S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2000, 28 January 1890, Page 2

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The first meeting ot the new Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the hospital on Friday, Present—Messrs D. M. Ros (Timaru), M. Quinn, tV. M, Moore, J, Jackson, R. A. Barker (Geraldine County), D. McLaren, J. Sinclair (Wuimato County and Borough), and Dr Hogg (Mackenzie County). On the motion of Mr D, M. Boss, the chairman of the board last year, Mr J. Jackson, was elected chairman. Mr Ross was unanimously elected treasurer. THE WAJINB AND EOAN CASES. The following was Vlr Ross’s explanation of what he had done in respect of these cases, in association with the member for Mackenzie County, Dr Hogg, and occasionally with Mr Jackson The first case he would refer to was that of the girl Warne, of Pleasant Point. This girl, it appeared, went to Temuka to bo confined of an illegitimate child under the care of a nurse there, Mrs Dyson. After the confinement her medical attendant re-

commended that the girl and child should be sent to her mother at Pleasant Point. Nurse Dyson hired a waggonette and drove the girl and child to Pleasant Point, but the mother refused (o take her in, or to have anything to do with her. Mrs Dyson then drove in to Timaru, and arrived at his (Mr Boss’s) house at 6 p.m. Mrs Dyson asked for an order for admission to the hospital. He went out and saw the gin, and saw that she was yery ill, indeed. He wrote a note to Dr Hogg explaining the circumstances, and asking him to see the girl and say whether it was a case for the hospital or for the barracks and desiring him to direct accordingly Dr Hogg saw the patient, and, haying formed his own conclusions as to the

nature of the case, thought it prudent to await the report of the doctor at Temuka before giving any definite direction, and it was arranged that the girl should 20 to a boarding-houaa for the night. Going to the boarding-house in the morning he found Dr Hogg in attendance. No report had yet arrived from Temuka, Dr Hogg saw it was a case of advanced diphtheria, and that it would be a dangerous case to admit into the hospital. After some consideration, however, it was decided to admit the girl into a separate ward, and to also have a separate nurse. She was accordingly sent up, and attended to in that manner. _ The girl’s mother, who had charge of the infant at the boarding-houso was asked to look after it, at all events tor a time, until they had the daughter seen to, and the child was left with her with that understanding. Some hours later Mrs Warne left the infant in a cold passage at the barracks, and, the police being informed of it, she was arrested for deserting it. Dr Hogg went down and saw it, and, finding it covered with sores, also ordered it to the hospital Both mother and infant were in the last stages of suffering, and both died in a day or

two It would be for the board to say whether such coses should be sent away by local practitioners without first communicating with the hospital authorities, ihe next case was a very important one, that of Mrs Egan, from Temuka. There had noi not been such a case in his experience, there before. It appeared that the poor woman—the wife of a laboring man was confined in a sod whare, he believed on the floor, and without attendance of any kind, and it was some time before even a nurse was called in. He understood she was seen n len bis locum tenejia,

Ur trliddou, and then Dr Blunden was consulted about the case. The woman was brought by her husband to the door of the hospital in a waggonette witbou* any warning, her husband producing a letter from Dr BlundenDecember 31st, Mrs Egan, of Arowhenua, desires to avail ..erself of the benefits of hospital treatment. She has been suffering for about fava weeks from puerperal septicmmia and Us complications. I consider that she requires constant medical supervision,’' The husband also produced a letter of the same date from Mr Barker, a member for the district, addressed to the resident ‘‘Dear Sir Constable Morton has brought under my notice the case of Mrs Egan, and it certainly appears to be one fit for hospital treatment so 1 take on myaelf to advise her ad’ mission. I know Egan, and believe he will contribute all in his power ” Later on-on January ISth-Egan made and signed the following statement* “ Mv name is Thomas Egan. I am a fellmonger residing at Temuka. My wife was confined on 27th November,- and was had all the time. Dr Hayes attended her nnd after he went to Dunedin for a holiday I engaged Dr Blunden, who attended 1-ar I think about a fortnight, but when I found my wife was getting no better I suggested to Dr Blunden that it would be better if my wife came into (he hospital to which he replied that it was as good a th.ng as I could do. I then asked him for as order to admit my wife to the hospital. He said ho could not give me an order for admission, but that he would give me a letter stating the nature of the illness I than asked him if I could bring fco S e h 08 P ita, » and he said I had better see the surgeon of the hospital or the member for the district. The dnv before I brought my wife in I aaw J doctor and told him I had got a l e n7r from Mr Barker, member for the district to wniuu . a that was all right’ «nd that i could a t them. Dr Blunden has not seen my wife since ihe Sunday I thought her in. The above is to the best of my belief the £rpe version of the circumstances.’? On the wom ints arrival at the hospital it wag seen that she was suffering fpom puerperal sepucsomia, or blood poisoning. It v 7 ae the rule at other hospitals that such cases are not admitted on the ground of danger to other patients. He understood that the doctor, nurse, or others comim* into contact with such a case, carry away the poison, and were very likely to infect others where there were operations goina on every day. Dr Lawson at the time was not well and Dr Hogg, who was doing his work, could not and would not attend to the case, especially with such cases as he had in hapd—a boy’s skull laid open, and three women in the barracks very near confinement. He (Mr Hosbl was telephoned to asking what was to be done. As a layman he did not know what was best, and replied that in the meantime she had best be seat to a boarding-house, and ho would do ihe best ue could. Mrs Worry’s was firs l tried r*nd the Innise being full, tho pit!lV J taken by Mrs South, who undertook iom-rse her. Ihfiii they looked round for a doctor Ihe secretary went three times to find Dr

