15

H.—22a

Would it be a reasonable thing to delay that until incisions were made into the intestines for the purpose of removing faecal concretions? — No, certainly not. Was Dr. Ferguson present at the operation ?—Yes; as the resident physician. How long has he been qualified?— Since November of 1903, I believe. What were his duties at the Hospital?—As I understand, his duties comprise looking after the medical wards and the infectious-diseases wards; and I believe on him was thrown the duty of performing the post-mortem, but not by the rules of the Hospital, under which Dr. Frost should have done that. Was it a reasonable or proper thing for a doctor in charge of these cases to take part in abdominal operations?—No; he should not be allowed to take part, because, coming in contact with scarlet-fever and other contagious cases, it was likely to cause contamination. It was almost impossible for a doctor to keep so clean that he would not be a source of danger to the patient undergoing the operation. By being in contact with infectious-diseases cases a man was almost certain to have infectious matter about his clothes or person somewhere. An expert surgeon will never permit a man in attendance on infectious cases to take part in abdominal operations; in fact, they will sometimes refuse to alow him to come into the operating-room. What was the reason for this?—lt was to exclude the possibility of septic suppuration. Mr. McVeagh mentioned here that he would proceed to other charges of which Dr. Neil had personal knowledge, while for the present some allegations would be passed over, as witnesses would be called later to prove them, and Dr. Neil would be called to give expert evidence. As to the allegation of Dr. Collins's neglect to visit the Hospital wards at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, witness stated that it was quite a common thing for Dr. Collins not to arrive at the Hospital till 10 and half-past 10 a.m Mr. McVeagh : In your capacity as honorary surgeon, you were frequently at the Hospital?—l was. At what hours in the morning?— Frequently at 9 o'clock, and later. Where does Dr. Collins live?—He has been at several places since ho has been in Auckland. From your experience of hospital work, what time of the day should administrative work be performed?— Between half-past 8 and 10 o'clock. That was before the business of the honorary staff was commenced. Will you detail what comprises the administrative work?— Going into wards, asking after the bad cases, inquiring as to the condition of epidemics, and emergency work; also about dressing, signing requisitions for dressing, signing charge-sheets, inspecting lavatories, and making an inspection of the buildings. Was that observed when you were resident under Dr. Baldwin?— Yes ; it was the routine. How does that compare with the routine in other hospitals which you attended? -In English hospitals—l am speaking more particularly in reference to the Netley Military Hospital—the administrative work is started at 9 o'clock and is done before 10 o'clock. What would ordinarily and properly follow administrative work? —Professional work. The business of the honorary staff would take place, involving the resident staff accompanying the honorary staff in their inspection of the patients, and if any operative work is to be performed the resident staff is to be there to lend what assistance the honorary staff deemed necessary. Mr. McVeagh: With regard to post-mortem work (referred to in clause 36 of the charges), have you had any personal knowledge of whether Dr. Collins has been doing any at the Hospital?— Yes, I have seen him doing it. Can you convey any idea as to the frequency of it?—l have seen him, but I cannot give the exact number of times. More than once?—Oh, certainly. Is it, in your opinion, speaking as a surgeon, a proper thing that a Senior Medical Officer who performs abdominal operations should also perform post-mortem work?—No, it is not. The reason is the same as in the case of doctors in attendance in infectious cases taking part in operations—viz., septic suppuration setting in. What is the practice of surgeons in all well-established hospitals in relation to a man performing post-mortem work being a short time after engaged in abdominal surgical work?- They are not welcomed in operating-theatres, and surgeons would very much object to a person who has been engaged on post-mortem work assisting them in an abdominal operation. Have you, personally, any knowledge of the time that has intervened between Dr. Collins doing post-mortem cases and undertaking abdominal cases?— Yes, I have. I remember one afternoon I went for some material, and on returning to the Hospital found Dr. Collins in the mortuary, showing Drs. James and Stirling, of Melbourne, a case in which he had completed an operation of joining the stomach to the smaller intestine on a dead body. Dr. Collins was talking over the operation with the two doctors present. I saw him operating on the case of Martha Gordon, who died from internal haemorrhage after the operation, about four days afterwards. Was he working from a book?--He was referring to a book. Where did the book belong to?—-It was his own book—Coker's Surgery. Where is the book ordinarily kept?—He keeps it in his own room. Is that a book to which other surgeons refer?— They have access to it, and, f take it, they use it.