207

H.—l9b.

H. T. J. THACKER.

throats in regard to bacteriological examination and giving serum. Did you in those cases do it?—No; I do so in my private practice. 193. You have told the Commission that the transit of convalescents from Trentham to Kaiwarra was by open motor-cars?— Yes. 194. Did you see open motor-cars employed in carrying those men? —I was told the cars were there for them, and I was told the men came in in open motor-cars. 195. You were told that?—-Yes, by the men who came to Christchurch, 196. You have been told probably many things, and most of your evidence is based on what has been told to you?—No; the bulk of my evidence is on my own sight, 197. Then you did not see any motor-cars used for carrying the men ?—I saw two open motor-cars that I was told were going to carry the men in. 198. But you did not see the men in them? —No. 199. In respect, to Berhampore, you think it, is not a suitable site for a hospital : is that so ?—What sort of hospital do you mean ? 200. The hospital it was used for ?—What sort of hospital was it, used for ? 201. I do not know? —I should have thought, you ought to know by now. 202. You said you thought, it was not, suitable for a hospital?— Yes, for any kind of hospital. 203. And you said that within two or three hundred yards there is a beautiful new school? —Yes, so there is. 204. Have you had any experience of commandeering buildings in a hurry for a sudden emergency' for hospital purposes?—l could not say at a moment's notice. I do not remember just now. I would not have to do that, because I generally look a few hours ahead of me. 205. But those things take time, do they not? —No. Dr. Martin told us of a case where he went, I think, into the Town of Bethune. 206. He is not a witness ?—T want to prove that things can be done in a few hours. 207. The Chairman.] The school authorities might, object to the school being occupied by measles cases?— That does not matter. It is a question of life and death, even if they had to burn the school down afterwards. 208. Mr. Gray.] Are you aware that the building was used for a fever hospital before?—l have heard so. 209. With excellent results? —I did not hear the results. 210. You did not hear the results were fatal? —I do not go in for fatal results myself; that is not my cure. 211. Did you hear that the results of using the Berhampore Hospital were satisfactory?—l have not inquired into its past history. You told me it was used for a hospital. 21.2. You spoke of some men who called to see you on the 26th and 27th June and saw your housekeeper downstairs, and she diagnosed one case apparently as measles? —She suspected it, and she was quite correct, because it was corroborated by the doctor. 213. Did you see any of those men yourself?—No; but Dr. Inglis, of Christchurch, sent, them to the hospital. 214. You spoke of the case of Madden, of Lower Riccarton ?—Yes. 215. Who you believed was disseminating measles amongst his brothers and sisters. Have you personal knowledge of the fact?— Yes; T consulted Dr. Ardagh on the subject, 216. Did you see Madden or any of his family?— Yes; I have seen one of his family. 217. Suffering from measles?— No. because he is in Wellington. 218. The Christchurch doctors, you say, did not know what was the matter with the man? —They did not know at first. 219. How long had he been in Christchurch before he developed measles?— What they diagnosed as measles finally. 220. How long had he been in Christchurch before his case was diagnosed as measles?—He had it almost immediately' he got there; he went, home sick. 221. That is what, you heard?— That is what I was told by Dr. Ardagh. 222. Was he home on sick-leave?— Yes. 223. You do not know what he had been treated for at Trentham? —I could not say. 224. You say that some six or eight nurses at Trentham had taken measles? —No, I did not. Your hearing must be very bad. No, T said 225. The Chairman.] You said six or eight with septic throats and two or three with measles? —Yes, measles and septic throats together. 226. Mr. Gray.] Do you now say that six or eight, nurses did not take measles? —No; you are picking that out for yourself. There was one case isolated. The measles cases were different from the others. 227. The Chairman.] You said that several nurses at Trentham had taken measles and septic throats, and they were in. bed ?—Yes; there were two cases of measles, I think. 228. Mr. Gray.] You had complaints made by men about the cooking of the food and the absence of vegetables?— Yes. 229. Have you made any communications upon that subject to the camp authorities? —No; T think it, is their own duty to look after that. 230. The same thing applies both to the absence of soap and the absence of ambulance facilities? —I mentioned that to Dr. Harrison and Dr. Ferguson the first day —about the lack of warm, water to wash with. 231. You say they should have five or six hundred shower-baths? —I say they are wanted throughout the whole camp. 232. Well, with the exception of the insufficiency of water for washing, you have not made any complaints to the camp authorities about those other matters? —It is not my duty to do so.