H.—l9b.

106

[m. badger,

25. Was the doctor sent for?— Yes; the doctor came within twenty minutes. I will explain how I remember that. When the vomit was on the floor it, was my intention to have gone and got a bowl to take a sample of that vomit, as to my mind it looked like gastric trouble beingpresent. While I was away one of the orderlies saw this and got his mop and washed it, up. Sister Brandon asked if a sample had been kept, and I told her it had been wiped up by another orderly. The doctor called immediately 7 afterwards, and on the Wednesday he went to his bedside several times. 26. Was it, never suggested on that day that Badger's relatives should be notified?—l never heard any remark upon that question. 27. You do not remember which day that telegram was written by the nurse?— The, telegram in reply to the Christchurch inquiry—no, I cannot, remember that. I should say that was the Thursday. 28. It was not your duty to notify serious cases to the clerk so that notification might be given ?—No. 29. The Chairman!] But, you are in charge of all the cases, arc you not?—No; my position when T went there was just, what might be called that of an ordinary garden variety of orderly. If there were spittoons to be emptied, or if a patient had to be washed, I did it; or brushing the floor, or any work like that I had to do. When I had been there a few days I was picked out. as a non-commissioned officer for special duty to receive all patients who came to the kiosk. I want to explain later the importance of this position. Regarding the washing of the men, there were a large number of men in the hospital who were convalescent, or, I might say 7, semi-convalescent, and those men got, up and washed themselves. 30. Dr. Martin!] AVhat do y 7 ou mean by "semi-convalescent"?— Men who were able to get up without injury to themselves —men whose temperature was, say, 99. 31. A man whose temperature was 99 was allowed up to wash himself?— Yes. 32. You allowed that? —AVell, we could not very well help it. 33. Did you allow it? —I personally at that time would have allowed it. 34. That is what you call " semi-convalescent "?—Yes,' a temperature going down. 35. Mr. Salmond,.] I want to know whether there was any 7 difference in Badger's treatment, before his relatives came and afterwards?— What Badger's treatment was after his relatives came is unknown to me, because he was removed from the kiosk. 36. When was he removed? —I think, on the Thursday afternoon. 37. Which was the other hospital to which he was removed?— There is a main hospital near the entrance into the hospital. We generally took all serious cases down to there, and special nurses were delegated to that work. 38. You were in the kiosk?— Yes. 39. And on the Thursday afternoon or evening- he was removed? —Yes, put on a stretcher and taken down to the other hospital, 40. How far was that away 7 ?— About 300 yards. I would like to say 7 , regarding the washing, that T am prepared to stand here and say that, the charge that, a patient, was not efficiently washed is absolutely untrue, lam speaking from the day T went there. 41. The, From the 28th the patients were regularly washed?— That, is so; I am only speaking from the 28th. 42. Mr. Salmond.] A suggestion has' been made that patients were prohibited from communicating with their friends, or rather that they had no opportunity 7 of doing so?—So far from that, being true T have gone round and written letters for men myself, and have posted letters to their friends, and T know that, in one case a reply was received to such a letter. There was a supply of stationery provided by the Methodists and Salvation Army. Moreover, one day a lieutenant came from headquarters and asked me to announce that, if any man wanted a telegram sent to friends that telegram would be sent, free of charge. A good many took advantage of that, Every opportunity was given to send telegrams and send and receive letters. Might I also be allowed to say this : I have had a good deal of experience of doctors in military 7 life, and I have never seen two men in my life more devoted to their work than Dr. Harrison and Dr. Ferguson. They were most careful, painstaking men. 43. AVhat, experience have y 7 ou had? —In Scotland T have a brother who is a doctor, and my early training was naturally among medical affairs a, good deal. 44. What do y 7 ou mean by that?—l could not see a frog getting electrified and that, sort of thing without, being able to absorb a good deal of medical knowledge. 45. Dr. Martin.] AVhat, experience had you with reference to attendance on the sick?—l was eighteen months in South Africa with the R.A.M.C. T have also the British Psychological Society's medallion. 46. Were you nursing in South Africa? —Yes, with Bcfhuno's column; in the Field Ambulance and also in the base hospital. 47. You were in the nursing section?— Yes. 48. Were there any bed-pans in the kiosk at Trentham ?—Yes ; T saw a. good few when I got there. 49. How many?— Plenty. 50. Was there a method for heating the bed-pans?— No. 51. The bed-pans were handed to the patients cold?—No, sir. The bed-pans were all kept outside. Tn passing into the ward there was a large boiler, and I gave the orderlies instructions that the bed-pans were to be warmed at, that boiler. T know that that, was done. 52. Water was taken from the boiler and put into the bed-pan?—No; there is an ordinary vertical boiler, and the steam is conveyed from if to the centre of the kiosk ; it then percolates through the pipes. It, was simply the practice to open the fire-door and warm the bed-pans before taking them into the ward.