The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-09-03
OUTRAGEOUS NEGLECT.
Horrible Condition of William
Arehy, aCity Patient,
Startling Facts Learned BY
a Half Hours Visit
at the City Hospital.

~ SpNAt was III SCACTdl ClTCuidllOD
on the streets last evening to the effect
that the inmates of the city hospital,
commonly called the pest house, were
inhumanly neglected by DR.. Hargett
the city physician; that in the case
of VIM. Archy, the colored man who
lost part of his leg in a railway &C
cident a few days ago, the stub of
the limb had become filed with mag
gotts and the flesh rotting away for
want of proper care, and that the
building had been allowed to become
delapidated and filthy.
A BAzoo reporter drove out to the
so-called hospital last night and
learned some facts that NAV startle
the good people of this city and will
probably furnish something for them
to think about to day.
TIE old building is a sorry looking
establishment hardly fit at best for a
hospital, but in its dilapidated con-
ditlon it Is disgrace to city of the
size and wealth of Sedalia.
Mr.. Joe Peltier, who has cbaroe of
the place, answered to the reporter's
knock and admitted him to the room
occupied by the colored man. the
only patient in the building. The
room is barn-lOoking affair but has
been trimmed up and made to look
as neat as possible by Mrs. Peltier.
but the air of poverty which abounds
about the place, was distressing.
The patient, William Archy, is a
bright, young colored man with a
stalwart frame and that be il not dead
Is due entirely to- bis wonderful con-
stitution. He beat his way here from
Wichita on the freight trains. and on
Tuesday night of week before last
while trying to board freight train
Tell under the wheels and had his left
leg crushed of about tour inches be-
low the knee. The railroad refused
to take charge of the man and after
lying unattended several hours. he
was taken to the city hospital, where
his leg was amputated and dressed nv
Dr. Hunlock. assisted by Joe Peltier.
Archy and Mr.. Peltier saw Citv
Physician Hargett declined to perform
the operation, claiming that it was
outside of his duties The
doctor refused to furnish hand.
ages and Mr.. PeItier bought
suitable muslin of Hye d Guenther
paying for the same out of his own
pocket, Archey's fine physical con.
dition rendered medicine unnecessary
and all that was required was little
saiye' but it is fun shed in
such limited quantities that
IL does but little good. The
wounded limb was never washed un-
nj last Thursday when Archy claimed
that ne believed his sore was full of
mIaggotts. The doctor finally told
Arcny to wash the limb himself if he
wanted 1t done and when Archy re.
moved the bandages a full tea cup of
maggotts fell out. Archy with the
assistance OF Peltier remove the worms
ana washed the limb as well AS per.
sons unaccustomed to dress wounds
could do. '
festerday Archy insisted on the
WOUND being examined and dressed
again and begged that he have more
care so that he could get
wen and cease 20 be
uePenoant upon charity. The
oandages were removed and the skin
nap fell upon the floor, having COM
Pletely rotted of. Mrs. Peltier took
the dead flesh out and buried it. The
poor 1eliow is now in q worse condi-
tIon than ever, as another niece of
nus leg will have to be cut off in Or
ger 10 remove all of the dead flesh
ana on account Of his necessarily
weaker condition, it will take a longer
time to get well.
From the appearance of the fellow,
there is no question but what if he
had had half treatment he would
have been out and able to go home
before this time, but now there is no
telling whether he will get away alive.
If he is treated as the people of this
city desire and expect, be will get
along, but there will have to be a
change. The reporter did not have
a chance TO see DR.. hargett
last night and all of his information
was obtained from the patient
and Mr.. Peltier, his nurse. That the
fellow has been neglected there is no
doubt. 1t is true that DR.. Hargett
is not paid a reasonable salary for the
duties required and for the credit of
the city more liberal policy should
be adopted in providing for the un-
which it is Its duty to