Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-22
NOT MUCH OF HIM LEFT.
CHARLES PARKER LEAVES MOST
OF HIMSELF AT THE HOSPITAL.
His Leg. His Nose, and Other Portions of
His Anatomy He Claims He Lost
Through Neglect of the Doctors-His
Story.

Charles Parker called at the HERALD
office yesterday to make a statement in
regard to treatment received at the
county hospital. Parker has been an
inmate OF the hospital off and on since
February 81, 1888. He went in suffering
from orchitis. He came out without a
nose, without one leg and without GER
tain other organs. Parker claims that
this is due to lack of proper treatment
and ignorance of several of the medical
attendants.
His story is as follows: II have re-
sided in California for twenty years.
I am waiter by profession. l went to
the county hospital early in 1888. 1 had
a complaint OF a private nature, the re-
suit of bruise. / had doctored on the
outside seventeen months before going
to the hospital. went there for the
purpose of having certain organs re-
moved. DR.. Kurtz, who was at that
time the attending physician, made an
examination and pronounced them cur
able. He prescribed for me until the
1st OF March, when change Of doctors
took place, DR.. Dozier relieving DIR.
Kurtz. | went to the medical college to
see him until my foot got sore. DIR. Do
zier then treated me. He lanced my
ankle. One week he said that it was an
abscess and the next week tumor.
While he was treating my foot, he neg
lected to treat my other trouble for
nine months, when DIR. Kurtz began to
come again. went to him. He told
me that bad dead bone in my foot,
which he took out. He found the other
organs in fearful state and was then
compelled to remove them on December
s, 1888, although / am sure he could
have cured me if l could have gone to
him.
Through neglect of proper treatment
my nose got sore. DR.. Brainerd ex-
amiled it one day and remarked, 81
wouldn't like to have that myself" but
he never gave me any treatment for it.
Nothing was done for my nose for year
and ten months, when | insisted upon
seeing DR.. Babcock. He removed the
bone of the nose and said that if he had
seen it sooner it could have been cured.
On account of proper treatment for my
nose got an ulcer on the stomach and
was expected to die for days,
but l didn't die. / refused to take
the medicine prescribed by DR.. Brainerd
and because recovered without touch
ing his medicine, he afterwards had
gludge against me. After my foot healed
DIP, and while l was walking with the
support OF cane, was sent to the poor
farm. After / had waited on the table
for week my foot swelled up SO badly
that l was compelled to have my leg
taken off. Two weeks afterwards | was
put to work with one peg leg.
During all the time / was in the
county hospital / never had trouble with
any one until Wednesday. l was wait
ing on the table in the dining room when
had quarrel with the most insulting
man in Southern California. He called
me -- whereupon / broke a
coffee cup over his head. Alter lunch
was called into the office and was told
that would have to go back to the poor
farm because l could not keep my
temper. was informed that the old
soldier had trouble with was crazy.
"This was my first offence, yet was
fired out while the old soldier who had
committed scores of offences was allowed
to remain. If the old soldier is crazy as
is claimed, is he safe person to have
around?
Il went out without nickel and put
my case before the board of supervisors.
They went out Saturday afternoon for
the purpose of making an investigation,
but all the investigating they did was to
talk to DIR. Brainerd. l was told that
had better go to the poor farm. l can't
live down there as | am troubled with
There is great partiality
shown at the county hospital and | am
one Of the victims.''