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H. L. H. STEELE

16. You did not see them after that?— They died next day, I think, according to newspaper report. 17. What were the surroundings of Berhampore at this time? —I would not call it a hospital. It was a kind of whare or shack. 18. Mr. Ferguson.] AVhere were the men?—ln the house. I was only in one building. 19. How many beds were in the building? —Eight in one room, I think. 20. Dr. Martin.] You called it a whare or shack?— Yes, quite an unfit, place for sick men to be in, because you had to get to it across creeks and ravines. 21. The Chairman.] You said it was quite unfit—outside and in? —Both. 22. Do you tell me that this hospital which was put up for infectious diseases is a shack?— I did'not'know that. 23. I may tell you it, was put, up as a fever hospital?—l did not know that; it looked a small place. 24. Have you ever seen it?—'-I only saw it at night. 25. Then you ought to know better as a medical man than to come here and tell us that the building was a shack, if y 7 ou had not seen it?—l am sorry; that was my impression. It was at night-time I saw it. 26. I refuse to accept, such a statement. I am sorry you did not realize the importance of it? -—I withdraw it, sir. 27. Would you like to go out and see it before you give further evidence?—l will say I did not see it because it was at night-time. I will take back that statement. 28. Dr. Martin.] Were you satisfied with the surroundings of the patients?—l saw the place only at night. 29. It did not seem overcrowded? —I could not see very well, because there was only an oillamp. There were eight men in one room, as far as I remember. 30. Mr. Gray.] How long were you in the building?— About twenty minutes to half an hour. 31. And you did nothing but examine one man and tell the nurse to keep on the treatment? —-I discussed the treatment with the nurse, and I saw the other man. 32. And thought nothing could be done?—l did not order anything. Thomas Harrison sworn and examined. (No. 33.) 1. The Chairman.] What is your Army title?— Captain in the N.Z.M.A.C. 2. AVhat are your medical qualifications? —M.8., Ch.B., New Zealand; M.R.C.S., England; L.R.C.S., London. 3. AVhat association have you had with attendance to the sick in connection with the reinforcements either at Trentham or elsewhere?—l arrived in Trentham on the Ist June, did ordinary routine work as orderly-officer and attending the sick-parades till the 12th June, and on the I.2th June I was put in charge of the measles department. 4. The measles hospital was where?—At Berhampore; Victoria AVard, AVellington Hospital; the Isolation Ward, Wellington Hospital; and at Kaiwarra. 5. Mr. Ferguson.] Those were not all open on the 12th June, were they?—No; the Wellington Hospital-parts and Berhampore were open. 6. And the others subsequently 7 ?—-Yes; Mr. Izard's house was taken subsequently too. 7. The. Chairman.] Had you any one under you?—No, sir. I had complete charge of the measles from the 12th June to the 4th July. 8. Where were you living?—At Trentham Camp. 9. Had you to come to town every day to attend?—l attended the measles patients in camp before I left, for town, and then I left for town and visited each place and saw each patient each day. 10. You attended to the measles at the camp?— Yes. 11. Did you visit each place each day more than once?—No, once. - 12. You got to Berhampore once a day after the 12th June? —Yes. 13. Who was in charge—the nurse?— Sister Keith. 14. Did she remain in charge right on?— Yes, right on. Tarn not certain if she was there at the start. 15. She is a qualified nurse? —Yes. 16. AVas that visit, of once a day to Berhampore sufficient?— Yes. 17. AVere they suffering from nothing but measles—were there not bronchial affections?— There were measles and, of course, attendant sore throats which one gets with measles in the convalescent stage, and two .patients w 7 ho took seriously ill. 18. Those were not convalescents that were sent, to Berhampore?—During my administration they were convalescents. 19. There were sent there as convalescents? —Yes, they w 7 ere convalescents. 20. Then you say there were two or three serious cases—they developed while there?— Yes, while there. - - 21. Mr .Ferguson.] Were those men seriously ill when you took charge on the 12th June?— No. 22. The Chairman.] What did you do with cases of serious illness?— Sent, them to the Wellington Hospital, as a rule. . ... 23. There are two cases we have heard of—Fordham and Pollard?— Yes. 24. You have heard the suggestion that they w:ere seriously ill, and the last doctor said they ought not, to have been in the hospital. Do you remember the history of them ?—I do rather vaguely, but I was not prepared to give'evidence to-day.

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