Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-05


Grandfather Cutter, who appears to have
been the primary, though, of course,
innocent, cause of the little ones taking
of, is well known in New York philan-
thropic circles, and has much to do with
the betterment of the condition of state
prison inmates. About six weeks ago,
DR.. Cutters mother died of diphtheria,
and shortly afterward her husband, who
had been ailing with the throat and ear
troubles, the supposed result of blood
poisoning, visited his son, the doctor, at
his Bedford avenue residence, for the
purpose of obtaining his advice. MI.
Cutter was more dead than alive when
he reached his sons house, and had to
be aided up stairs. DR.. Cutter, DR..
Latham, and several other specialists
who had been called in, saw that there
was no hope for the old gentleman, and
determined that he was victim Of blood
poisoning. He died shortly afterward.
When he entered the house his two
little grandchildren, Essie, aged 4 years,
and George, aged year and i months,
ran to meet him, and he took the former
in his arms and kissed her. It is not
known whether or not he kissed George,
but it is thought that he did not. On the
day following Essie was taken with the
diphtheria, and from that time up to the
present has fingered between Life and
death. Fearful of results should the dis
ease be communicated to George, the
parents obtained the services of trained
nurse, and sent the little one to its moth
er's parents home in Flatbush. This
was On Sunday two weeks ago. The
little fellow was as lively as a cricket
from that time up to a few days ago. A
small sore began to work its way through
the skin on the right side of the neck.
At first it was scarcely visible, but it
grew rapidly and caused the little fellow
much uneasiness. A small plaster was
placed over it in order to prevent his
scratching it. 1t finally became so pain
full that he tore the plaster away and
made slight incision in it with his nails.
As he grew vis;bly worse minute by
minute DIR. Homer l.. Barrett, who is q
near neighbor Of Mr.. Prince, was sum-
moned and at once diagnosed the case
and announced that the little one had
diphtheria of the most malignant form.
The child grew steadily worse. DR.. In
graham, prominent specialist, was
called in consultation. DR.. Cutter was
also summoned, and the three remained
at the bedside of the little sufferer until
he died. The little one was buried in
Greenwood.
The general impression prevails that
Essie was impregnated with the poison
through kissing her grandpa, and tEat
she afterward, even before she had shown
symptoms of such impregnation, had
communicated the disease to her little
brother through kissing him, as the two
were constant playfellows and were sell
dom out of each others company.
DR.. Bartlett could not be seen yester-
day, but reporter saw and had con-
versation with Mr.. John d. Prince, who
said:
II think that the case is one of the
most remarkable on record. Up to the
Tuesday night when the symptoms be-
gan to show themselves we had no
thought of danger, and little George had
merely been removed to my house to
avoid any possible though not antici-
pated trouble. The first intimation we
had of anything wrong was the appear
ance of the little sore, scarcely larger
than pimple at first, but which spread
rapidly. DIR. Bartlett was Immediately
called in, and other eminent physicians,
among them DR.. Ingraham, did all in
their power to save him, but without
avail. DR.. Bartlett said that the poor
little fellows system was thoroughly per-
meated with the poison, and that it was
one of the worst and strangest cases that
he ever saw. Georges grandfather Cut
ter was not especially suffering from
throat trouble, but with trouble 1T the
ears, although his throat was badly in
famed with bronchial affection. It was
for the ear trouble that he had visited
his son, who is specialist in eye and ear
diseases. 1t is presumed that when he
kissed little Essie he communicated the
disease to her, and that she, in turn, COM
municated it to her brother"
Dr. Bartlett will communicate the full
particulars of the case to the medical fra
ternity at large in future communica-
ton to the press.