San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-12
Nothing New Under the Sun.
THE CITY PHYSICIAN LEVELS
HIS ARTILLERY FOR DIR.
STARNES BUT MISS
ES THE ISSUE.
Ammunition Thrown Away - Ethics
and Board of Censors
Not In 1t.

Had the article in your issue OF
the 10th inst. come from any other
source than the high Office of city
physician, l would have given it
only a passing notice. But this
exalted position, as you know,
must have our homage, therefore
lift my hat out of respect for the
same.
Considering the statement in the
Express "that the wound Of Scott
was not necessarily fatal" retlec-
ton on myself, made an eXplana-
ton of the case in the LIGHT, only
indicating myself, without men
lItioning or intimating the city ply
stefan in any way, for l supposed
that he considered it an unfavor-
able case when he reported to the
daily papers that the wound was
dangerous. of DR.. Starnes had
consulted me there would have
been no need of controversy"
That | would cheerfully have
done had the patient been under
his care. But did he not inform
the friends that if they moved him
it would be at their own risk?
They moved him and | was called
to the house, and not to the hos
pital, and his statement would nat
urally lead one to believe that his
services were discontinued more
so when the family gives you to
understand that the city doctor
is discharged.
Is there any code of ethics under
such circumstances that would re-
quire consultation? only as the
physician IN charge should deem
| necessary.
Why does the doctor not meet
| the issue? Ny article was simply
to show that the wound was fatal.
| Why does the Doctor not say
| whether or not the wound was
| fatal? since he disdains cOntrOVer-
sy.
Why like Rip Van Wrinkle arous-
| ing from slumber allow his friends
CD to drag him out into the will
derness to see a reed shaken by the
wind? as he would consider it.
Judging from the irony used in
his attempt to debate spinal anato-
N.Y. and then close his little piece
by saying, stewards evening a
deputy of friends came to my
house and demanded the patient
removed to his house, and accord
ingly / gave an order to the hos
pital, stating to allow the patient
to be removed at the request and
risk of his friends, and that is all L
know about the case" Good; since
the Doctor acknowledges that is
all he knows about the case why
not stop there"
1t appears reasonable to any I'M
biased mind, that city physician
in the discharge of his duty rem
dering satisfaction to the board of
health and city council when
urged by his friends CD into such
uncalled for discussion, would have
the back bone to inform them that
it is the right and privilege not
only of a physician in charge
of patient, to vindicate himself
and services, when reflected upon,
but an inherent right OF every
American citizen. 1t is natural for
the lesser lights to gravitate to-
wards the larger; and since the ac-
knowledged surgeon of surgeons of
the city pronounced it fatal, l have
no desire to disagree with him;
unless | find something to justify
the disagreement. | agree with the
city physician that absolute rest
should be enjoined in such cases.
Could not fleX his tOes,-corrob-
crates the already existing facts
that paralysis did exist,-point no
point.
"What about the muscular"
They are all right in health, but III
paralysis can not be depended up
on; hence the necessity of Aliens
surgical pump, which is not "new
thing under the sum-" nor to the
profession, and should not be to our
eminent city doctor. You see, Doc
tor, it is not generous in your
friends ri to drag you into mud
die like this,-and most especially
after you have told all you know
about the case.
CD. STARNEs, NJ. ID.
FOR SALE