CAMBRIDGE DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2828, 18 August 1866, Page 6

CAMBRIDGE DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. " S IR) — My travels through the British colonies have been extensive, and it is with pleasure that I now state a truth known to every other traveller, that no institution is more admired or more supported in , those young republics than district or provincial hospitals. Public hospitals are the ornaments of civilization, , and probably the most significant proofs of its onward march. Benevolent asylum 3 and public dispensaries are only the branches of their , i more fully developed ; trunks — the hospitals. I' think few institutions' require more scrupulous, attention from, the authorities than the dispensing, discipline, and general arrangements of such glorious, 1 proots of a civib-sed and criticising age. At home or j in the colonies, prescriptions, written by any medical man holding a diploma, or even druggist, will "be attended to with gracious complacency, wibhiu the prescribed hours, gratis. J am Borry to state that the above remarks do not apply, but are totally alien to, the recent conduct, and system strictly observed in the Cambridge District Hospital, the ouly place where, medicine can be obtained at present iv this settlement. Dr. Beale at present superintends this institution. I write advisedly and for the pnblic good,, seeing, or knowing, that no public benefit can arise i from personal animosity. The following facts of a barbarous case in relation to my family, will show one of the many disgraceful acts allowed to pass unchecked up here _ : — i My wife took the pains of labour on the morning of the 30th July last. Two married women attended immediately. At the request of my wife I went for the District Coroner, D,r. Sam, wh-> also attended at once. The doctor, who had urgept private business to transact in Hamilton, agreed to wait until 12 o'clock, when he thought it would be over, giving me a prescription to the hospital. I handed the; prescription to Dr. Beale, who peremptorily refused the medicine, on the ground Hbat Dr. Sam was not a gentleman, and that I had no right to engage him. T aaid that Dr. Sam held an official position, as well as a diplomaand thas my wife preferred him, and surely my wife would not be allowed tp perish, or be the innocent ' victim of professional jealousy,; that the district 'hospital was the only place where such remedies were to be had, and that I would pay" for it. The medicine was no't,given. The doctor was forced to leave at 12 o'clock, stating at the same time that if the medicine had been prescribed the birth would be ] easier and sooner. At last I aaw Bishop Selwyn>; I wrote to him about it. He of course took steps immediately, brought the angry doctor over, ' but when he arrived with his charge all was well. My wife's constitution stood to her, and she triumphed after sixteen hours' illness, without either doctor or medicine. Other cases nearly , akin to the foregoing fyave occurred since Dr. Beale took charge, and I believe he had no right, nor has he any righfc ' to refuse Government medicine to any militiaman within the three years* service. At all events, he should,, out of courtesy, have served a brother officer. I forbear to moralise any more on the matter ; perhaps Lieutenant-Colonel Moule may notice it. He has the credit of putting" people to rights. Hoping to see this letter in your valuable columns, — I have, &c, i John Brow*; Ensign, 3rd W*ikato Kegiment. Cambridge, August 8, 1866. ,