BOY'S ILLNESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1936, Page 9

BOY'S ILLNESS

OPERATION AT SEA

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, February 5.

Among the passengers on the Orient liner Otranto when she arrived at Auckland was 12-year-old Tristram Freeman, youngest son of Dr. John Freeman, of St. Mary's Hospital, London, who was operated upon for the removal of his appendix while the vessel was crossing the Great Australian Bight two weeks ago. In spite of the heavy swell which is usually experienced on that part of the Australian coast, the operation was performed without any difficulty, skilful seamanship on the part of Captain James and his chief officer, Mr. Rice, enabling the vessel to be kept fairly steady all the time.

The boy developed a high temperature on January 22, and after an examination the ship's surgeon, Dr. Dickinson Priest, decided that the case was one of obstructive appendicitis. The ship was stopped and turned round into the wind towards Fremantle, and the boy was taken into the ship's hospital, where an operation was performed at 1.30 a.m. on January 23 by Dr. Priest, who was assisted by Dr. Harris, assistant ship!s surgeon, and Dr. Rice, of Adelaide.

When the vessel arrived this afternoon Tristram Freeman was sitting in the sunshine on the promenade deck and taking a keen interest in the harbour and waterfront. He is progressing favourably and is expected to regain his health and strength quickly in the sea air. His mother and his aunt are with him, and he has had plenty of attention from other passengers during the voyage.