THE LATE HOSPITAL CASE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 103, 2 May 1868, Page 3

THE LATE HOSPITAL CASE.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Ma.il

! g IR — Respecting the case of the late Henry Eoghman, I would ask what statement has Mr James Barton corrected ? None. He admits tbat 'more than 15 minutes passed before he (Enghman) was admitted into the Hospital,' and yet the poor fellow lay by the road side not farther from the frout gates of the Hospital grouuds than those gates are from the door steps of the Hospital. Why this ' unnecessary delay ?' If the man could have been got iuto the Hospital without assistance, there would have been uo delay at all. I went to the Hospital for the help we needed, and that help was curtly refused. ' You must go for a policeman.' * But the man may be dying,' 'We cannot take any one in without an order.' ' But surely you can send some oue to see whether the man be dangerously ill or no ?' * You must go for a policeman.' ** Will you let him lie here on these steps ; he will at least be dry here ?' - 'Mr Barton is out, and our rules are very stringent ; we cannot admit any one without au order.' 'Oh shame on it, when instaut admission might be of some service ?'

Sir, it is to me passing strange that Mr Barton, or any other man, should say that when ' the poor man was dead to all intents and purposes ' he should be capable of any feeling whatsoever ; much ■more that 'he felt the rupture of the bloodvessel ou the brain.' If man can feel, when ' dead to all intents and purposes,' how much more inhuman was it to refuse all assistance, aud even the hard accommodation of a set of public doorsteps to the living, when iv a dying state ! Does Mr Barton assume that ' the poor man was drad to all intents and purposes' when he first fell ? After his fall, he tried to get up ; a stranger assisted him. I saw Enghman grapple with tbe gate, when he cut his face. The stranger being unable to get him up, abandoned him. Who was that stranger ? Will he give his name ? When Mr Wilsou and I went to Enghrnan's assistance, he seemed exhausted with his efforts to get up, yet he tried to rise again. Mr Wilson lifted him up, when Enghman again seized the gate post, but could not hold on. His cap was given to him, and he tried to adjust it. He seemed to be somewhat conscious of my return from the Hospital. I feel deeply grieved with my owu want of con- . sideration, when I ask myself ' Did tbat poor man hear me tell Mr Wilson of the refusal I had met with at the Hospital ? That the man died of apoplexy, I do not dispute. Nevertheless, I purpose bringing this matter to the light, witli tbat ' fortitude whose ends are honesty and public good.' ' Careful not to extenuate, or set down ought in malice.' Yours, &c, Robert Leslie Vickeks. Richmond, May 1, 1868. i., " -ii