H.—l9b.

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[j, R. PURDY.

173. How many eases had they taken in up to that time? —We understood from Dr. Hardwick Smith that he could let us have up to fifty beds. 174. Then you were told that they would have to be reduced to one-half, and then they stopped altogether? —Yes; they stopped them altogether while they were cleaning out the ward. 175. What date was that? —The Berhampore Plague Hospital was opened for the reception of measles patients on the 15th April, 1915. 176. Under whose charge?— Under my charge. 177. You personally? —Yes. 178. You were in medical charge?— Yes; it was not considered advisable to put in a Medical Officer for such a small number of cases; besides, they were not bad. 179. Mr. Salmond.] Is that the report you made to the Minister?— All my reports go through the Adjutant-General. I was asked to make a report and I did so. [Report read and put in, dated Bth June; Exhibit N.] 180. The Chairman.] Was this report made after a complaint had been made?— Yes. 181. Is that your report?— Yes. 182. And the statements in it are true?— Yes. 183. Upon what date was the Health Department communicated with?— About the 12th April. 184. Marquees were pitched at Berhampore?—Yes, in the grounds. • , ■ 185. Whom is your report addressed to?— The Commandant, General Robin. . 186. Would you tell us, Colonel Purdy, what specific charges in connection with Berhampore were brought to your notice? We understand that certain complaints, whether rightly or wrongly, were made with respect to Berhampore?—The charge made was that there were too many people in the Berhampore Hospital—that it was overcrowded. I heard that on the 6th June when I got back from Dunedin. 187. Was not there some complaint about two men who had died?—No; none died. 188. Did two men die immediately on their removal or after their, removal ? —No, because no man d'ed. I never heard of it. 189. Do you say that no one died at Berhampore?—No one ever died at Berhampore during the time I was in charge of it. 190. Dr. Martin.] Do you know two men named Fordham and Pollock?—No, sir; never heard of theni. 191. The Chairman.] Have you a list of the names of those who died?— Yes. 192. Will you see if their names are on the list?—No; they are not on my list. 193. What does your list comprise?— All the men up to the 29th June; that is long after I gave up. 194. You gave up when? —Practically on the 6th June. 195. You say the only charge of a general character or in detail that you had was that the Berhampore Hospital was overcrowded? —Yes. 196. And that there was no charge whatever in connection with any man who died there, because none died there during that time? —The earliest death was on the 11th June. 197. And you had ceased then to be in charge?— Yes. 198. You have told us you were personally in charge of Berhampore?—Yes. 199. But you say you first heard about this when came back from Dunedin. Who was in charge during your absence? —The men in Berhampore Hospital were not ill; they did not need medical attention to any extent. I arranged that I would go over there some two or three times a week if any of the men were ill. It was arranged that if their temperature went up or they showed the slightest signs of illness they were to be admitted into the Wellington Hospital. I had arranged that with the Superintendent of the Wellington Hospital. The nurse had instructions to that effect. 200. The men who were put into Berhampore were suffering from what? —They were ordinary measles cases. 201. Not cases that were merely getting well, but eases that may be getting ill?— All acute cases at this time were sent to Wellington Hospital. We wore allowed a certain number of beds there, "^^IR 202. But this was when Wellington Hospital was closed against you; you sent every one to Berhampore?—Yes, for a certain number of weeks; but then Wellington Hospital was opened again. 203. But you still kept Berhampore going?— But there were no complaints made about Berhampore Hospital till the first week in June. 204. Who was in charge of the hospital then —the first week in June?—T was. 205. What had you there in the way of assistance? —I trained nurses and ward orderlies. 206. They were only to go messages—the orderlies?—No; ward ambulance orderlies. 207. How often did you visit? —I should think about three times a week—every other day. 208. Then, would they be coming in from the camp every day, or would you know every case before it left the camp?— No. not always; they might come in every day. 209. But you would not know when they were being sent in ?-—No : they always had instructions' to rinrr me up if anTthinc extra happened in the hospital. 210. Tf a man got measles at Trentham he is sent in to Berhampore without any reference to yo" ?—Yes, or to Hie Wellington H"=pital at that time. 211. That would be done by the Medical Officer in charge of the enmn ?—Yes. 212. You mip-ht therefore see a man for the first time when yon paid your next day's visit? Yes. I saw all new cases that came in from m. previous visit. If a man was reported pretty bndlv sick in camp at Trentham he was sent to Wellington Hospital as an acute case.