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Dr. BELL-I should feel it could not have been otherwise as there are trained people about and if they could have done nothing the man must have been very ill.
Colonel HUGHES.-Who are the trained people?
Dr. BELL. One is a trained Chinaman and the other is a trained European. Colonel HUGHES.-Has the trained European a diploma or certificate?
Dr. BELL. He was sent out as a trained Wardmaster.
Colonel HUGHES.-He would be no good legally in such a case; he would have no power to sign death certificates ?
Dr. BELL. No. The cause of death in such a case must he ascertained afterwards. I have not found that the present arrangement works badly. I stay in the Hospital a great deal; I like staying in. The only arrangement is that neither of us should go out beyond the Club.
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Colonel HUGHES.-If there was another Assistant Surgeon appointed to the Hos- pital would you have one man always on the premises?
Dr. BELL.—If I was superintendent I should always have a man there.
Colonel HUGHES.-Never off the premises?
Dr. BELL-Never off the premises; it would be much better,
Dr. STEDMAN.If there were three Medical Officers; that is to say, Dr. ATKINSON, and two Assistants, would it be possible to attach the third man to Kennedy Town during epidemic times and the other two could carry on the Hospital as now ?
Dr. BELL. Yes.
Mr. RICHARDSON.-In this list you give us you don't allow for any one being on leave.
Dr. BELL.-When a man is away on leave everybody has to do extra work. We were extremely fortunate last year in being able to get men. If we had not been able to get Captain STEWART I don't know where we should have been.
Colonel HUGHES.-You could not have done it.
Mr. SHARP.-Last year it was rather exceptional.
Mr. BELL.-Yes, one man was away on leave-bis legitimate leave and the other fell sick.
Colonel HUGHES.-There is one man coming out now; that will, make you four besides Dr. ATKINSON?
Dr. BELL-Yes.
Colonel HUGHES.-And you want another now?
Dr. BELL.-Yes.
Colonel HUGHES.—And another Port Officer?
Dr. BELL. Yes.
Colonel HUGHES.-They have also got an Assistant Medical Officer of Health since last year.
Dr. BELL. That is, of course, the Sanitary Department.
Mr. SHARP. And a Bacteriologist is asked for.
Dr. BELL.-The Bacteriologist is not exactly a member of the Medical Depart- ment. I asked for one because I thought a rich Colony like this should have a man to study the causes of diseases. I never intended he should be sent for for anything else.