CO129-120 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [1-2] — Page 239

having failed to restore the men to health, medical assistance was less important than the sea voyage and even the very one-sided evidence of Dr Freeland acknowledges that he does not think the presence of a Surgeon could have averted death - while there is the positive statement of R. Adams that he believed the man (Klofalla) might "with impunity bear the journey to the ship from the Civil Hospital," and might "not be able to stand another such" as the deceased "had from the ship to the Seaman's Hospital in such inclement weather." What does this point to but that, if blame was to be attached to any one, it rested with those who removed the man in wind and rain, and landed him insensible covered with a wet blanket? Endorsing my views, however, that the proper course was pursued by the local authorities in the cases referred to, I have the honor to inclose two notes from Dr Dick, Deputy Inspector General and Principal Military Medical Officer, and Dr Bernard, Deputy Inspector General and Principal Naval Medical Officer, who both state that they would have acted in a similar manner.