The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-07
THE HOSPITAL SCANDAL.
Tho Great Presbyterian Institution
in Now York City.
THE HERlLD'S SENSATION A LIE
which Originated In the Brain 0fnn
Opium Ficnd and there was no
Foundation For lt.-.Dr. Frnnlk Lc
Noync iIupp, tho House Surgeon,
Makes n Convincing Statement.
The following letter explains itself:
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL,
New YoRK CRY, Nov. 3, 1891.

WV lONN VIZ, NoN' u, 'NHA'J
73H, Dlior Of The h'diiqdioer.
sm:-Owing to the numerous letters
Of inquiry which | have received re-
garding tho malicious and unfounded
lies published in tho New York Hcraif's
issue OF October 81, and copied into the
I~y7ELLIGEScER OF October 30, l feel
called upon TO speak ms q member OF
tho hospital medical stGtl, denying the
charges IN toto.
The article you rcpublishcd is false
from beginning to end.
Il had ita birth in the distcmpercd
brain o; an opium eater and inebriatc.
On the evening Of September II, the
man who is quoted was picked up in
:hc stree. in q condition Of alcoholic
coma. lie was taken to the Twenty.
anll precinct station house and from
tlcfc brought to this hospital in an
ambulance. When he had become
sober, he acknowledged TO being
aldirted immodcrately to the use OF
alcohol and opium. lie improved
while under treatment, gaining over
ecycntccn pounds; but it is well known
,ha. he returned to his bad habits after
his dismissal IRON tho wards.
1t is as we'll known 10 4 layman rs to
disciple OF Esculapius that lying is
one OF the cardinal symptoms OF the
opium habit. 1t is just as easy and MS
natural Tor an opium habituc to pre-
v~aricatc and to falsify in the most glar-
ing way, invcnting things incredible in
themselves and giving denial positive
10 the reservations made perhaps only
IN hour previous, as it is for 4 sane and
well balanced mar to speak the truth.
Indeed. the capacity to think and act
conscicntiously seemed well nigh cx-
tipct in the patient whose name is men.
TONED, and it is certainly fair to sup
pose that under the poisonous innu-
cncc OF n. combination OF alcohol and
opium, after his discharge from the hos
pital, his Imagination hurled from its
cuuipoisc, created lisjoln,ed %fancies,
ca7rlciously formed and incohcrentiy
strung together.
In no one particular is there n true
statement in the Merdids article, except
that ynticnis having delerium trcmens
are tied to their beds; this method OF
restraining violent alcoholics is Drac-
ticed in every New York hospital to
prevent them injuring themselves or
others.
1t is certainly more humane to pass 4
sheet around 4 patient and TO tie it I'M
derthe bed than toputhim ina straight
jackct. A STRAIGHTFORWARD is never used
except in the ambulance transfers OF
Maniacal and alcoholic patients.
The old man mentioned in thc'article,
James McCabc, who was "run in" was
tear driver nineteen years ago.
The railroad man spoken Of had
typhoid fever, and to have treated him
as is mentioned in the article would
have killed him on the spot. This pa
tent got well and was transferred to
Bellevue Hospital Tor insanity and in.
Mbordination.
The Mr.. Fadenlluf, who was said to
have been badly treated, and in the
HrC|d OF the following day is said to
c9rroboratc the testimony OF the first
statement, has personally appeared at
the hospital OF his own accord and has
said that the "lawyer" had visited his
home and had offered him $40 if he
would bear witness against the hospital.
The "lawyer,' when leaving the hos
pital went into the superintendent
Office and with tears in his eyes thank
ed him Tor the treatment he had re-
ceiycd from the doctors, nurses and SUI
pCrintendent, and left with the invoca-
lion OF n blessing on the institution.
lie is scarcely. Il moral agent, and the
authorities OF the Herald office are more
to blame than he Tor publishing such
alibcl.
FRANK LEAIoYNE HUpp, NJ. D.,