The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-26
DR. KENLOCH INDICATED.
Report or she Medical society OF South Car.
eiiaa as 60 the Treatmens and Death or
Mira. Ioaahson Reid. and ne 60 tho New.-
paper Reports Thereon.

"
paper Reports Thereon.
About three weeks ago telegram an
pearcd first In the New York Times and
then substantially in the PHILADELPHIA
Times in regard 10 the death from chloro-
form OF q lady in Charleston, 5. G., The Dis
patch reproduced the latter account with
out addition, alteration, or comment. DIR.
kmlocb. the attending physician, indig-
nantly denounces both of said accounts as
false, and asks that we publish the follow
Inc vindication, which we cheerfully do:
At a special meeting OF the Medical So
ctety OF South Carolina held July II, 1882,
the president. Or. Michel. called the meet
ing TO order. and stated that its object was
Ia contradict certain false statements in re-
gard to recent death by chloroforn in the
practice Of our friend and colleague DR.. X.
4. kinloch.
After hearing the facts Of the case COM
mitiee Of three was appointed to frame
resolutions expressive OF the views OF the
Society, and 10 report ri an adjourned
meeting TO be held July 18th. ard the fol-
lowing report Of the committee was unau-
imously adopted and ordered TO le pub
lshcd in the AclcS and Courier ard New
York Times:
To The President and Members Of the Medi-
cal Society of South Carolina;
Gentlemen, The committee appointed at
the meeting Of the Medical Society held
July II. 1882. 10 report upon the subject OF
the death Of Mrs. Loughton Reid. and the
statements connected Herewith ~ they
have appendicitis in the New York Times
Of the 4th instant, and subsequently, with
additions and alterations in various news
papers throughout the country-after
having carefully examined INTO the subject,
be- leave 10 report:
lsi. That they regard these newspaper
publications as affordiug the most striking
evidence Of unfairness, untrutAiu.eSs, and
misrepresentation that il has ever fallen 10
their experience to consider, in connection
with the report OF medical matters, as given
by the secular press. Your committee are
fully in accord with the members OF this
Society generally in their feelings OF indg-
nation at the injustice done. most particu-
larly 10 DR.. X. \. Knloch, Mrs. Reds
physician, and also 10 Drs. +. Grange ST.
mons and a. Y. Pelzer, all respectable and
worthy members OF the profession. by the
erroneous and (wbat appears to bc) studied
and malignant statements preiudicial TO
their personal and professional conduct.
Ii i unnecessary for your committee to 20
into the details in regard TO these state
ments. They would only say that in their
opinion the newspaper publications con-
tain al least ten miSreprc sentation>. The
only item Of truth is that Mrs. Reid most
probably died "a frankly stated by her
physician) OF "chOr0iorm narcoSis."
This we regard as simply one of the Gala
mites II surgery that'cOuld not have been
foreseen or prevented. The agent was,
we have reason 10 believe. given i'm the most
improved and careful method in the pres
once # witnesses, and probably proved fatal
because Of some peculiar condition OF Mrs.
Reds nervous system, which amounted 10
an idiOSyncracy. The records OF medicine
and surgery show many such cases. The
operation TO have been performed upon
Mrs. Reid was a justiiiablc and neces AIRY
one. At least two assistants were nec,>>a-
~. and these assistants were engaged by
DIR. Kinloch with the distinct approval Of
Mr.. Reid, the only stipulation being that
she should be made unconscious by ciiioro-
form before they were introduced. DR..
Kinloch, in administering the chloro-
form, simply, in the presence Of
two female attendantS. carried out
hi, promise 10 his patient. In re-
card TO hiS after concealment Of the sup
posed cause II death Dr. Kinloch an
nounced this openly and frankly. and a.
suaed the entire responsibility. The sister
and husband Of the lady were first in
formed, and u soon as applied for the
mOrtuaTv certificate OF death from "chC-
reform narcOsis" was given TO the family
10 be forwarded 10 the city registrar FOR
PERMISSION 10 6Ury. In view oil all the
above facts your committee would present
the following resolutions for your considc-
ration:
1st. That in the opinion Of this Society
the death OF Mr.. Reid from chioroform
was not caused by imprudence or careless
ness in The use Of the agent. but from the
fatal propertic, OF that drug, which 1T
times will manifest themselves in persons
Of peculiar temperament or constitution.
ID. That the mi>Tepres cniail9n OF the
circumstances Of this unfortunate case
seems 10 have been Intentionally made. in
asmuch o. all the family and friends were
fully informed OF the circumstances OF the
death Of Mr.. Reid. and the facts Of the
ease could have been easily obtained and
correctly reported.
81. That W. extend 10 our colleague, Dr.
r. 4. Kinoch, the attending physician. ana
his assistants, our sincere sympathy, not
only for the unfortunate death OF the pa
tient. but because Of the unjust position in
which they have been cruelty placed.
4th. That we protest against the too-ire-
quent custom Of the secular press OF lntru-
ding upon physicians in the discharge OF
their duties, and thus tending to embarrass
them in proceedings which they may be
conscientiOusly instituting for the relief OF
suffering humanity.
9Th. That we consider the circumstances
Of the case sufficiently aggrayating TO JUS
tify the immediate institution OF legal pro-
ceedings against the parties offending.
Respectfully submitted.
j. FORD PRIoLEAU, VI. D.,
F. l.. PACKER, VI. D..