The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)(about) |
Previous issue
Thursday 13 November 1924
Next issue
Send to:
|
No corrections yet
KEW ASYLUM ADMINISTRATION.
[ "NO LACK OF CLOTHES."
' Extraction of Teeth Defended.
Evidence in Buppoit of the chances of | maladministration at li«. Ken Asylum nnd I errielty to patient« made against the junior
medical officer (Dr II S L lery) was cloned yestcrda} Hie inqnirj is being 1 conducted by Mr A. A. Kelli y P M who
lia been appointed a Boyal commission
Thomas Andrew MftAIUii secretary o{ the Victorian branch of the Mental Hos pita] Employees Association, said -W hen the departmental inquiry into the allega trans against Dr Ellery ii as nbandoned and I heard that the medical mipcrintrn lent
ÇDT Hollow) had decided out of kunine"« I ?¿> the nurses and attendant!, not 1o L,
on with the matter I gave certain inform i
taon to the press wishing it to be made pnbHc I heard from Dr Jones that Dr Hollow did not intend to have his admmis tration reviewed and it incensed me
Mr R. G Mermes (»bo is appearing for Dr Ellery) - A\as any record of the evidence of the first inquiry taken by the witnesses Mjcrs o Jormyn'
Witness-îsot so far OH T know
Did you know that several nurses and attendants had given evidence in favour of Dr Ellerj ' - Oh yo*
i Did yon ever have an interview with
llr Brennan (who is appearing for the .Mental Hospital Lmploycea Association) I st which a reporter was present' - Not to | my recollection
Was it your desire that the public should I get an accurate and fair idea of the inquiry I or only half truths' - I wanted to give
them enough to force in inquiry I did not tell them tint there was another side
Becalled, Dr Dollin said -Ihe appoint- ment of a dental oflieer nan quite recent The teeth of the idiot patients are In a sunni} appalling condition
.j Mr It G remues read a report made to Dr Hollow by Dr I llcry soon after Dr Ulcry joined the staff provisional]}
emphasising, tilt need for the appointment of a dental olhccr uhieh appointment was made a few mouths later
Henry Rae cliarg attendant, sanL-I keep all records ol overtime and time off Concerning allegation» of discrimination 1 have bimpl} held bick for duty as oeca sion demanded, the most suitable roan
Mr II G Mendies - llave you ever discriminated between those who gave evi «leuce against Dr 1 llery'
Witneas -No certainly not
In connection with the alleged shortage of clothes witness rcBumcd, it is quite false to say thit m some eases it wns neccs Bary to reclothe wet and dirty patients m their soiled girments Had there lieen a shortage of clothing it would have been reported to me No such report has been made since l!ßO I was present when Dr ¿llcry extracted three teeth from a patient, who wis very destructrve He used to destroy two parrs of trousers a day, and sometimes more I placed leather gloves and sewn sleeves on lum without effect. There was no camisole or straight jacket' at the institutior, and his front teeth were extracted Sinec Dr Ellery came the general condition of the patients have improved
Referring to the bathmg of cripple patients in the open Mr Brennan asked if the bathing were done in the most bitter
winter conditions Witness -\ es
* Witnesses Perjured Themselves."
Mr Brennan - Was the administration very lax before Dr Lllery came*
A\ ltness -Very lax
Was it tluough Dr Ellery that the "camisole for the \ lolcnt patient vv as pro cured' - les
Did it pi event the patient from tearing Ins clothes' - It did In the 28 years ot my experience 1 have not previously «con a camisole used
Do }ou persist in sa j inn that no com plaints weic made to voti is to short- ages' - I do
If all the witnesses have said that they did complain' - I say most definitely that thev du] not
Well what do }ou thinl about it' - I think thut it is an orguuscd conspiracy
Ml the witnesses have perjured them selves' - Yes'
Mr Brennan - It has been said that the patients cried with cold
Witness - Ihe} were certainly Buffering (tithough I have never seen them crying
s»ith eold
Ur Hollow recalled said -When modi
cal officer 1 drew patients teeth in the
airing court if the} -nero refractorv I | see no ohjeetion to the practice in eel tam circumstances If proper precautions ure taken it viill affect them 1er} little They would probablv manifest some slight fear but there would be no permanent effect as their sensibilities are verv much dimm lfched There is no correct place for dental operations at the asylum
The commission adjourned until 10 o clock this morning