The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-28
SCOTT IMPROVING.
But There is yet no Clue to the wou,d-bs
Murderer.

Murderer.
The latest news from ST. Frances hospit-
al last night was to the effect that Owen
Scott, who was SO lady wounded Sunday
night. is showing sigus of improvement
aud it is possible that he NAV get we'll
enough TO throw some light on the pys-
terry that surrounds the attack made upon
him. Yesterday afternoon he was re-
moved from the city hospital 10 st.
Frances according to the wishes OF his
brother and orother-in law, and put under
the care of DR.. Fordyce, the medical dl-
rector of that Institution, and his staff.
Considerable i'll feeling among the police
and the staff of the city hospital has been
engendered over this case and the proba-
bility is that it will result in an hospital
being fitted up in the basement OF
the city building for police patients.
At least that was the talk at police head
quarters yesterday. The little breeze ex-
cited might blow over in time. however.
for the council pays the City hospital 500
per month for the care of city patients and
it is not likely that while this is the case
the police commissioners would organize
an hospital corps of their own. On the
other hand they claim that as there are
provisions made for city prison matron
who could attend to patients and for that
reason the extra cost will not be much.
The cause of all this difficulty seems to be
about as follows: When Scott was found
nearly dead Sunday night the police tele-
phoEed for DIR. st. John, the county ply
siciau, but rs he was at the sick bed of his
foil hox, al hia n.
stitute, DIR. Fordyce, the medical
director of st. Francis hospital,
who promptly arrived at the
city hospital where the patient had
been conveyed for treatment as city
patient. DR.. Fordyce worked about two
hours washing his wounds and dressing
them. When he went back next morning
to the hospital orders were given by the
staff of the city hospital not to let him
treat Scott any farther, not because they
had any objection to him except that he
represented DR.. st. John who is not in
good favor by the city hospital staff. DR..
Fordyce felt that he was insulted and in
formed DR.. Purdue of the city hospital
staff that as medical director OF St.
Francis hospital he would not bar out any
reputable physiciau; not even physicians
Of different school, The police didn't
like the way the city hospital staff treated
DR.. Fordyce for they felt that as he was
the medicrl director of another hospital he
acted kindly in coming to treat patient
at the city hospital, and they accordingly
sympathized with him. At any rate the
injured mans friends arrived here and
finding him in a critical condition they did
not care to let him die while the doctors
ana the police were quarrelin2, aud they
called DR.. Fordyce in again to treat him.
Dr. Fordyce again dressed the wounds and
as inflammation was setting in, or about
to set in, he ordered cracked ice to be
placed to the patients head, end the re-
suit was that he slept for five hours and
began to show signs OF improvements.
Yesterday To remove all forms OF en-
barassment the friends of Mr.. Scott ordered
him removed to the St. Francis hospital
aud thus the situation stands.
Chief of Police Cone thinks doctors are
altogether too much on the red tape order
aud lie would like to see things simplided.
He says that the staff of the City hospital
is arranged SO that each one has a
speciality, and that whenever patient Is
found with any special disease That the
physician for that speciality must be called.
He thinks that Is ali right III its way, but
that il will not do fer police patients.
"Do you think" said he yesterday, THAT
when the police find a man who Is sick or
wounded and requires immeditte atten-
ton, that they must diagnose his Case in
order 10 be able to ascertain what member
OF the staff has charge Of the special disease
by which lie is ffi.cted? II that Is the
case why then we must fill tho ranks OF
the police force with doctors.
His plan is to bring patients to the
police station, for some particular doctor
to be called in and for that doctor 10 order
the patient to be sent TO the hospital il
such action may be found necessary. de
thinks that in cases OF contag-
ious disease this would be very
q necessary, for it would not be right. for
instance, to put a man with smallpox into
an institution with patients free from the
disease, and this could only be avoided by
some doctor examining the patient before
he is taken TO the hospital.
The police are very much worked up
over the matter, and doubtless the doctors
are, too The wise thing for ths doctors
Scott, if they could; and for the police, 10
catch his assaiiant, If they could; and, If
ouarreling is necessar ), to postpone IL till
both results are attained.