenty-nine; married; admitted to ward 7, 7th July, 1890. Statement: Complains of sharp shooting pains in the left groin, of dragging-down character, when she walks ; has a sticky, yellowish discharge." 5252 a. I wish to draw your attention particularly to the words, " yellowish, sticky discharge : " how came they to be made ? —I made those notes in the book because they are what was stated to me by the patient as to her condition. 5253. Who was present ? —There was uo one present but myself. 5254. Is this [pointing to entry in case-book] in your handwriting ?—All this is in my handwriting. 5255. The Chairman.] Were these notes put in as the results of examination made in the Hospital ?—Yes ; some were. 5256. And that part which Mr. Chapman has directed your attention to was told you by the patient herself ?—Yes ; that is her statement. 5257. You did not see it yourself?— No. 5258. Mr. Chapman.} Do you read your notes over to Dr. Batchelor? —No, I do not, unless he asks for them. 5259. The Chairman.] Do you remember whether you read the particular notes over to him ?—■ I cannot remember whether I did or not. Sometimes he asks for them, but Ido not read them to him as a rule. 5260. Mr. Chapman.] They were subsequently entered into the case-book ?—Yes. 5261. Were they put in by you under Dr. Batchelor's guidance ?—ln the case-book? 5262. Yes ?—No; they were put in by myself. 5263. The Chairman.} That is what you just copied in from these rough notes, as it were?— Yes. 5264. When did you write that up in the case-book?—I cannot say exactly. 5265. Did you write it up the same day, or allow it to stand over? —It would stand over for a day, perhaps for a day or two; that depends very much on how much I have to do. As a general rule, I write the notes up the same morning. 5266. Mr. Chapman.] I observe that there are some marginal notes ?—Those are not in my handwriting. I notice some notes by Dr. Batchelor against Mrs. S 'a case. 5267. The Chairman.] Are they made in connection with the " yellow discharge " ?—There is no mark beside that. 5268. In making an examination of this kind prior to operation, would he refer to the casebook or to the original notes ?—I have seen him refer both to the original notes and to the casebook. 5269. Would he necessarily refer to them, or trust to his own observations ?—He would probably refer to either. 5270. Mr. Chapman.] Let us take this case of Mrs. S , for instance : what is the process ? Was a portion of the notes taken verbally from the patient herself, and a portion taken down while the examination was going on?—I dare say that that was the case. 5271. I suppose that the doctor, as he made his examination, would report to you what to write down ?—ln some cases of examination, yes. 5272. Were you present when Dr. Batchelor examined this patient ?—Yes. 5273. The Chairman.] At what date?—l beg your pardon. I was not present at the first examination, because the notes are in Dr. Batehelor's own handwriting. There were two examinations, and I was present at the second one. 5274. Mr. Solo?non.] In neither Dr. Batchelor's notes of the examination which he made, or in your notes of the examination at which you were present, is there any mention of any sticky discharge? —No, there is none. 5275. Did you ever call Dr. Batchelor's attention to the fact that you had made an entry about

216