Maclntyre, and could not find him j)r Retd would not look at the case, “ not for ioU, as lie had three confinements on his hands at the time. Dr Maclntyre was at 'aat found, and he agreed to see her, but after doing so said lie would not attend her as he had cases of his own. A consultation was held in the evening, and as a result he wired to the Colonial Secretary the circumstances, and asked if ho could tend a doctor I'rom Well ngt n. The reply came that the cse mas one’for the board to provide for. He then telegraphed to the Dunedin hospital, inquiring if they had any sufficient y competent person unemployed, and the reply came at once “ All busy.” Next day, however, a telegr-m was received that Dr Roberts would come if his reasonable expenses were paid. He was sent for, c a me immediately, and was now attending the woman, who was progressing satisfactorily toward? convalescence, though suffering from the t fleets of her serious illness. He thought he bad now pretty well explained this important case, Mrs Egan was still at Mis South’s, at an expense of £3 3s a wetk for the doctor. £3 for board and nursing, and these with medicines would make a hole in £lO a week.

Dr Roberts reported on the case of Mrs Egan, under date January 23M I saw Mrs Egan the first time oa January 6th and found her suffering from a diffusa pelvic abscess. On making the necesary incisions, and al'owing free drainage, a large quantity of fetid pus escaped. After a few days i he offensive odour dig. appeared, and since then the patient has been doing well, and is now in a state of convalescence,’

In rep’y to Mr Birker, Dr Hogg said the abscess was one of the products of the septicemia.

Mr McLaren moved, and Mr Moore seconded—“ That the action taken by Mr Roes and Dr Hogg in the case of Mias Warne and Mrs Egan be highly approved of, in the interest of other patients in th» hospital. ' The mover, specially referring : to the ca . Bf ) of Mrs Egan, said that while sympathising with the poor woman they as members of the board, had to look at her case from another than her own point of view. They had to look to the benefit of the largest number, and this was one of those cases that the hospital could not make provision for. After what had been said, aod even though private practitioners were placed in a difficulty by such cases, ha could only see one course open to the board to let the public clearly under' stand that the hospital cannot receive suoh casas, and the private practitioners, when they get such cases, must stick to them and see them through. Mr Moore recognised that the board were in a paaition of great responsibility, but after considering all the criticisms on wnat had been done, these seemed to have been made from the position of Mrs Egan while the board had to consider the matter

also from the point of view of the other patients. If they had admitted her, and fatal results had ensued, their responaibility would have bsen far greater. The motion was carried. Dr Hogg proposed to move to the effect hat all cases of puerperal eepticamia (which are inadmissible to a general hoapUal) be treated at the patients’ houses, and that the board will pay for attendance, nursing and nourishment, if the patients are unable to do so. This, however, wag objected to, as impliedly undertakiog a greater responsibility than there was any occasion for, and the motion was withdrawn. Iu the course of the discussion on the motion, Mr Quinn said the practitioner W0 AT d Ts ha r® t 0 £ ve U P his other patients. ih?aly Hrk6r 136 m ' ght attead tb<sm OQ < Dr Hogg did not think that any doctor would do that. Mr Barker : It has been done, and five

or six deaths have occurred in consequence. Ur Hogg did not believe any medical man would do it knowingly. He might do it unknowingly m this way ; He might have ac ue which turned out bad'y and he might have attended olher cases before the symptoms were thoroughly developed. He did not believe a medical man would knowingly attend other cases if ha had one case of puerperal septicaemia on hia hands. While disapproving of Dr Hogg's motion. Mr McLaren hoped that it would be clearly made known to the public that it was the unanimous opinion of the board that no such case should be admitted into the hospital. Mr Jackson ; There i 3 this further danger that if we admitted such a ease the visitiDg 1 stuff would Jsavs us. Dr Hogg then made an explanation of the case of the girl Warne. He first

heard of the case at 7 o’clock in the evening from the nurse Hyson, who had a note from Mr Ross, saying she wag recen ly confined and suffering from sore •u H ?.u r ° te t 0 Mr Boss that ” report should be had from the doctor at lemuka, and in the meantime that the girl was provided for at a boarding house. Next morning he saw her at Mrs Werrv’s and B aw she was suffering from diphtheria! and ordered her to tho hospital at once. bbe was placed in an isolated ward and was given every attention, but the case was so bad that the unfortunate girl died next morning. With regard to Mra

