H.—22a.

56

Did you see the child?—l went up to the ward for that purpose. The child turned her head round and recognised us. My daughter said, " They told us you were dead," and the child remarked, " What have they been telling you? *' She continued to talk quite sensibly till a few minutes before her death, two hours later, and, in fact, I didn't expect her to die so quickly as she did. Did you have a conversation with Dr. Collins?—Yes. I asked him about the statement that the child was dead. He turned to the nurse and said, " Who sent word down that this child was dead? " The nurse shook her head and made no reply. The doctor, turning to me, said, "Who told you the child was dead?" and I replied, "You did." He then asked my husband who told him, but he made no reply. When you went up to the ward was the nurse doing anything?— Yes; she was holding a glass tube to the child's mouth. Bohert Jjijnch, a packer, of Auckland, said, as an acquaintance of the White family he accompanied Catherine White to the Hospital on the day the operation was performed. When there Dr. Collins came to a room where Mrs. White was seated, and told her that the girl had passed away. He spoke to Mrs. White about the neglect of mothers, and also made some mention of ulcers. Later they saw the child, and it was a surprise and a shock to them to find the girl alive. Miss Catherine White, a sister of Florence AVhite, said she was at the Hospital on the afternoon her sister was operated upon. On going to the ward witness found the girl alive, and a nurse giving her something out of a tube. She did not hear the conversation between Dr. Collins and her mother. Witness's sister was quite sensible from about ten minutes to 7 till a few minutes after 9 o'clock. Dr. Collins was at the side of the bed only for a few minutes. Mr. McVeagh then handed in particulars recorded in the operatingbook relative to the operation. Evidence was next taken in regard to No. 9 of Dr. Neil's charges against Dr. Collins--viz., that ho (Dr. Collins) "violated Rule 21 on the 3rd August, 1904, by performing a major surgical operation upon Arthur Duke at the Hospital, and that the said operation was performed without previous consultation of at least three members of "the honorary staff." Arthur Duke, residing in Cobden Street, said that in August last h - ? was admitted to the Hospital suffering from stricture. When he went to the Hospital he w-as taken (after a hot bath) to the operatingtheatre, where he saw Dr. Collins and Dr. Walsh. He was not aware of any consultation with the honorary staff. Dr. Collins said it was a bad case of stricture. An attempt was made to pass a catheter, but this failed, and the next thing that he knew was the placing of a cap on his face. He presumed he was being chloroformed, but he was not informed that this was to be done. He became unconscious. When he came to he found he had been onerated upon. About a week after the operation Dr. Collins wanted him to ?o under another operation. Witness refused point-blank to allow Dr. Collins to operate unon him a<*ain on any account. He was still suffering slightly from his complaint. Mr. McVeach : Was there a bed-chart over your bed?— Yes. Tt had Dr. Paikes's name on it. Did Dr. Parkes see you?—lie did when I was convalescent. Did he not see yon when you were in bed?— Not to mv knowledge. An; yon prepared to return to the Auckland Hospital for treatment"—Not under the present staff. Witness said that in hi« earlier days he had been a second-dnss conk. He complained of the fend which was served out pi the Hospital, and said that the riop ws»s boiled to such an ovteut that freouont'y there was no nutriment loft in it. No proper distinction was made in the food of the di ff erent patients. The porridge was fair, but the vegetable? were not of "ood quality. The piven was r-ot sufficient. Mr. McVeagh : AVhat about the eggs?— They were unfit for human consumption. Did you consume tb"tu?—Yes. (Laufhter.') What about the bocf-tea ?- T would not like to give it the name of beef-ton. It was a disrrrnce to beef-ton. What about the te:. ?—lt was fair, but it might have been better. It was not fit for patients. Mr. I'eed : Did you complain of the food?— Yes: T mentioned the sup-ar and tea. The fish was bad two or three times during the seven weeks T was there. Did you take the fish?—l took one lot, hut I had to take medicine afterwards. Did yon not tell +he manager of the Hospital that you had been well treated?— No. He asked me when T was going out whether T was p-oing to eive evidence before the Commission, and I said I supposed so. That is a!! that was said. Dr. Collins- Before you wont to the Hospital did you see anyother doctor?— Yes; I saw Dr. King. Did you not see Dr. Neil before you saw Dr. King?—No, I did not. T will swear T did not. Dr. Neil : So will I. Dr. Collins: Did you not tell Dr. Kinp; that Dr. Neil had advised you that an operation wjs nooessarv. and that you had loft him on that account?— No. If Dr. Kino- said that, I should simply sny that he was speaking—well, T will not use too strong a term in public. If Dr. King and Dr. Fercruson, the porter, and myself were to swear that you had a lump from here to here (indicating portions of the body), what would you say?—l should say it was false. I am the one who ought to know, as I was the sufferer.