SALAMAN CASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 December 1924, Page 9

SALAMAN CASE.

ALLEGED NEGLIGENT TREATMENT

MEDICAL EVIDENCE

regarding drugs

(.BY TELEGRAPH- —PRESS ASSOCIATION. . . AUCKLAND, Dec. 2. - Giving evidence in tlie case against Salaman, Dr. Abott said that tne arugs prescribed by defendant were useless in a case like Miss Stewart's. , lw(> M ,of i the. Sniffs would be uaimrui. The administration of medicine eoritaining- even half a grain of opium oyer a period, of a month, would induce, the opium habit, and would be veiy deleterious to a. patient suffering from exoffthalmic goitre. Medicai evidence was taken at length.

i>r. H. B. Gunsdii, consulting physician, stated that he examined tlie plaintiff, Miss Stewart, in consultation with Dr. Share, and found her heart to) be badly dilated, with very last- pulse and inefficient. He tfioughv th© neart was permanently affected. Cure of tlie goitre was possible iii time, but however that resulted, her heart would always be inefficient. Her present condition was grave. He would not say that she Would' ever be operable, but she might become so, perhaps m six months. The chances of success in a future operation would be considerably less than they would -have been had she been operated on last year. There was nothing wrong with i Her lungs arid kidneys. * Sihger: In ordering the patient -p take all. these medicines in the' manner indicated, and knowing that the treatment extended' from October, 1923, to November, 1924, could these medicines have been of any use whatever, in your opinion? Dr Gunson: Judging by the patient’s condition, it j§; cl'ea-r that her state is vastly Worse, indicating that- the treatment has been unsatisfactory. » Lou Id the mixtures given her do any good?—Not- in my opinion. The giving of potassium, iodine and opium was against all accepted principles of medical' treatment.

otild, it be definitely deleterious P In my opinion, yes. Mr Singer: It was the patient’s habit to take every 'night half a grain or opium, and frequently, in addition, to take three more doses daily. Would reasonable to say that as a result of that she became addicted to. the opium habit?—l would certainly have expected her to have done' so. Would the contraction of tlie opium habit seriously interfere with her health?—Yes, it would affect her nervous resistance. I think it i s a very serious thing. As far as giving opium goes, we consider very seriously the giving of' this drug for any length of time, because of the danger of people being likely to become addicted to itIs there grave risk that a person acquiring the habit may not get rid of it? —Yes, very grave. Ln opening for the defence, Sir John Finlay said the case involved was a sad and serious one, and it was of the first importance that he should be able to put the Court into a position to understand exactly wliat the true condition of the plaintiff was from time to time. She had gone through a, curious cycle of events, and passed from (lector to doctor, until finally she came into the hands of defendant. Apparently the defendant was to be blamed for not succeeding. It was material to know wliat representation the defendant made to the people concerned, and wliat was the nature of their, contract with him.

Helena Rosewarn said she was a registered nurse, with medical, surgical and midwifery qualifications. Witness asked if she might bring Salaman to see the plaintiff, and had mentioned a. case he had cured. She described Salaman as an Indian herbalist and not as a doctor. To the knowledge of witness Salaman did not- say anything about “water being one inch from her heart. ’ lie did net want to take the case, but witness pci-suaded him to give the plaintiff something to ease her. He teld her if she got over the first fortnight and took Ins medicines he would have her fit in three months. He Hid not mean lie was going to cure her goitre. PlaiiitifF’s condition improved, and the family were perfectly satisfied up to the last time she saw them. Plaintiff was much worse when she first saw Salaman than she appeared to be when brought into court oh the day the case opened. Other witnesses gave evidence regarding the success of Salaman’s treatment of other eases. Defendant’s wife, Gladys Salaman, answering the judge, said sometimes her husband had forty patients in one day, and sometimes not so manv.

This concluded the evidence, and the case was adjourned.