The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-20
A MEDICAL MIDDLE.
SAD DEATH OF LADY PATIENr-sERIoUs
CHARGES AGAINST ONE OF THE DocToRs-A
LIVELY nIrARRrr


LIVELY QUARREL.
RICHMOND, Va, June 49, 1875
This morning Drs. Hunter Mcguire and J. s.
Wexford were placed unoer bond by the Police JUS
tce OF So 500 each 10 keep the peace toward each
other for twelve months. These gentlemen are
among the most eminent medical practitioners OF
TINS city, and are members OF the Richmond
Academy OF Medicine, wnica at It's last nights
session would have been made the scene OF per-
sonal violence and bloodsned but for the timely
interposiiion OF friends aud The arrival OF the
police. breach OF professional etiquette
between DR.. Mcguire and Drs. Magn
and Wexford, which occurred nearly two months
since, was what well ngh produced the saddest
results The story ana the quarrel, covering so
lengthy period, can nevertheless be briefly told
and tt is not without marked interest the
entire medical profession. AS learn the case 1t
is thls:-Dr. Hunter Mcguire, being the regular
medical attendant OF a lady seven months ad.
vanced In pregnancy and threatened with his
Carriage, was called upon al nine p. A. owing 10
symptoms which were very alarming. The usual
and simplest medicines were resorted to, but
these falling and the condition OF the patient
growing worse, he gave the lacy hypodermically
i've minims OF Magendies solution OF morphla.
In twenty minutes afterward she expressed
herself relieved from pain, and the physician lett
At twelve O'CLOCK r. NJ. DR.. Mcguire was again
sent for, the lady's condition growing evidently
and seriously worse, but ne being absent from
home, the nearest physicians, Drs. Wexford and
Magn were summoned. The lady had had con-
wilson. Dr. Magln administered an enema OF
aSsal9tlda an0 aromatic spirits OF ammonia.
DEATH or THE PATIENT.
Soon after anotner CONFUSION lollop ed. more
violent Than the FIRST. Dr. j. ). Wexford then ar
rived, aud az his instance another ounce OF ASA
intida was repeated and an injection Of a solution
OF caflein was made as soon as 1t could be OBJ
but before II arrived death had ended the suffer
ABOUT three oclocK DR.. Mcguire arrived and AZ
He WITH the other medical gentlemen. retired TO
an adjoining room. rom that IN which the de-
ceased lay. Dr. Mcguire lnqulred:-' Gentlemen,
what IL your OPINION as to the cause oil the laays
death ~ This was addressed moro TO Dr. Wexford
imam TO Dr. MagIl. ana the former hesltating
TO answer, Dr. Mcguire repeated ais IN
terrogauon DR.. Maglll mat gentleman
Answering said, "Doctor. II you insist upon q
| reply, We think she died from opium pulsonlng.n
TINS seeming TO Dr. Mcguire To be thrust
4 at MS professional skill and reputation or
4 an EXHIBIT on OF envy at ms success he replied,
\ with some bitterness, 'Gentlemen, you think You
injure me Oy this, but nave more practice
now tnan can attend TO-" Here the quarrel was
4 begun. All OF the gentlemen then present had
petpetrated the most gross violation d profess
slonal courtesy and they separated that night
\ With decided GOODNESS pfevallDg betW cen them
i MEETING or THE ACADEMY.
i As soon as the Academy OF Medicine met after
ward DR.. Mcguire reported the matter, and asked
an expression OF opinion as 10 his treatment OF
tile case, receiving strong Endorsement from
II
ject, and VINO cited the best medical authorities
approving the coulse pursued. IL Was believed
tnat the matter nad ended mere; but Or. Mcguire
soon afUerward introduced charges against Dr.
Wexford, who he understood had made repeated
unprolessonal ana discourteous remarks ABOUT
him. These charges were referred 10 the Commit
tee on Ethics VINO eXonerated DR.. Wexford oil
charge mat ne was guilty Of unprofessioua con.
duct. lhc ahalr by this time had assumed quite
Formidable proportions, and the medical friends
and outside paftsans. Including the ladies' both
SIDES Kept the quarrel 'n0tn III their respective
circles. Both the gentlemen occupy the highest
positions III society mere. DR.. Magulre is regarded
as rae oest surgeon Ia the city, and prooably In
the Soatl. lie was the Medical Director o. Stone
wall Jackson's corps during the war, anu since It's
practice OF any physician in the CITY. DR.. Wexford
is n member II one OF the oldest Virginia families,
d brother OF Judge Wexford OF lie Circuit Court OF
tins city, and one ofthe leading medical practtIon-
here. 1neir positions, course ana their prac-
tice had endeared them 10 most OF irIends and
patients, VINO warmly espoused their causes. But
\ TO go Oh with the story.
THE TROUBLE AT THE ACADEMY.
i DR.. Mcguire, leenng that he was maligned and
i injured by reports supporting to emanate from
4 Df. Wexford, impugning MS personal courage ana
ms professional honor, thought II proper to bring
matters To q speedy termination at the meeting or
4 the Academy last night. the attendance was iull,
y though IL was expected that some reference
would be mace 70 tae quarrel, ana personal dllll-
II Guilty anticipated Mcguire, however, rising
4 met upon the streets and the houses or MS
4 patients by SANDERS circulated concerning MIN
\ by Dr. Welioro, and ne demanded OF that gentle
i man retractiOn or GENIAL that ne had spread
Il sucn repors. Dr. Wexford sat the opposite
sue OF i large table. around which were seated
Il the assembled NJ. DIS OF Richmond with pen
knne IN MS nand, pairing MS niger nails. lie
dld not reply TO Dr. Mcguire, who tnereupon stlg.
mstiZed aim as
"A LIAR AND TRlCKsTER.u
As soon as these words were uttered the entire
assemDlage sprung to their leet. Dr. Welioro,
i win the rapidly OF thought hurting his open
/ knife az DR.. Mcguire. Tue missile passed harm
/ les>y Dy Magrue, but wounded DR.. HARRIS wno
was behind ann, 10 the wrist.
GOING FOR PISTOL POCKETS.
" scene OF great ana intense excitement ensued.
AFnl- u gF "A n and ~
them IN 20 kets where they were not DR..
Y MaglIl, placing himself between the pelIgerents,
I SAID no snot snoulu De nred o. eitner except
4 through MN. Or. Ii. M. Taylor sprung to the aid
Il oil Mcguire. Dr. Beaie ran 70 the street aud hau
Il tie ponce aud magistrate promptly on the
scene. Toe Academy then adjourned. ana as the
bellgerent doctors came out fney were arrested
aud Daiied 10 appear tns morning. Al the par
ties were iearlullY excited, aud there IS no DOUBT
n thar but Tor the arrival OF tie ponce there would
I have been bluodshed ana SAD scenes IA Richmond
last night. NOBODY considers tie AFFAIR ended.
dne Will inevitably grow out or IL, noswiin-
standing the $500 bonds the gentlemen have
been placed under 10 keep the peace.
THE EAIION DDTgnNTNG nACr