The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-09
DE-. SPARKLING REPLIES.
He Explains Away the Complaints Made
Against Him.

Health Officer DR.. George II r. Sparkling said
70 a Posi- -fsTgLL8GEsCE reporter yesterday in
reply 70 q statement made by 6 committee from
tie knights OF LaE0s, charging hin with de-
naming and in some cases receiving fee OF y
for making cat death certificate:
BY referring 70 section u, article X. Of the
city charter, the following Law viii be found:
at shall Ds unlawful % 65siaser or exhume
from grave. vault, cemessrJ or other burisl
place Within the city, or owned by the city, or
70 deposit therein, the body OF any deceased
person, without first causing 10 be fled at the
heslt1 Office a Certificate, signed by legally
qualified physician or coroner, setting forth ss
nearly as possible the name. age, sex. cause OF
death, etc, of such decedent, and obtain from
tas health officer written psrHnit for burial Or
other purpose"
"The fact u my being health Office. does not
prevent me from doing what any other legally
qualified physician Is allowed By law 70 DO, 50
long So IL does not interfere with my duties
heslth oficsr Also the city charter plainly
says: NO officer Of the city shall receive any
compensation for his service as such officer ex-
cept By salary. payable monthly The fee re-
ferred to is what any other physician would
demand.
"I have never. since have been health officer,
charged any person any fee either FOR signing
death certificate or for any other professional
service who was rot able 70 pay IL. BE- giving
professional servicas To every one gratis would
work an Injustice on other physicians in the
city, q great many unde5erFing persons
would apply To me.
'in making any charges / hare always acted
In good faith and have never 10 my knowledge
charged for anything for which receive pay
from the city"
What have you To say 20 the case of J.
Fountains child, which died some time ago,
and when the attending physician declined TO
give certificate because he was not attending
a. the time Of deathz
81 was called" said DR.. Sparkling, 'by A. 6.
Smith, OF the Washington Undertaking Associa-
ton, 20 examine the remains of Eva Fountain.
at 100 Stewart street, because the child had died
without medical attendance. I inquired into
the case aud gave the primary cause OF death as
inanition and the immediate cause 81 cholera
infantum- When had completed the exGmin-
alton and made olt the certificate / asked Ar.
Fountain for s. as my fee for services rendered.
"He replied, Il have not got it. but will bring
1T down 70 you All right, said /, do 80, aud
leave it with Mr.. smith, at the unds rtaking-
rooms That reminds me never got the s. or
heard of IL aitervsrd till this affair came up"
Dr. James shannon, president of the board OF
health, said: 81 remember the Fountain case
perfectly well, and DR.. 5pariIng explained ii TO
me at the time 1t occurred. He had perfect
right to charge fee for services rendered. and
lance Travelled, taken in connection with the
fact shat it was not city case, entitled him TO
fee q visiting physician. As city physician
Dr. Sparkling is not required TO give up his pri-
vate practice, and when he IL called as a ply 81
clan he must use his own discretion to the
circumstances OF the parties. DIR. Sparkling has
been and is a splendid health officer, and has
done his work In manner that should call for
the appreciation Of everybody"