£gan a case, he saw the letters from Dr Blunden and Mr Barker, and heard the husband a verbal statement that Dr Blunden had ordered the woman to the hospital. Ha was then obliged to go a nl y VT nd R ® b Mr JoW6e y communicate with Mr Ross respecting accommodation, and result the board knew, Septi’ csgtma \yas highly dangerous in surgical cases, and that wag the reason why such cases should not be admitted lo thei hospital.

re P ! y tp Mr Barker Dr Lawson said tuay could accept any case except ordinary confinement and cases of puerperal sept£ castnia even smallpox or pholera. It waa admitted medical praptipo all over tfie world that puerperal septc*emia would not be admitted into a general hospital. Mr Barker thought they should go further than_ simple disallowance. Could they not devise some means of treating such cases ? It was said that such cases were rare, but he did nos think so, and th.s opportunity ought to be taken tcU> consider whether they could not meet the esse 10 seme way, and not wink at or bnrk ’ u. lio aid cot desiro to say anything m ' dio . il u'tor 'n ■ a,HI , h;id i'-v-cl and I ider .0 muse, and if they got such cases n ne the fact** m the newsSS b ‘d^ d f 00 i°"? ltflr,d “« SUch a caae wou ( , dfnfect himself us well aa ha could; if careful he might succeed, i|

careless he would not succeed ; it might bo impossible to succeed, bat he had a case and must see it through. How were the public to know that Siveral deaths were not registered under some of the corapi cations”! Was not that possib'e? Dr Lawson ; If your consider the medical msi) hero are devoid of all honor and would give false certificates, of comae you can corns to that conclusion. Mr B irker ; Well, I bad something to do with registration once, and know something aoout it that would muku you laugh. 13ut could nothing be done to have these oases dealt w ith under isnla-

tioo 1 Dr Lawson ; It would want a special hospital and a special doctor. Mr Barker : We h ivo a fever ward. Dr Hogg : This fov r is totally different from smallpox, measles, or any anything of that kind. The poison is so sulnle. You never know when you have done with it. If yon once get it into a hospital you endanger the lives of all other parents for a long time. Dr Lawson : I could not attend to such a case and the other patients at the same time. If required to do so I should resign at once. They do receive such oases in workhouse infirmaries at Home, where only old and infirm people are, but they must be carried through by the medical man attending <bem. Mr Ross thought the board could not do better than follow the example of oldestablished cities. Mr Barker could not agree with that, as if that had always been the principle there would have bean no advance since the days of Adam, Mr McLaren again requested the chairman to take the sense of the meeting on the question of admitting such cases, and Dr Lawson was given a clear instruction from the board that he is not to admit them. Mr Barker later on gave notice to move at next meeting—“ That the board (in the interest and for the protection of the general public) take into consideration the question of in some manner providing accommodation for cases of puerperal septicaemia at th« next meeting or at a special meeting.” ORDERS FOR ADMISSION.

On attention having been drawn to the ambiguity of Dr Blunden’a letter, which the husband took to be an order for admission, and which the steward, Mr Jowsey, said in an ordinary case he should have accepted as an order, Dr Hogg moved, and Mr McLaren seconded—- *' That the doctors be supplied with printed forms of order for admission, in which they are to fill in the nature of the patient’s complaint, in order to avoid such ambiguities in future.” A CURIOUS CASE, The case of a hospital patient named Fitzgerald, a Temuka farmer, was discussed. He was now a patient, and on a former occasion had run up an account for £37 16s, He had no money, but his wife was said to have property. Dr Lawson stated the man gave £4O into his wifes hands and told her to pay the hospital account out of it, but she refused to do it.—Case to be referred to the board’s solicitor. CHARITABLE AID. A mass of correspondence was read concerning charitable aid, and various orders were made : That 2s 6d per week be given Mrs Gill, of Waitohi, on liking back her own children which have cost 5s each in charge of another y person ; that a Wsimate girl named Yincent be offered for adoption through the court, with the approval of the Waimata Ladies’ Benevolent Society, and that Mrs Yincent’s boy be returned to her, with the usual allow ance of rations ; that a Woimate family named White have their allowance increased from 60 to 70 rations. It was resolved that applications be called, in lime for next meeting, for the post of caretaker at the barracks. AFFILIATIONS. In the girl Warne’s case, the father of her child sent a cheque of £lO to cover all expenses. These amounted to only £4, and the balance £6 was ordered to bo returned to him.

In another ease the putative father paid the amount demanded from him. MISCELLANEOUS.

It was decided to sue Mr P. Daly for expenses incurred in the treating of his son at the hospital, unless the amount is paid at once. Mr Daly complains of maltreatment. Dr Lawson, who has not been well lately, was given a week’s leave of absence. The second Friday in eech month was adopted as the regular day of meeting, and the board rose.