33

H.—22a,

At the operation did you see me take at least five handfuls of blood-clots out of the abdomen?—l didn't count them. Didn't all the doctors present say it was the worst case of haemorrhage they had ever seen?— How could everybody say that? Have you seen a worse case?—l don't recollect one. Wasn't the lower part of the abdomen full of blood-clots?— The pelvis was. Do you remember the difficulty I had in getting hold of the tube? —No, I don't. Taking out three or four handfuls of blood before I reached the womb?—Do you call that a difficult act? Were not all the parts covered with blood-clots?— Why not remove them with a sponge? Was it possible to remove in a few minutes all the blood from the abdomen?— Remove the surface to make a proper inspection. Do you remember the patient had to be hurried off the table?—l left. You had made a cursory examination. You don't know if after that 1 had not further examined the pelvis?— No. Yet you can bring a charge of negligence against me?— One had only to look at the tube. Do you not know that saline was injected into the stomach?— What does that matter? I don't know anything about that. Well, I did?— What does that matter about finding the tube? Does it not show that no time was wasted in looking for the tube? —You wasted time in feeling round the stomach, looking for an ulcer in the dudene. If the tube was removed do you think she would have lived?— Why didu't you sew her up and leave her alone? Would there havo been any prospect of her living?—A slight prospect. Didn't everybody say in your hearing there was no chance of the woman recovering?—l don't recollect. Everybody said it was a bad case. You started a clinical society?— Yes. And asked me to produce that specimen?—lt was produced. You asked me to write an account of the case?— Yes. You wrote several accounts of cases. Did you then say there was negligence on my part?—Wliy should I? Did you?—l don't remember. Why should I go and stand up in the society and give a lecture on your surgery? Didn't I read and give you information you didn't get while away from the operation?— Not for me only. I didn't read the information you gave. Didn't I see you reading it?—l don't think so. Did I not speak on the case at the society?—l don't remember. You charge me with negligence?— You should have made a proper examination. Were you there till the end of the operation?—l saw the results from the post-mortem; and remember, Collins, you looked "sick" in the morning. You wanted to get away from the post-mortem in the morning. Didn't I explain in the morning?—l don't remember. Dr. Collins: I beg of you to try and remember. Dr. Neil: lam not going to try and remember in that way. You are putting the questions in the wrong way. Dr. Collins: I ask for facts? Dr. Neil: lam giving facts, as I can remember them. Why haven't you charged me with negligence all this time?— You never charged me with being absent from the Hospital till I was suspended ; don't forget that. It cuts both ways. Dr. Collins proceeded to question Dr. Neil about the latter's remark as to the former converting the operating-theatre into a "damned shambles," and the witness persisted in denying that he had used the term in the sense it had been attributed to him. He also denied recollection of having told members of the honorary staff that Dr. Collins was converting the theatre into a "septic shambles." Dr. Collins: Did you say to Dr. Bedford, at his house, that I was converting the theatre into a "septic shambles"?—l have no recollection of using the words. Didn't Dr. Bedford tax you with it after the Board's inquiry?— Yes. Did you deny itP—l said nothing, but if he was a younger man I would have said something. I asked him if he went to the Board with an unbiassed mind, and when he said he did, and that he had no intimation of the trouble brewing, I asked him why he had told Dr. Grant that there was a strong case against me. His jaw lowered then, and we parted. Do you deny what Dr. Bedford says?—lf he comes here and makes the statement I will deny it. Previously I treated his assertion with contempt. Then, you say Rule 72, relating to emergency work, has led to much abuse?—Y'es, very much abuse. Do you know what successful cases I have had?—l know plenty of unsuccessful ones. How many unsuccessful cases?— There was the boy with appendicitis, he has gone the way of all flesh; Mrs. Gordon, she has gone; Wallis White, poor fellow, he has disappeared; there were also two typhoid perforations, and Mrs. Plecher, they have disappeared; and there are more which I could mention if I had the records. Dr. Neil: I must have the statistics of the Hospital. They were ordered to be laid on the table a couple of days ago, but they are not here yet.

5—H. 22a.