H.—3lb.

94

j[W. C. W. MCDOWELL.

To the Commissioner.] I think pupil nurses should be permitted to conduct confinements and examine patients during their course of training. I think that the Matron or submatron being certificated midwives should be present at every confinement. I think that pupil nurses should share in the delivery. If possible, the Matron or submatron should be present. I think that pupil nurses if they are attending confinements outside should do so in the presence of the Matron or submatron or a medical man. I see no objection to a pupil nurse going in emergency cases and doing what she can till the Matron or submatron are available. I would like to add my testimony to the absolute cleanliness of St. Helens Home. Ethel Dora Jakeman (called by Mrs. Nicol), on her oath, saith. lam a pupil nurse at St. Helens. lam twenty-five years of age, and have been nearly nine months at St. Helens. I paid my £20 to get in. I make no complaint about the fee. lam quite satisfied, and think it a fair thing. One gets a good training and free board and lodgings for twelve months. I was not present at Mrs. Porch's delivery. I took the patient on shortly after delivery under instructions. I cannot say who prepared Mrs. Porch for her confinement. I thought Mrs. Porch was a little strange from the first —even when she first came in. I saw her before the child was born, and I thought she had a strange manner. Anything I did for Mrs. Porch was put in the nurses' report-book. Mrs. Porch was peculiar in her mmd —-she was very peculiar. I had nothing to do with Mrs. Porch's temperature or pulse. She was only the seventh or eighth case I had had after confinement. Ido not think she ever had her baby at her breast. Ido not think she would nurse her baby. There was always somebody with her. We had an awful job to get her to take food. One of the senior nurses took her temperature. Ido not remember if any of the nurses had poisoned hands during July, August, or September. I have never had a sore hand while there. I remember a nurse having a sore finger, but she was off duty all the time. One or two nurses have suffered from sore hands, but they were never on duty during that time. Ido not remember any nurse having sore eyes. I remember now that one nurse had sore eyes, and was off duty for a couple of days. I knew that Mrs. Porch and Mrs. Chamberlain were supposed to be septic. I did not know at the time. I did not know that Mrs. Chamberlain had been septic till after her body was taken away. I knew that she was isolated. I knew that would be for something infectious. I never understood that Mrs. Porch was septic. I received special instructions from the Matron regarding the presence or supposed presence of septicaemia. I was told to be careful in everything, and to have everything disinfected. I was not permitted to have anything to do with any other patient. Nurse Stevenson assisted me in nursing Mrs. Porch. I had nothing at all to do with Mrs. Chamberlain. Of my own knowledge, it was talked about that there was sepsis in the home. That was latterly. Mrs. Nicol.] During the time Mrs. Porch was in the Hospital, or during the time Mrs. Chamberlain was in the Hospital or isolation ward, was there any talk amongst the nurses, to your knowledge, with regard to suspected septicaemia ?•—No ; I do not think there was. To Mrs. Nicol.] I did not sleep in Mrs. Porch's room. I slept in my usual room. There were four of us there. It is a good large room. I slept in the room with the other nurses up to the time Mrs. Porch went to the isolation ward. I had a bath every day. The nurse did not ask me to take any extra precautions during that time. I did not know that Mrs Porch was septic. I did not think she was septic I have been to outside cases The Commissioner.] During the time of the high temperatures in the case of Mrs. Porch and Mrs. Chamberlain, did you or the other pupil nurses receive any special instructions or warnings from the Matron or the submatron or medical attendant ?—Yes. The Matron gave me instructions. I was told to thoroughly disinfect my hands. I cannot exactly say what instructions I got. To Mrs. Nicol.] I went about the house in the ordinary way. In outside practice I have always been accompanied by the submatron. In outside cases I have had no cases of confinement with rupture of the soft parts of the perinaeum. I have not been taught to suture. Ido not remember what food Mrs. Porch had. As far as I can remember it was just drinks. I was on day duty with Mrs. Porch. Now and again I got up at night if she wanted anything. My bedroom was downstairs. The night nurse would come down and tell me if anything were wanted. She could sit at Mrs. Porch's door. I suppose you would say that the night nurse had charge of Mrs. Porch during the night. lam quite satisfied with the food at the home. Cross-examined by Mr. Mays.] I had nothing to do with Mrs. Chamberlain. As to Mrs. Porch, I had to do everything for her —by night or day. I saw her chart. I was instructed to be very careful in every way—that everything was to be disinfected ; and I was to have nothing to do with any patient but Mrs. Porch. I was not told exactly what disease Mrs. Chamberlain or Mrs. Porch were suffering from when put in isolation. I thought perhaps it might be something infectious. I did not hear till after Mrs. Chamberlain's body left what disease she was supposed to have died of. I think there was discussion amongst us as to the cause of her death. So far as I remember none of us knew authoritatively what Mrs Chamberlain died of. We are told to take precautions in all cases of high temperature. I had nothing to do with any other patient whilst I was attending to Mrs. Porch. I had an ordinary daily bath while attending Mrs. Porch. I regarded Mrs. Porch's case as a mental one. Pupil nurses are not told by the medical attendant in serious cases what the patients are suffering from. Mabel Davis (called by Mrs. Nicol), on her oath, saith. lam a married woman. Just over four years ago I applied to be admitted to St. Helens. It was in September I saw the Matron at St. Helens. I got in and paid £1. I was confined there of my third child. Certain things were not satisfactory. I have complaint to make against the home. The Matron informed me that I was not to come till labour had set in. I told her that I had very quick labour, and would not have time—that it was very often all over within an hour. I was living at