G.—No. 3,

32

REPORT OE COMMISSIONERS UPON MATTERS

of the stores enabled this to be done. I think all subsequent efforts at isolation would have been ineffectual; the hospital was quite insufficient, and an improper place, and would not have, in all probability, done anything to stop the spread of the disease. It was badly placed, dark, badly ventilated, and not sufficiently isolated from the passengers. Directly the disease made its appearance, on the 23rd December, the captain improved the ventilation, and disinfectants were freely used, After a fortnight had elapsed, I fell sick; it was after I had reported the measles. I was not unable to perform my duties, but not with the same regularity as before ; but I went round every day. During this period, from 22nd December till 13th January, I never was unable to attend my duty. I was never called upon during this time to attend on any of the emigrants or any one on board, and did not do so. The eruptive disease began next to spread amongst the foreigners, principally children. I satisfied myself that it spread from the first three cases above referred to. I first saw the case ofMaria Olson — she was the wife of Ericksen —on 26th December. I learned from her she had been ill (through the interpreter, Swenson) for a week previously. I had.been making my rounds regularly during that week, and had received no complaint from her. I continued to attend her without intermission until her death —I believe twice a day when she was at her worst. The description I have written of her complaint was written by me on the first page of my journal, on 31st December, and Ist and 2nd January. I thought her case an attack of malignant measles; the symptoms on which I founded my diagnosis were the following: —Lachrymation, bronchial affection, general catarrh, feverishness, and constipation ; at the first time I saw her she was suffering from these symptoms, which were aggravated by her suckling an infant. On the evening of the same day I believe I noticed the rash. I did not know what it was ; I told the captain so. On the following morning it showed itself to be measles; it had acquired the character of measles. The temperature at this time was very high, and the symptoms aggravated rapidly; her face puffed up ; the rash did not consist of distinct vesicles, nor did I observe any pustules at any period of the disease. I observed pus at the last stage of the disease, from sloughs in the skin, the epidermis being in a gangrenous condition. The entry in my book in connection with the case of Spring was commenced on Bth February, and continued daily. I saw Spring after his illness had commenced; there was no rash when I first saw him; the rash came out on him on the following day. I saw the whole progress of the rash ; it was similar to the eruption I have described in the case of Maria Olson, when at its climax. In its first stage it was similar, and when at its height it was very much like Maria Olson's before she died. I have never seen a case of smallpox since the first year I have been a medical student. I have seen hundreds of cases of measles. I have seen measles approaching the character of Maria Olson and Spring's, but not nearly so bad; they were similar in character, though not so severe. I diagnosced these cases myself; I have no other authority to refer to in support of my opinion that they were measles. I thought at the time, just previous to Maria Olson's death that it was in some respects like a case of small-pox. I do not recollect any person suggesting to me it was small-pox. At that time and on different times I conversed with the captain as to the nature of the disease. I cannot say if I alluded to small-pox. Spring told mo he thought his complaint was small-pox. I told him I did not think it was. I told the captain that I thought Spring's disease was a malignant form of measles, but I also said I had doubts as to the nature of the disease. This was the first time I expressed my doubts as to the nature of the disease. It was the subject of general conversation throughout the ship, which I have heard myself, as to its being small-pox or measles. On 13th January I was taken ill with inflamation of the ear; this continued for two or three days, during which time I was unable to attend to my duty ; but on the evening of the 14th, although ill at the time, I attended to one serious case, which I heard of accidentally. Mr. Badland and the captain during this time had been attending to my cases. I wished to administer an enema to two foreign children. Being denied the assistance of the interpreter, I could not explain my wishes to the parents, who refused to allow me to carry out my treatment. On the following day a complaint was made against me for negligence by the emigrants, and Captain Harrington took all the power out of my hands as ship's doctor. The conversation occurred in the saloon. Ido not recollect who wa.s present. Captain Harrington told me I was not well, which was true ;he also said I did not understand the treatment of emigrants, and that he would take charge of the sick, and any person who was ill was to be referred to him; and he asked me for the key of the medicine chest, which I gave up, under protest. I considered I was relieved from my duty, and the captain told me so. There is an entry in the official log on 15th January, the date I refer to, to the following effect: — " Long. 34° W., Lat. 16° S. Monday, January 15th, 1872.—The emigrants complained against the doctor, en masse, for non-attendance, saying that they will not be attended by him." I made a protest, which appears in the log, on the same day. I still deny there was any foundation for such a charge. I was present when the charge was made by the emigrants. I consider the charge a general one; but I know of one special charge made at this time. Brand wanted medicine, and I refused him. I did so because I did not think he needed it. I heard no other charge made ; about twenty of the emigrants were present when the complaint was made. Swenson interpreted for the foreigners, McDonald spoke for the others. I do not consider the entry in the official log expresses what took place, as only a portion of the emigrants came, and what they said was, " That they would prefer the captain to attend on them instead of me, as I had neglected them." For a month subsequent to this date Captain Harrington did my duty, until he himself fell sick, when I immediately resumed my duty. During this interval, there was a great amount of sickness and many deaths occurred on board; but Ido not know this from my own personal knowledge. I recognize the official log marked A, produced, to which I had access during the voyage. . I certified the entries of deaths in it. I entered the deaths previous to the time I was relieved duty, and after I had resumed my duty. During the interval in which I was relieved of my duty, I merely signed the entries. Although the captain had relieved me of my duty, I consider he could not relieve me of this particular duty. I accept the responsibility of the correctness of the log referred to so far as the entries I have si<med. During the whole voyage I was cognizant of all who were seriously ill and were likely to die, including the time I was suspended. I have no other list of the deaths that occurred during the voyage except the official log. After resuming my duty, I attended to the sick during the voyage with the exception of one case, that of the man whose name is entered in the log as Peter Neilsen. He was the husband