THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9041, 17 February 1891, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

(Peb United Pbess Association.)

Auckland, February 18.

The hospital inquiry was continued to-night, when Dr Collins, medical superintendent at that institution, gave evidence, the tenor of which was a contradiction of the charges of Miss Arnnboldi. He deposed that the two patients (Berry and M'Kenzie) were carefully and properly attended to. When Berry was brought into the hospital ha left another ease to attend to him, a3 his WBB the more serious. He dressed Berry' 3 shattered hand at once. The man was not in a condition for an operation, but rather than let him die they decided that bis hand should be amputated. Miss Arnaboldi alleged that there had been excessive bleeding from Berry's hand, but Dr Collins in his evidence to-night stated that the bleeding waa at no timo dangerous, and when the man was put to bed after the wound was dressed, there was no bleeding. Witness took every precaution to stop the bleeding from the wound. Berry died of exhaustion from shock, aggravated by bleeding. It would have been highly improper to have amputated the hand immediately the man was admitted. As to M'Kenzie's injuries, which il: was alleged had not been dressed for 19 hours after he was admitted, Dr Col Hub deposed that Dr Bell, who was formerly house surgeon nt the hospital, dressed the wounds before M'Kenzie was sent to Auckland, and, therefore, finding that the dressing had been properly done the witness did not remove it until next day, when the leg was dressed by him, He said that M'Kenzie was properly attended to, and he frequently visited him. Dr Collins denied that there was gangrene on the flap of M'Kenzie's leg after the amputation as asserted. The examination of Dr Collins is to be resumed to-morrow morning.