Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-07
A Doctors Duel.

J
ternoon, difficulty occurred at the gate of
the Charity Hospital, between two Of our
prominent New Orleans physicians-Drs. f.
Chopin and }. Fostcr-during which five
shots were exchanged, AMI the former was
dangerously wounded. The unfortunate af'
fair soon became nOised throughout the city,
and passing from mouth to mouth, the re-
port assumed numerous exaggerated phases,
some of them to the injustice Of one or the
other of the parties
4 teud, or Mt least, Il strong luminosity. has
existed between these gentlemen for upwards
of two years. One Of the first incidents OF
it is said to have been as follows: Nearly
two years since n young man named W Gems,
of Rapidcs parish, was fatally shot in an at,
fray in this city, and was carried to the Char
itv Hospital. Drs. Foster and Chopin were
both practising there At the time, and by
some regulation Of the Hospital the former
had the right to attend young Weems. The
wounded man was, however, Il student under
DIR. Chopin in the Medical College, and as
q cOnSeu uencc he determined to attend him,
and did so. When DR.. Foster came in and
learned Of the fact, he met DR.. Chopin, and
they had n severe fist encounter in one OF the
rooms of the Hospital. This not proving
satisfactory to either party, 4 hostile meeting
was arranged for the next day. Shots were
exchan ged without effect, when the seconds
interfered and refused to allow matters to 20
any further.
There have been other causes of dispute,
such as their both running for the Office of
House Surgeon at the Hospital. Up to the
last election, DR.. Chopin was holding this
position, and at the election DR.. Foster was
| chosen over him. There have also been
differences Of opinion between them on politl-
cal subjects, both having been delegates to
the State Democratic Convention held in
Nav last from the same ward. DR.. Chop
pin being of the party known as the New
Liners. and DR.. Foster of the party called
the Old Liners.
There are four visiting surgeons for the
Charity Hospital, Doctors Stone, Hunt, Mott
and Chopin, who perform all operations of
a surgical nature The two former being
out Of the city, their departments were in
charge of other surgeons, tho latter of the
two being Dr. Dirmeyer. \ man was
| brought to the Hospital a short time since
suffering from severe aneurism in the left
shoulder. lie was placed in ward No. 2,
which is under the immediate charge of DIR.
Sprague, one of the students and is in DIR.
| Stones surgical department. After con-
sutation and general examination, it was
agreed that the man could not live unless
the artery which supplied the aneurism was
taken up. All were Of opinion at the time
that this was the subclaviau artery, one of
the most important in the body, and to tie
which would be more dangerous operation
than tying the carotid; in fact, it would only
give the patient one chance III three or four
Of life over the certain death which the
ancurism would cause if unchecked.
Among professional men, as matter OF
course, the more difficult an operation is the
more anxious q skilful surgeon is to obtain
the honor of performing it, The operation
belonged, by right, to the surgeon acting in
the place of DR.. Stone: but he passed it over
to DR.. Dirmeyer. 4 week passed by, and
the operation had not been performed,
though the longer it was delayed. the more
dangerous it became 70 the patient. The
sufferers wife. desired to have DR.. Stones
service, but rs he was out of the city, shc said
she wanted the next best surgeon in New
Orleans.
The patients wife heard yesterday that
DR.. Chopin was very anxious to perform
the operation, and on calling upon him it is
said that he offered 10 keep the man in his
Intirmary, on Carondclet street, free OF
charge, until the result of the operation, for
the privilege Of performing which he would
pay him $50. An agreement was then made
that the man should go to DIR. Choppin's
Infrmary yesterday morning. DR.. Dir
never. hearing of this requested DR.. Fos-
ter, Home Surgeon, and DR.. Smith, Assls-
tant House Surgeon, not to discharge the
man from the Hospital and they agreed not
to do it. 1t is claimed that all persons who
90 to the Charity Hospital without paying
| place themselves under the control OF the IN
sttution. and the doctors can retain them
until they are cured or dead.
| Yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock, the
mans wife came for him, and he dressed HIM
self and went out to the gate, thinking there
would be no difficulty about his leaving. The
woman asked for discharge from the clerk,
| but he had received orders not to give one
She then went to DR.. Sprague, but he being
n student had no authority to sign one. She
| next went 10 DR.. Smith, and he also refused.
1t seemed the man would not DO allowed to
leave. but he sat out by the gate until DIR.
Chopin came in his buggy, at about noon,
to visit the wounded men in his department.
As soon rs he found the man was detained,
he went into the office aud ask ed MIR. Jules
Lombard. deputy clerk. for discharge
Mr.. L. told him he could not do so against or
ders. DR.. Chopin then said he would make
out the discharge himself on his authority
rs a visiting surgeon, aud did SO, giving it to
the man. and telling him he could leave
well, Doctor" said Mr.. Lombard, las this
is against my orders, it is my duty to imme-
datcly inform DR.. Foster Of the fact. -
Certainly" said Dr. Chopin, that is
your duty, and | will wait until you have
done So"
DR.. Chopin stood on the banquetto, in
front of his buggy, and within five or six
feet Of the gate where DR.. Foster came out.
| The latter immediately rcprimanded Mr..
Lombard for permitting the man to leave IN
defiance Of his orders to the contrary. MIR.
| l.. replied that he could not have prevented
it without having difficulty with DR.. Chop
pin. which he would not have. DR.. Foster
then stood in the gateway, and gazed fxedly
at DR.. Chopin.
DIR. Chopin said care you looking at
me- SIR" DR.. Foster answered: eyes, sir,
am looking at you" And what DO you
think Of me?"-contnucd DR.. Chopin. 81
think you are Cd ID scoundrel,"
| said Dir. Foster. Instantly upon this re-