NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 22 June 1937, Page 5

NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

ADMINISTRATION OF DRUG MISUNDERSTANDING DISCLOSED [By Telegraph —Press Association] HASTINGS, 21st June. Evidence by Dr. Erie Harold Berry, a brother of Dr. J. Allan Berry, was heard by the Royal Commission inquiring into the affairs of the Napier Public Hospital. Two previous Witnesses, Dr. Foley, medical superintendent at the Napier Hospital, and Mr N. N. Ellison, bacteriologist at the hospital, were recalled by Mr N. A. Foden. The Commission decided to sit at night in order to speed up the inquiry. Evidence was also given by Dr. J. F. Brown, who said that he had spent 21 years studying the disease from which it was alleged the children suffered, and he was now in charge of Auckland’s venereal clinic. Regarding Dr. Whyte’s local treatment, Dr. Brown said it was absolutely in accordance with the standards of practice. The disease, he considered, was a difficult and often a disappointing one to treat, and special treatments were sometimes justified, subject to the qualification that in view of the fact that the risk of death was almost negligible, he would not countenance any treatment which was attended by mortality risk. Sitting to-night, the Commission investigated the administration to S. J. Montgomery of a drug known as neohydrloL It was stated that Montgomery had already received £IOOO damages for the ill-effects suffered. Evidence describing the administration of the drug prior to the X-ray examination and of the ill-effects later suffered, was given by Samuel James' Montgomery. Medical experts and a member of the nursing staff also gave evidence disclosing that there had been a misunderstanding and that neohydriol, which was then a fairly new drug and not widely known, had been used instead of abrodil.