50

H.—22a

Did tho Hospital manager ever come into the ward to inspect the food?-No. Did you ever see him in the ward?—lf he wanted any one to go down town with a message for him he would come. Dr. Roberton: Are you aware that there is a rule in the Hospital prohibiting patients taking food into the Hospital? —Yes. Was the wardsman aware that you were bringing it in?—He was; but I do not know whether the other members of the staff were awaie of it or not. Carl Brown, a comedian, of Auckland, said he was in the Hospital from the 18th July to the sth September. He was in Ward No. 1, and knew a patient named Bob Halifax. He had injected morphia into himself and other patients, obtaining the morphia from a chest while the wardsman was absent. Halifax said he slept beautifully after the administration of the morphia. This was done nearly every night when Mr. Cook, wardsman, went to his tea. The other patients seemed anxious to have the injections. AVitness saw no money changing hands. He had remonstrated with Halifax, and the latter only reglied, " They'll never find out." The patients participating were larding, Taylor, and others. Medicine was administered in tho ward always by some one on the Hospital staff. There were deliriumtremens cases in the ward. One case had to bo strapped down, but the cases generally kept the other patients awake. In the bathroom there was only one piece of soap, one bath, three basins, and one convenience. All patients who could get out of bed used those same conveniences. One patient, whose skin was peeling off, had a bath every morning. When convalescent he had given a hand in the pantry in serving out the meals, and it occurred sometimes that there was not sufficient to go round. Sometimes the fish was good, but other times dry and stale. The porridge was sometimes very lumpy. It was very seldom that they had sugar, and the patients used to send out for it. On one occasion witness saw all the chops returned; they were not cooked, only warmed. The soup (barley) and eggs were good. Questioned by Mr. Reed, witness stated that a certain quantity of sugar was supplied to the ward daily, and if some patients had more than their due others had to go without, or send out for it. Halifax obtained possession of the morphia unknown to the attendant. One or two patients had soap specially for their own use. On more than one occasion fish was sent into the ward unfit for food. It occurred on two occasions to his recollection. Complaint was made to the attendant. Josevh Colguhonn, cab-driver, of Rcmuera. said he was admitted to the Hospital with a fractured arm at the beginning of February, 1903, about midnight, when the nurses attended to his injuries. The following morning Drs. Collins and Williams examined it, and a little later Drs. Horsfall and Bennett sot it. When the splints removed Dr. Collins looked at his arm, and after asking witness his occupation he crossed the room and spoke with Dr. Bennett. Dr. Collins returned to him and said he would have to go under chloroform. This was done, and when witness came out of the operation he found his .arm had been rcbroken, and it was giving him gieat pain. Some weeks later Dr. Collins looked at it again, and shook his head, and ordered Dr. Frost to massage it. She followed this out daily for a week. The arm appeared to improve, and Dr. Frost asked permission to continue the massage treatment. Shortly after Dr. Collins was called over by Dr. Frost, and he said the arm had united. Witness, replying to Mr. Reed, said some of the fish was good, but sometimes flounders were rank. Eggs were sometimes rotten, and had to be thrown away. Cabbage was poor, meat was sometimes overcooked, and the soup was occasionally prensy. Replying further to Mr. Reed, the witness said his arm was not straight, and would not stand heavy lifting. The limb had united. He was about six months as a patient of the Hospital, four months of which he was actually residing on the premises. Complaint was made several times about the fish, amongst the patients, and also to the nurse. Mr. Reed: Did you complain?— No. Several of the others spoke about it. Dr. Collins: Did you have any complaint to make against me at the Hospital?— No. Did you not tell me that you were satisfied with the way I treated you?— With the way the nurses treated me. I didn't like your action in allowing the juniors to operate on me. You have expressed gratification at the results of the treatment? —Yes. You have got good use of your arm?— Yes, fair use of it. I can follow the occupation of cab-driver, but don't expect to be always at that. The witness, on being reminded of the dates on which he was an inmate of the Hospital, admitted that his term there had been only two months and two weeks. The rest of the time he was an outpatient. Mrs. Wootten, who was Matron of the Hospital for some years, and lady superintendent since 1900, stated that she had also held the position of Matron of the Melbourne Orphan Asylum for five years. Witness said Dr. Baldwin's usual time of seeing her in the mornings was between half-past 8 and half-past 9 o'clock, and sometimes earlier, while she had rarely seen Dr. Collins in reference to administrative work unless she went to him. His time for arrival at the institution was very irroarular. She had seen him at a quarter to 9 when he went for operations, but on other occasions it was 10 o'clock or later, 10 o'clock being the usual time. Witness did not know the usual time at which he left the Hospital, but she had seen him leaving at 5