87

H.—l9b.

J. R. PURDY.

339. You did not think it necessary to tell the Medical Officer succeeding you? —No, I did not think, it necessary, because I had made all the arrangements before I left. 340. AVhen did your responsibility cease—what date? —I should say on the 20th June— certainly on the 20th. 341. Then the Health Department took it over? —They practically had it, before that. 342. There was a division of authority?—No; there was not that exactly, but one man cannot go straight out and another man come in. 343. AATien did the Health Department come in as a Department?—l could not say when they first appeared at Berhampore, but, they first began to take charge on the 7th June. 344. Mr. Ferguson.] You say that from the 6th to the 20th June Dr. Harrison visited the place?— No. 344 a. He is not a Health Officer, but; a military officer? —But the arrangements were made ■with the Health Department on the 6th, so that we would provide all the medical attention that was necessary. The hospital at that meeting agreed to give us forty beds. That was on the Sunday morning; and later on I said, "What are you going to do if y r ou have a sudden rush of a hundred cases? You will be in exactly the same position as we were." On the Monday 7 Dr. wrote to say 7 we could have sixty beds. On the Wednesday Dr. Finch rang me up in the morning to say the Victoria Ward would be ready for occupation any time after 2 o'clock that afternoon. On the Thursday 7 we began to send patients back from the hospital in the camp, and then there were furious ringings-up to say we could only have twenty-four beds. In the meantime the Health Department were arranging the place at Kaiwarra, and it was also arranged to open Mr. Tzard's Convalescent Home, and T think that was done on the 12th June. 345. Up to the 7th June you were in sole charge of Berhampore?—Yes. 346. Then on the 7th June the Health Department, appeared? —They were going to give us accommodation. 347. May I take it that up to the 20th June you were in sole charge of the medical treatment?— Yes. 348. And you were responsible for the medical treatment up to the 20th June, and not the Health Department?— Yes, that, is so. Then I appointed Captain Harrison O.C. of measles. 349. Now, on the 20th June there was in Wellington Hospital a death from pneumonia following on measles? —He was admitted on the 13th May. 350. And on the 11th there was another man?— Yes, there were three cases in that interregnum period. 351. One man was sent to the AA 7 ellington Hospital on the 10th and died on the 11th? — Yes, died the next day. 352. From pneumonia following on measles? —Yes. 353. The Chairman.] Did y 7 ou send him or did the nurse send him?— That is Colley. He was admitted to the Berhampore Hospital on the 2nd June suffering from measles. He was kept, in bed and treated in the ward. On the 10th June he was transferred to tlie AVellington Hospital. Up to that he was doing well, but he had a sudden rigor, and it was thought advisable to transfer him. 354. Dr. Martin.] Will you tell us when the man was last seen by a medical man at Berhampore?—Yes ; either on the 9th or the 10th June. 355. Can you give me the date definitely?—lf I looked up the record I could. 356. Will you look that, up and also the temperature chart? —Yes. 357. Another man named Kennedy died on the 11th June? —Yes. 358. The Chairman.] Did y 7 ou keep charts at Berhampore?— No. we never had any prolonged illness there. 359. Dr. Martin.] You had some very serious cases there? —No; he took ill suddenly and was sent away immediately: but T will find out, T remember the man Collev well—l saw him several times myself. 360. Did Kennedy come from Berhampore?—He was admitted to Berhampore on the 29th May :he was doing well till the sth June. He was treated in a ward of the hospital. He was sent to the AA 7 ellington Hospital on the sth June, as he was suspected to be developing pneumonia. He did well for a day or two : his people were communicated with and visited him. His doctor thought he would pull through, but he had a heart, attack and died suddenly., 36T. A man named Baker—was he in the Berhampore Hospital?—No, he never was in Berhampore. 362. The Chairman,.] T suppose the language has the same sense at the camp as at the hospital?— Yes. There was a Baker who died on the 10th April, 1915. 363. P. C. Baker, 10th May. Fifth Reinforcements?—T think there must be some error there. T have two lists, one from the camp and one from the record-office. The record-office paper says that on the Bth May a Frederick Percy Baker died from intestinal obstruction. 364. Was he ever at Berhampore?—No. 365. Was Harsant at Berhampore?—No. 366. Was A. M. Brannan, who died on the 2nd March? —No. Nobody died that had any connection near or remote with Berhampore until the 10th June, and then there -was Kennedy. Collev. and McFarlane; and those are the only three cases that could either directly or indirectly be .connected with Berhampore. 367. After you left Berhampore certain cases of death occurred?—l do not know. I have records up to the 25th June, 1915. 3RB. Do you remember Fordham and Pollock? —No. 369. You do not, remember if they died shortly after being there or after being taken away? —No.