167
As
any
plement
op
arc
time when the full com
the Medical Staff on dutyy, as the Medical Service of
the Colony is at present constituted,
with
regard to the strictest economy,
it optin occurs that one or
disease of
iimmediate
api
them must attend a case of infections
having attended a post
mortém examination are immediately
afterwards called upon to attend a -
case of pastirition or a case of injury
with open wounds, or necessitating
operations ;
a source of greate danger to the patients in all Caseo even
when the utmost care and precaution
is taken. Such cases are, especially in
the case of the Itospital Surgeons of frequent occurrence and cannot be avoided. This would by Medical Authorities in England
be considered
most reprehensible, and in the event of injury to the patient render the
Medical Attendant liable to a criminal
prosecution. The Medical Officer would
the
be the sufferer but the Government Authorities should bear the blame, the
risk run is bad in any case but much greater when the Medical Officers are
depleted by sickness or being away
no serious cases of on leave. Although
onc
septicamia have been traced to these causes owing to precautions being taken as far as possible, still strict antisepsis is impossible under such
hurried circumstances; minor troubles have followed the necessity of having to operate under such prejudicial condi tions and the necessity of having to
run such risks is much to be deplored.
I would respectfully
17.
submit to
your Lordship that Dr. Atkinson being at home might be interrogated
ロー
these difficulties under the Medical
I have endeav Department labours as oured to describe. The difficulty of
obtaining outside assistance is so
that at the time.
the outbreak
great
of the
Epidemic of Plaque this year though
we
adverhaed