THE DIAGNOSIS OF SMALLPOX

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 259, 30 October 1913, Page 4

THE DIAGNOSIS OF SMALLPOX

AILEGATION OF NEGLIGENCE.

A CASE THAT WAS NOT SUSTAINED

At the Police Court yesterday afternoon Dr. H. Keith was charged that. between 22nd September and 11th October, ho attended three pa-tiente eick of an infectious disease at 3. liousc in Grey Lynn and failed to notify the District Health Oflicer. -as required by the Act. Dr. Bamford appeared for defendant. Mr. Selwyn Mays, who conducted the prosecution, said that on September ±L a j;irl in the house became ill of the prevailing epidemic of smallpox, and was isolated at borne. On the 2nd October a brother contracted the .trouble, and was similarly treated at home. The Health Office wae not notified until October 12. The case was fiat on September 22 the first patient hecajne ill of, and was treated for, an infection disease, and the Health Office e-hould have been immediately notified. As a matter of fact, the patients were, after notification, removed to the Isolation. Hospital.

Dr. G. G. Cawkwell (acting ac Public Health OHioert testified that -the notices given by Dr. Keith did not reach him till October 13. He visited the house, and found three patients suffering from what he considered to be smallpox. The first of the two girls was almost convalescent, •but the boy was in the pustular stage. His diagnosis was confirmed by Dr. Finch, and the patients we.re removed next day to the Isolation Hospital, and the other occupants of the house were put in quarantine, ac the disease was an infectious disease. Hβ had not the slightest doubt that the boy was suffering from the prevailing disease; but, though I>e had a strong suspicion. hr> could not say that the girls, who h;nl gone past the pustular stage, "were suffering from the same complaint. In witness' opinion, a medical practitioner should have a suspicion of the infectious nature of the disease on tho fifteenth vlay of incubation of the disease. Another girl in the house nad one or two spots on her arm after three or four day.*' quarantine.

To Dr. Ijiimford: Had Rt no time asked Dr. Keith to explain the matter; he wae not responsible for the prosecution. The epots on the arm n.f the third girl caused him to suspect that <=he might have had a very mild attack of the disease, and had he seen her. apart from his knowledge of the others, he would have kept her undeT o-jservation. In her case a medical man might have waited for developments. In the papular stage the disease be taken for another disease, which was not infectious.

The mother of the children stated that the doctor's visits were not frequent, as the family desired to Gave expense. After the two g-jrls had been under Dr. Keith for some days the boy became ill with influenza, and -was visited by tlip doctor. A week or eight days later the doctor called to ccc the boy again, and he then said that the Health Office would have to be notified. That was either a day or hvo days before October 13; it might have been October 12. There was very little the matter with the two girls; in fact, it seemed to her that they were no worse than the girl the Health Office kepi, under observation.

One of tie girle corroborated this statement.

Recalled by the magistrate, Dr. Cawkwell stated that after 'hearing the evidence h? still thought Dr. Keith should have notified the disease earlier.

Dr. Ba.niford: Does not the fact that there was an interval of a week, and probably more, between Dr. Keith's two visits to Tom. cause you to modify your opinion? — No. when Dr. Keith had seen the other two eases. The mother told mc he vieited the place every two or three days.

Dr. Bamford: T suggest to you, Dr. Ca'wkwell, thai, courtesy and btisinei-o fhould have suggested to you to ascertain from Dr. Keit-'n what his visits were before you prosecuted, —That is not my

His Worship: Dr. Cawkwell i& here purely as a Government officer.

Dr. Bamtord submitted that there wae no case to answer, and that Dr. Keith had kept the girls undeT observation until the boy's symptoms on the second visit caused him to suepect infection, and he at once notified the Department.

'His Worship agreed with this view, and dismissed the case without calling en the defence.