The symptoms he described were inconvenient but not at all urgent,
and that I would attend first thing in the morning.
Had I considered it a "call of duty" that Mr.
Ross should be attended that night, I would have communicated
with you on the subject, or otherwise myself found a substitute,
since for reasons stated in my previous letter I was myself
physically unfit to undertake the service. But I did not think
it urgent.
Had my judgment been found in error, there
might have been ground for His Excellency's criticism. But my
judgment has not been found at fault. It has been abundantly
confirmed. Mr. Ross was brought to the Government Civil
Hospital next day; and Dr. Koch informs me that his temperature has never been more than 101° F., and only on one occasion touch-
-ed that figure. I had ascertained from Mr. Eves that there had
been no high temperature. No urgent symptoms have existed since
he entered the Hospital. There has been jaundice, and an enlarge-
-ment of the liver and spleen very common in Malaria and in no
sense whatever constituting urgency. The clinical picture before
my mind on the evening of the 17th. ultimo was an exact picture
of what actually existed.
I note from the minutes that a report from
Dr. Aubrey was submitted with my report, and I presume His
Excellency's decision was based on the description of the case
therein contained. I have not seen the report; but I submit
respectfully that it is unfair that my honour should be so
seriously called in question on the evidence regarding the
case of a very young professional man just come to the Colony a few weeks ago, unfamiliar with tropical disease, and very apt to
take a serious view of symptoms that to a man of mature know-
-ledge and experience present no urgency.
The history of Mr. Ross in the Government
Civil Hospital on the other hand, entirely confirms my opinion that no urgency existed; and it appears to me an extraordinary
circumstance