IN MID OCEAN

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 41, 17 August 1923, Page 8

IN MID OCEAN

A MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED

GOOD WORK BY TWO AMATEUR

DOCTORS,

It was on the last trip of the Marama from Sydney to Wellington that one of those serious little risks was taken that have made the history of many a. voyage.' Though small in themselves, they at the time loom very big in. deed in the minds of the people concerned directly and indirectly—but more especially those directly concerned. One cf the firemen, a Norwegian, had the misfortune to fall down the'ladder leading to the engine-room. He was, it was found, rather seriously gashed, and the covering of one lung waa exposed. There was no professionalmedicalman aboard —the Ulimaroa is the only intercolonial vessel who carries one—and those on board were at a loss' to know exactly what to do. The man was in a serious condition, however, and sdmething had to be done. Two passengers, at the captain's request, stepped into the breach. One was Father Sanrahan, of- the Christchurch Cathedral, and the other Mr. Somerset, the well-known Canterbury sporting man. Mr. Somerset was appointed anaesthetist, and the priest took on the duties of doctor. "Putting the man" under was an operation., attended to with the utmost -.iicarec •'so much so that the event took somewhere about half an hour. The wounds were patched/ up, and, it-was found necessary to put in, a "number of stitches. The.patient, was then left to his own strong constitution, plus what other assistance could be given, and by the time the vessel reached Wellington a day or two afterwards he was fairly well' on the road to recovery. He was then transferred to hospital. It was mentioned by one of the medical attendants at the Hospital, from which the man was discharged a couple of days ago, that the attention,he received at the hands of the "doctors" on the vessel undoubtedly saved him from what might have proved serious complications.