CONNECTED WITH THE SHIP "ENGLAND."

31

G—No. 3,

introduced to Dr. Featherston as surgeon of the ship, and lam not aware if he knew me. The clerk called out the names of the emigrants from the list. The rough sketch B, produced, I recognize to be correct as a plan of the ship. The emigrants passed forward in answer to their names. I considered at the time that the examination was not sufficient to ascertain the state of health of the emigrants ; they merely walked past, some of them slipped past, and were called back again, which created confusion. All the names that were called were not answered to. One of the Inspectors told some one (I believe it was the chief officer) to go below and see if any person was left below. During this search the emigrants were all called back on the poop, and detained there. I did not assist in the search. Several persons were brought from below on this occasion. Alter that the calling of the list was taken up where it left off; it was°not recommenced from the beginning. I consider this inspection afforded me a fair opportunity of ascertaining the state of health of the emigrants in a general way. I thought their health was, on the average, fair. I am sure I did not see all the emigrants on that occasion, nor did the Inspector see them all. I was with the Inspectors all the time during the inspection of the emigrants. I thought the inspection loosely conducted ; I mean that they were not all inspected, and that those who were inspected were not sufficiently inspected. Had any eruptive disease in the eruptive stage come under my notice, I would have seen it —that is, were the eruption on the face. I saw no eruption on any of the emigrants' faces. That was the only occasion on which the emigrants were mustered for inspection during the voyage. I commenced my duty of visiting rounds the day we left. I used to get Swenson, the interpreter, to go with me ; he sometimes did accompany, and sometimes did not. I then usually first visited the married people 'tween decks, directly after breakfast. I went to each bunk ; the people were generally up then, and I must necessarily have seen them all, except they went into their bunks with the view of hiding from me. They did this sometimes, especially one foreigner, They desired to avoid the daily work of scraping and scrubbing, which I organized the first or second day after we sailed. After 'tween decks I visited the forecabin, then the forecastle, then the single girls, who were in the saloon cabin. The routine I followed was the same I had been accustomed to in the North Staffordshire Infirmary. I expected to find that all cleaning up had been done, and that the emigrants were washed, and had breakfasted; if not, I waited to see this done. I found great difficulty in carrying out these plans. I specify the case of McDonald, who on the second or third day used improper language to me, which circumstance I reported to the Captain. I also specify the case of the foreigner who had been shirking in his bunk, and whom I compelled to get up and do his share of the work. I dare say I spoke sharply to him ; they could see by my manner what I meant. I reported generally to the captain that I had great difficulty to get the people to^ attend to their cleanliness, and I considered at the time that he did not properly support me. In fact he interfered with my plans. I can specify one occasion when he prevented my using the water pails for the purpose of cleaning the 'tween decks. The supply of scrapers was very short for the emigrants, so that much delay was caused. On mentioning these and the other matters before referred to to tho captain, he told mo that I did not understand the treatment of emigrants, and told me he would relieve me of that portion of my duty. I objected; this was on the third or fourth day after we leit. He insisted on taking this portion of my duty on himself; consequently I was obliged to give way. The duty I refer to is the superintendence of tho sanitary arrangements of the ship generally. The medicine chest and drug stores were placed under my care. The medical comforts were not placed under my care. I was refused surgical appliances before the ship sailed. I can specify splints which I asked for from one of the officials inspecting, which were refused on account of expense. These articles were not included in the list referred to in my agreement. The surgical instruments which I had to provide myself were inspected in my presence by Dr. Featherston, and pronounced by him to be correct. I am not aware of any inspection being made of the medical stores and comforts, except the inspection above referred to. I considered that I should have the medical comforts under my control, because that is the law. I never had control of the medical comforts during the voyage. I did not complain of not having control of the medical comforts, but I experienced the want of them on account of my attendance to the sick. I can specify one occasion. I asked for a bottle of beer for Mrs. Wellington, when I only got one half of what I considered necessary to administer to her. I experienced difficulty during one part of the voyage, about the end of February, in obtaining medical comforts. I was refused the quantities and quality I asked for. The captain also at that time took umbrage at my wishing to see the administration of the medical comforts, but I saw it done. The medical comforts were distributed throughout the voyage by the captain, both with and without my recommendation. The reason alleged by the captain was, that he thought me incompetent on account of ill health. After the captain had relieved me of the sanitary portion of my duties, I continued my daily inspection for a fortnight. I went down generally twice a day during that period ; there was slight sickness, colds and influenza, also hooping-cough. The only entry in my journal during the first fortnight referred to a seaman; the first entry regarding the emigrants was on 22nd December, when I detected measles on board for the first time. I reported this to the captain. I never observed any eruption on the face of any of the foreign emigrants prior to 22nd December. I had full opportunity of seeing them. A man might have been on board the ship, and in his bunk up to that date without my knowing of it, as the place was dark, and curtains were round the bunks ; but I should think it very improbable such could be the case. When I reported measles to the captain, I told him it would go right through the ship, and he said he thought my fears exaggerated ; and I told him it was a very serious thing to have on board. I advised isolation, and suggested they should be put in the hospital._ The cases I refer to were three children, one of McDonald's and two of Burness's. This necessity for isolation was the subject of conversation between me and the captain for several days. The captain urged the hospital would be required as a depot for stores, in order to trim the ship. The vessel was rolling very much at that time. The hospital was not at that time occupied by stores. The stores were put into the hospital when the weather was quieter. I understood from the captain that the stores must be moved for the safety of the ship ; that the captain told me the lives of the whole must be taken into consideration before those of the few. I concurred in this idea. At the time the stores were removed, the ventilation was improved through the measures taken by the captain; the movement