The Charge of Manslaughte

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1204, 19 December 1904, Page 3

The Charge of Manslaughte

Proceedings at ins Cjuri Dr Gollius GouimHteii for Trial, In further cross - examination by Mr. Cotter, Dr Noil said that ho ennsidorod there was bad, but not doliberatoly bad, surgery. He made the accusation, uot a s a stalking horse, to change tho status of the medical superintendent, but to change Iho rules. Mr. Cotter: There wore six other mfdioaliiion it, the room, andsnpposo you did something which ihoy said was wrong, would you have taken thoir opinions ? Thoy have spoken untruths, and I would not take their opinions. Why did the other doctors, in your opinion, say it was good surgery ? At tho tho Board's inquiry thoy wanted to make

out that Whilo's condition was worso than it was. Mr, Wordoll,B.M,: Perjury, in ihort. Mr. Cottec: (sitting rioivn): That's oxactly it, Mr. Cotter: Have your evor performed an abdominal operation ?—Yes, one, and I havo assisted at many others. To Mr. Wardell: Ho did not think thero was any criminal conduct on the part of tho operator, or that anything whioh tho acousad did caused White's death, EVIDENCE BY THE NURHEb Nurse Marion 8011, who handed the instruments io tho oporating surgeon, was called by Mr Tole, who asked if she could tell the Court anything said by ilio m.-di. oal men about tho opeiation, Site replied that after tho first incision Dr Neil urged tho operator to hurry, Tho witness was questioned as to the details of the conversation, and after some minutes' delay she stated that sho could not reoolkc.

Mr Tole: Aro you nervous or i; your moniory deficient ? Witness: "Deficient." Sho then loft the box.

Nurso Sarah Jordan informod the Court that she was present at the operation, but it was bo lonf; ago that sho recollected nothing distinctly Mr. Tolo examined tho witness without result for a few moments, mid then asked her to stand down. STATEMENT BY DR. SAVAGE Dr. Thomas Copeland Savago stated that he mado an exhumation of Wnliis White's body at Waiktuneto comotorn on September 18th, upon instructions from tho Government. Tho stomach and intestines were removed, and examined at his houso the next evening. They found a row of silk sutures, oldVon or twelve, on the antorior surfaco of the stomaeh near the upper curvature, and another row of nino a little to the right, The first lot of stitches were removed, and were found to bind down a piece of membrano to tho stomach wall, The stomaoh beneath this was similar to that of the rest, and showed no ulceration or broach of continuity- The twoincisions in the intestines were in his opinion unnecessary, Mr Tole: Was it necessary to make tbeso incisions in tho intestino ?—I think it was unwise and unnecessary. Mr, Tolo: What is the percentage of deaths incasos of perforated duodenal uleors ?—SouiDwhoro botweon 88 and 90 percent,

Well, was the 10 to 15 per cent, chance of recovery diminished by the operation ? —Part of it was done to fjive him a chance of life, You know oxaotly what took place at tho operation ? Now, in any of those singes was thovo any shook or method which in your opinion diminished the chances of recovery ?-I think that tho time, and what shock was caused by opening the intestine, would diminish the ohaneos o. recovery. Assuming tho various stages of the operation to hayo beon necessary, were thoy skilfully performed ?—The incisions in the abdomen were made and closed satisfactorily, and the edges of tho rfound properly brought togother; the intostinal incisions werosatisfactorily closed; tho duodenal ulcer was sown up satisfactorily, and the etitcbas in tho stomach would havo boon satisfactory (o close perforation in that spot had it existed. ■ Supposing that the operating surgeon saw in the stomach what he took to be an ulcer, should ho have stitched it or left it alono ?—lf ho was satisfied that thore was at: ulcer he was right, Mr Wardell: Assuming an oporating surgeon lo becomo bewildered, would it be tho duty of the assisting surgeon tc interfere if he saw him doing something which was unnecessary and dangerous? —lea it would, EVIDENCE BY DB, GILLON I)r Goro Gillon, examinod by Mr Tole, said he had had a good deal of' ab lominal work, In major abdominal operations his record was 57 with one death,

Mr Tolo desoribed tho operation upon White, and asked," tfas thtro any justification for tho incisions ?"-in caso of perforated duodenal ulcer it is almost impossible to diagnoso tho differonco between it and appondicitis. This is admitted by Jecoqnieed authorities, If the stomach was perfectly normal, as I understand from the evidence, and if there was no ovidonce or presumption of obstruction I cannot see why the bowel was opened, ' Considering tho long timo it took over these operations, do you think thp chance of recovery was diminished by the tnothod of proceduro? —Those operations meant shock, and would, in my opinion, under tho circumstances, diminish tho man's despcrato chances of life, I say " dosporatc," beowe it was a desperate ohaDoe of life. "In Whito's caso," added tho witnos?, _" where thcro is a long journey by sea, ho is knocked about from pillar to post, and sent up to the Hospital in adcßporatc plight, the mortality would bo 96 per cent."

_ His Worship: What aro tho chances of lifo without operationP—None whatever, Diu these incisions and suturing diminish his chanco of rooovory ?_Y ea . ihcy diminished mi already desperate ch inco of lilo,

MrTolo: Do you say that an ordinary surgeon is sufficiently skilled to perform an operation of thin Hind ?—No.

And that, ho ohould not undertake, it ?- No.

To Mr, Wardell: It tookloorl2yoars' solid work 10 mnlio an expert, abilominnl surgeon, and Dr. Collins could not come under that class. Neithor could Dr. Navage, but there wero Hsvoml exports in Auckland whom ho could mention, Tho witness horoankod to bo allowed to make a statement. Ho prooecdor-: "Tho only limo I was at tho hospital I saw ut romorkabloonse of surgery on tho biain which Dr Collins had done himself, and I am going tosay Ik ro that it was a very skilful bit of work." ( To Mr Tolo, witness said agonoral prac. titioner might be in praetico in Auckland for 80 years and have no export knowW"o of abdominal work, ft dopoodod on how many of llieeo ensra ho had to do. DB. PUHCHAS' EVIDENCE Dr Arthur Challinor I'urclus said ho had been in practice for 20 yearn. In rofiard to tho oporation on White, under tho conditions oxpbiinod, ho could not justify tho incisions mndo in the largo intestine or the suturing of tho stomach or amncntum Mr. Martin: We have it in evidence that the caso was a desperate ono. Would iho shock caused by what was done winch Was soid to havo been uniieccsjary have had an appreciable effect in diminishing tho chance oi life?-! ihink the making of two incisions and those stitches must, eveu if ski lfully douo, have had an appro-

[ einlilc effect. Ho would rngard White's c-si. us dangerous, vvil.i ndy >t small amount of hopo, ! DR. BULL Dr, Bull said ho utienil.-ii iho txhumation, nnd personally coiiilnnteil tho poat mortem examination. Witness doscribod tho examination prim' Im--.-. uml stutodhis findings His evidence a.- to the condition oftho specimens agreed with that of Dr. liwago, With tho exemption of tho droilenal ulcer ami ncule peritonitis, the. stomach and intestines were normal. Adelaide, tliis day. In the manslaughter chargo against Dr Collins tho ovMonco for the prosecution is concluded. Mr Cotter, solicitor for tho defence, eontendril that no disowns made out for com* mittnl. Ho was addressing the Magistrate when tin Court adjourned for lunch,