H.—l9b.

172

|V. KEITH.

27. And these were the only two who during that time developed high temperatures?— Yes. 28. Were you personally nursing Pollard? —Yes. 1 sponged him at 2 o'clock when his temperature was 105, and at 4 o'clock it was 1056. 29. That was on the afternoon of the Tuesday?— Yes. 30. Then what was your duty if the man's temperature went up, as regards calling in assistance or anything of that kind ?—I received orders to call a doctor every night besides the doctor who came from the camp during the day; and if any patients required medical attention I could call a doctor from the town. All that week we had a doctor every day. 31. When his temperature went up to 105 did you call a doctor?— One came up that afternoon—Dr. Harrison. 32. And he was advised of Pollard's temperature?— Yes, he saw him. 33. That afternoon? —Yes. 34. Did any discussion take place as to his removal to the Wellington Hospital?—! was not on tluty then. 35. Was the question of his removal discussed with you?—No, not in regard to Pollard. 36. You knew Pollard well?— Yes, I knew him quite well. 37. Can you tell us from memory, in the absence of the temperature-book, the subsequeiil history of this case of Pollard? You say that at 4 o'clock on the Tuesday his temperature was 1056 : was that after the doctor had been in and seen him, or before? —It was after Dr. Harrison had been there. Major Elliott came in the evening. 38. And when Major Elliott came in the evening what was his condition ?—His temperature had dropped. 39. Pollard and Fordhaiu both had temperature-charts?— Yes.. 40. How often were their temperatures taken ?—Hourly. 41. Those temperatures were not in the book?—No, those were bad cases. 42. The charts were not requisite in the case of patients without any temperature?— For patients with just a little temperature. 43. Dr. Elliott came in the evening, and what took place then? —He thought Pollard was in a very bad condition. 44. Did he suggest his removal to the hospital ?—Yes. 45. Were they in a condition to be removed?—No; 1 think they could have been very well looked after there, because we had only eight patients in the room they were in. 46. And how many nurses? —Three trained nurses. 47. Was the place clean? —Yes; it was cleaned every morning by the orderlies. There were three orderlies. 48. And was there plenty of bedding and equipment?— Yes, far more than we could use. I had a big storeroom there. 49. And with regard to hot water and requisites of that kind, were you well equipped?— For hot water we had to keep a copper going; there was no hot-water service. 50. But the copper supplied all needs?— Yes. 51. Speaking of the room, from your experience of it was it a room that was fit for the nursing of patients in the condition of these two men?— Yes, as we had come down to only twenty patients. I think it was quite all right to nurse them there. 52. If any one got a temperature when you had a great many patients you sent them to the general hospital at once? —Yes. 53. Having only twenty patients there then you were quite able to cope with the nursing? —Yes; one nurse was on duty the whole time with those two men. 54. And you relieved one another? —Yes. 55. Now, coming back to the history of the case, after Dr. Elliott came in the evening what happened? —He just saw the patients. 56. Did he order any special treatment? —No, he did not alter the treatment. They were having everything that could be given them. 57. Then, on the Wednesday, the day after Pollard had that high temperature, do you remember what happened?—l was not on duty that day. 58. What was his condition on Wednesday night?— Pollard was partly delirious part, of the night. 59. Then was any medical man there? —Not during the night. 60. But during the day? —Yes. 61. Was it necessary in consequence of his becoming delirious to call in a doctor specially? —No, not where there are trained nurses; we never do. 62. This was a phase of the illness from which he was suffering?— Yes. 63. The temperature was still high? —Not so high; it was never so high after the Tuesday. 64. Not so high on the Wednesday as on the Tuesday ? —That is so, on the Wednesday night. 65. Then, regarding the Thursday—that is, the day before he died—have you any recollection of his condition then? —I was off duty until 5 o'clock on Thursday night. 66. And what was his condition then? —He was very bad then. 67. Worse than before, when you saw him?-—Yes. 68. In what way was he worse —temperature higher?—No, it was lower. 69. But little vitality?— Less vitality. 70. Was there any difficulty in keeping him warm?—No, not until just at the last. 71. Now, do you remember his relatives coming?—l was not on duty when they arrived. 72. Do you remember their being there? —Yes. .73. And while there did they make any complaints of any kind to you?— No. 74. Did you hear any one make a complaint?—No; they thanked us for our kindness, and shook hands when they were leaving.