HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT AT INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 15

HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT AT INVERCARGILL.

- • A jietter ftoqx the Rev. Hugh Kelly was Read at the meeting of the Southland Hospital Trust onMpnday, in whichhecompl^inedthattho ward, in which the late Mr Douglas,. 'stationmaster* was lying was broken into by a tradesman engage<^ in ventilating the building,. and that the windows were thrown open to give exit for the. plaster, dust ; that , the patient had been going on fajvourably till that day ; that next day pneumonia set in, and Mr Douglas died about a week af ter> Mr Kelly said he did not write in a via-, dictiye spirit, but suggested that inquiry should be made to ascertain who wa»> to blame for the work being done while the patient was in a critical state. The house surgeon (Dr 'M'Leod), reporting to ,the trustees, ad-, mitted that, the work had. been carried on against his instructions and without, his know- 1 ledge, owing to the house etewardbeiDg ill that, morning. Mr Douglas did not die from .pneumonia contracted through exposure, but, ifrom; a septjo.form of disease .which, was'pompli^ ; cated with the' severe operation, bp. had under-, gone. . An affidavit from > the bricklayer denied that ithe windows were opened for the purpose alleged, and were only open' for a few minutes'; ; to enable hiipa ,jbp communicate , with a worknoan I outside. The ■ trustees resolved to hold: a special . ! meeting to consider .the correspondence and take evidence. The matter 'has 1 been the subject of a gre,at deal of obscure press correspondence.