THE CITY AMBULANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13171, 8 May 1906, Page 6

THE CITY AMBULANCE.

SEVERE CONDEMNATION BY DR.

PURCHAS.

Tub unsuitableness of the ambulance waggon for Auckland City for the conveyance of patients to the hospital was referred to in very strong terms by Dr. A. Challinor Purchas, at tho inquest upon James Edgar Fenwick, at the Globe Hotel, yesterday morning. Dr. Purchas said that' when be was riding in tlio ambulance with life deceased, to Rawlingstone private hospital, in Grafton Road, bo was greatly struck by the terrible shaking the patient received. Both 9 ho and the constablo who was with him could not help thinking what a. poor chance a. person suffering from a lacerated brain would have in such a conveyance. The shaking, to his mind, was simply cruel. The Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham): There have been numerous complaints, but so far there lias been no improvement. Dr. Purehas said if the matter was kept before the public something, perhaps, would bo done. When he went to-the hospital with 'the deceased he was absolutely unaware of the injury to the brain, and on arriving there he noticed the difference in the condition and pulse of the patient, as compared with what ib was before he entered the conveyance. He was much astonished, and could not account for it, but now, after the post mortem, which proved laceration, he- "could understand why Eon wick sank no rapidly. Ho considered that the rapid sinking Was due to increased hemorrhage on the brain. owing .to the shaking in the ambulance.

The Corner said ho hoped Dr. , Furehas' would bring Hie matter under the notice of the Hospital Board.

' Dr. Purchas: lam afraid that will not do much good. I have hammered away at them before. What is wanted is a fanatic who;--would do something desperate and. arouse the public to the necessity for a new ambulance being obtained. The springs of the present vehicle are too. rigid.