The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-18


man, of Andalusia, the informant being
of the opinion that death resulted from
malpractice of one W. W. Armstrong,Mr.
Hartman's medical attendant. Early
Thursday morning the coroner. accompa-
MED by DR.. Truesdale. went to the place
to inquire into the matter and if necessary
hold an inquest The reports soon deter
mined HIM to hold the inquest. and, sum
moniug jury, the following evidence was
taken: 80 aa ks
Louis Hartman, son of deceased DIR.
Armstrong was called to attend father on
Monday, Oct. 7th; said he had gravel 10
strument last Sunday, and instead of
evacuating urine there was thin blood
The instrument was inserted Ia inches, a
wire projecting from the end three-quar
tiers of an inch.
Geo. Gardner with deceased at
time of his death. He was in great pain
and the lower portion of his abdomen was
swollen. ta se
Benz. Street:-Saw DIR. Armstrong at
Andalusia last Tuesday. He said he had
sent for instruments with which to treat
Mr.. Hartman, but could not get them.
| DR.. Armstrong:-W called to see de-
ceased on 9Th inst. aud prescribed faid
extract of buchu. / used tube made
| from India rubber, called catherton.
On the 18th inst. prescribed fluid extract
iof buchu directing to take teaspoon full
every two hours. had no trouble insert
| ing the instrument removed some thing
| supposed to be stone from the bladder.
Have practiced medicine thirty years; am
forty-nine years old; claim to belong to
the eclectic school; have no certificate
from the state board of health, am not
registered at the county clerks Office, have
not reported any births or deaths. | use
for the removal of stone In the bladder the
tube used on Mr.. Hartman, have no sill
yer tube fit for use.
| DIR. E. Fl. Bowman;-Was called on
Sunday, the 18th inst, Found MIR. Hart
man suffering from the retention of urine
was informed he had not passed for two
weeks; evacuated the bladder, passed
about half gallon. The lower part OF the
abdamen was swollen; found blood oozing
llrom the orlhee of the uruthra and sur
/ rounding parts stained with blood. Upon
introducing eatheter found irregularity two
inches anterior to the PROSTATE glands.
Saw mo evidence of general fever, though
patient was swelling freely, pulse 95, hard
and quick, leading me to expect peritoneal
inflammation. / asked what DR.. Armstrong
had done and MIR. Hartman showed me,
The instruments used are unfit to be used
J for any purpose and no surgeon
would or could put then into O
bladder. (Shown the instrument.) An
of the opinion that instrument shown
would produce inflammation OF such delicate
tissues, Protrusion of wire is not needed
it is arbarous. Was called again the fol
lowing day, patient was 10 commotose con
dition which | attributed to arinic poison:
could not pass catheter. made three at,
tempts and found blood each time. o.
examination discovered swelling of pros
trate glands; felt sure from blood founc
there that urethra had been lacerated
This morning in company with DIR. Trues
dale, examined the body finding extensiv,
in6ltration of blood and two aperatures il
the urethra anterior to PROSTATE gland
We found no indication of stone in BLADDER
: DIR. C. Truesdale Assisted DR.. Bow
; man IN post mortem examination on bod
! of deceased Along the tissues surround
ing the kmembraneousGp ortion were infl
trated with blood. We found that part @
urethra perforated IN several places, th
mucous membrane torn aud ragged, show
ing evidence of having been injured. Th
difficulty In his case was caused by CT
largement OF the PROSTATE glands. Thar
was no stone 10 the bladder and no evi
i dence that there ever had been. In 10
: judgment the diseased condition we foun
followed as natural result fror
this obstruction; the very grea
distention of the bladder which RI
suited from retention of URN
gave rise to whatever inflammation existe
: and the urinic poison arose in part frol
t the damming back of the urine into th
J. kidneys through the ureters and readsorE
r. ton through the coats of the bladder
From the instruments which have bee
u shown me and which cue witness swore
: have seen DR.. Armstrong use, I Judge
b was the cause of the decorations. The G;
q theter shown to have been used could NJ
be entered into the bladder in the shape
is at present. Am Of the opinion that tt
: injuries were caused by the wire Of the q
l. theter used. The wounds found in ii
Il urethra would probably prove fatal, tt
;, Acknowledgements of the prostra
y glands would not. Had the instrumel
= been used properly, together with prop,
+ treatment, he would probably have reco
!. cred. Am of the opinion that any ms
who would attempt to use such an instr
, ment upon any one is criminal and uni
II to practice medicine,
'e The jury without any hesitation returnt
y the following verdict:
q In the matter of the inquisition on Il
te body Of August Hartman, deceased. he
70 at Andalusia, on the 18th dav of Octobe
"a 1878; We the undersigned jurors swol
to inquire as to the cause of the death
- August Hartman, on oath do find that
t came to his death by Injuries received
y cathether 10 the hands Of w. w. Arr
! strong, q so-called physician. and we b
!, lleve the said Armstrong 10 be the unla,
y full slayer of August Hartman, decease
u Before verdict was rendered Arr
: strong. on the pretext OF attending a p
= tient, left town. The coroner issued d
pers for his arrest, and sent constab
after him, and he was overtakeD at darl
seven miles from town, riding at a rap
speed towards Muscatine. This mornir
he was brought here to Jail.
It is reported that he has served teri
of two years in the penitentiary for ma
Ipractice.