THE AUCKLAND PLAGUE CASES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 38

THE AUCKLAND PLAGUE CASES.

AN INQUIRY ASKED FOR.

AUCKLAND. June 12. A deputation from the Women's Political League and Women's Christian Temperance Union waited upon the Hon. G. Fowlda, Minister for Public Health, with i reference to the death of Miss M'Millan, I of Parnell. Mrs Daldy. who introduced the matter, said Miss M'Mdlan's death had given rise to much grave comment. They were of opinion that an inquiry should be held to make it clear to the public of Auckland what really was the cairee of death. No one had given any reason why the patient was taken to ihe hospital against her own wishes and those of her friends. They asked for an inquiry in order to satisfy everyone whether the treatment she re- ! ceived v. as neces^arv or not. : Miss M'Millan. elder sister of deceased, cave th? Minister a history of the case. Dr Purely was present and stated that death was due to plague. Miss M'Milbn: Are plague patients always left to themselves without anything: beinjj done for them? Are they allowed i to die? Dr Purdy : I thought when I left the house that she was going to the hospital at one the next morning. I left on that understanding-. 1 Miss M'Millan: If you or a nurse had come she would have gone willinttlv, I j think. It was a most cruel thinu to send her by herself, and she should have had further treatment. Dr Ptrrdy did not admit that she had no treatment when she went to tho hospital. He went with the police and secured a stimulent for her. which wa6 the only ! thing which could be done in this case. There was a method of treatment by inoculation, but this had been abandoned owing to 19 deaths occurring from lockjaw. Miss M'Millan : Then a person sufferine from plague has to lie and wait for death? Dr Purdy : No : in this case the patient was removed to the hospital. We wished to get careful nursing and isolation from other people. Mr Fowlds : If 6he had gone in the morning when the ambulance called the ease might not have gone co far. Mrs Daldy : You do not think anything should have been done that might? Mr Fowlds: That is purely a medical question. Mrs Daldv : Was this young lady cremated before her father knew she was dead? Dr Purdv : No : I informed the family as soon as I heard she was dead that she would have to be cremated. Mrs Daldy : Why was there no inquiry into this case, as into that of Miss Kitchen? Dr Purdy : We did 1 not know from what Miss Kitchen died, it being the first case. Mr Fowlds pointed out that it was the coroner's duty to decide as to the holding of an inquest. In this case there was sufficient evidence that the district health 1 officer was satisfied, and no incyuirv was necessary. He sympathised very fully with 1 the relatives of Miss M'Millan. He did [ not think there would be a recurrence of | such an event. The experience of this case \ would prevent anything of the kind happening in the future. The department quite recogni=*d that there were unfortunate circumstances in connection with the case, and it, was now communicating with the hospital authorjtws to ensure that when there were no relatives to accompany a patient to the hospital a nurse should go. The circumstances were regrettable, but would not occur again. In a disease of this kind, which was likely to run not through the community, it was absolutely necessary to take precautions to confine it within its original limitations. That might involve some hardships to individuals, but the health of the community was the excuse. Miss M'Muilan: Do you not think that some doctor might have come between the night and late next afternoon? Dr Purdy taid that when the telephone message was received at his office on the morning in question he was attending a meeting of the City Council. Subsequently ho met the Harbour Board and tenants of the Bradford Buildings, and he was unaware of what had been done. He al-o Lad to anange al out accommodation for Mm M'Millan at the hospital. Mis* M'Millan said that it was cruel that ihrongh all thcr=e hou^s nobody came. Dr Purdy said undoubtedly the family had a grievance in the girl's being allowed to go to the hospital alone. Someone bhould have gone with her. Mr Fowlds said that was quite clear. Steps rnu'-t be taken to prevent anything of the kind in tho futuie. The department had no objection to an inquire but that could do no good. The e\idcnee was cl^-ir ari to the cause of death, and the facH a« U the remo\al to the hospital were clear and admitted. They did not deny that bh^ died while, in the ambulance. Mm MMilUri: .She died fiom fear, [ nothing cl.c ' Dr Puniv: Thar would not can'c 'he po^t. moitem pppcaraiKi-i wo saw I quite admit that %a\n'j. alcn« to the ho-pital muat ha\e ha*te:i<>il her end. , I Mit-, M'ili.lan Do all plague patients i dii-" , _ ' Dr Purrh . No' About one in three. We ha\e had fhc c<ises undei obor\ation *mcc Mi--, M Milla'i'- cVatii, but they have been pioved to be only cases of <.u->picion. The- deputation then withdrew. At a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council tonight a resolution was carried demanding full inquiry into the circums'.tncvs attending the death of Miss M'Millan and condemning the sanitary inspection <jf the c ny as carried out at present as quite inadequate. I