H.—l9b.

150

[c. yeates.

2. The Chairman.] How do you mean they would be missed : the complaint would be on the paper ? —But no disease; it might be missed in the confusion in the tent, because it was so crowded that it was impossible to make a proper examination of the men. 3. I do not see how that would apply to the signing of the sick-reports?— You would not be able to prove which Medical Officer had examined the particular man, because one officer was left to sign up all the reports. 4. Dr. Martin.] Those forms are in triplicate?— Yes. 5. The Chairman.] You do not mean to say that the one doctor would put in the treatment and as to what was to be done regarding the man : that would be put in by the Medical Officer who examined the patient? —But there was nothing to show which Medical Officer made the examination. 6. Would there be any ill consequences through that : if a man was directed to go to the hospital he would go there? —But at the same time, supposing anything happened, there would be nothing to show which doctor examined the case. 7. But they would all be responsible? —That is the thing which I do not think was quite right. 8. Dr. Martin.] Who would put in the treatment —not the doctor who signed up the reports? —No, the doctor who made the examination : or, rather, it would be put in by the orderly, to whom it would be dictated by the examining doctor. 9. Was it filled in at the time the report was signed up?—No, when the examination was made. 10. Then the signing of the report would not be of great importance?— But I might have to put my name to a diagnosis with which I did not agree. 11. But that is the general practice? 12. The Chairman,.] I understand that those papers are for dealing with the men : if a man is sent to the hospital his case would be diagnosed there by the doctor in charge?— But some of the men were not sent, to the hospital. T3. And you cannot say, at any rate, that anything serious has followed as the result of that practice? —No, I am not saying that, but only speaking of the system, which I think was wrong. 14. Mr. Ferguson.] Was it right for the orderlies to write down the nature of the complaint? —Yes, that is perfectly oorreot. 15. The doctor dictates it to the orderly 7 ?—Yes; but I would prefer to have my own sheets to sign. After a few days I refused to sign up in any cases which I had not examined myself. 16. What happened then, when you refused happened at all: I simply objected. 17. Di<l you sign when you were called on to do so? —No; I was not asked more than once. 18. Did you not sign even your own sheets?—l had none of my own : there was no separate examination, 19. How do you mean that there was no separate examination : did all the doctors deal with each case? —No, sir; the men all came in, and would sent up for examination. 20. At once? —Yes, at once, in the marquee. 21. Then, which would be responsible?—l take it that the man who signed the report would be responsible. 22. But it did not matter who sigued, apparently?—l think it did, 23. Were t you one of tlie Medical Officers they came before? —For a while, yes. 24. At any rate, you considered that there was a defect in the system?— Yes; and I think it caused unnecessary confusion. 25. Dr. Martin.] But that is the common practice in the Army?—l never saw it on sickparade. 26. It, is carried out, at Aldershot? —Five or six medical men in one marquee? 27. Yes, and one man signing for the lot?—I do not, agree with it, anyway. 28. Mr. Skerrett.] Have you anything to say as to any objection to the sick-parades at Trentham Camp because of the presence of an infectious disease like measles ?—Y 7 es, sir; in cases of measles, when they were diagnosed they were immediately ordered to be isolated and the contacts put in the isolation camp. Their beds and kits would be carried over to the isolation camp, but when they got into the isolation camp they were not isolated : that, is to say, the men in the isolation camp were so badly guarded that I have many times seen them chatting away with men isolated for other sicknesses; and I know that oftentimes they were not, in their tents at all nor on the isolation-ground. I also know that their mates in their own corps very often had to carry over their food for them, and would stand there chatting with them for a considerable time. 29. How often did their mates who were not isolated carry their food to the isolated men?— Personally, I have not seen them do so for more than one meal. 30. Have you any reason to believe that the practice was general or usual? —It was usual while I was there. _ ....., 31. Have you reason to think it was a common practice?-—I think so. 32. Mr. Ferguson.] Were there any cooking-appliances at the'isolation camp?— There were not at first. I believe there were afterwards. 33. Then food had to be brought to the men ?—Yes, that is so., .' ** ; ; ....;,;; ;,.; ..:.,.' -34. Therefore it was not an isolation camp ?—lt was not.,, ■~ , .;.;.; . ...■■,'-, ■• _-..,■.• _.;...-;_. 35. But this camp was .simply for contacts ?—For .contacts, with; measles;- and-.'also; for other troubles: supposing a man were suspected of having any other disease he was put there;. ; : ■-.-/; ■ 36. If a man had measles he went to the hospital?—T think he did ; but I have seen cases of measles in the camp —cases of suppressed measles.