New-York tribune., 1894-01-06
TO ABOLISH AN EVIL
TIE METHODS OF A\IRJI
LANCE SURGEONS.
OPINIONS IN FAVOR OF HAVING ALL PATIENTS
TAKEN TO HOSPITALS FOR DIAGNOSIS
AND TREATMENT

Hope secms,to dawn at last that reputable per-
who be suddenly overcome by Illness or
injury In the streets will be conveyed by ambu-
lanccs direct hospitals where their illness may
be properly diagnosed by competent physicians and
surgeons instead OF being turned over the police
victims Of alcoholism. as il too often the case
when their ma,ades diagnosed by inexperienced
ambulance surgeons The attention Of the Board
Of CHARITY Commissioners has been called TO the
Of Michael Barron, printer Of No. 159 Cherry
St. who fell two stories over balustrade his
home last Saturday morning. Barron found
In an unconscious condition by a policeman. who
called an ambulance from the Gouverneur Hospital,
which Is maintained public expense The call
was answered bv Dr. Albert Pct,is an ambulance
surgeon who refused to take Barron to the hospi-
tai "bocause he was drunk" The policeman sent
second call to the same hospital. which was
swercd by Dr. j. r. Kelly. who also refused to take
Barron "because he was drunk" Then Dr. Joseph
Manning. of No. - Madtson-st.. called. and he
found that Barron was suffering from a compound
r. r,citirc " the base Of the skull and broken
ribs the Jagged ends OF which had penetrated his
mrgs Barron died TUESDAY morning. and his
friends brought charges against the TWO ambulance
surgeons.
Warden O'Rour<c. Of Bellevue Hospital. made
Investigation and reported that the ambulance
gc3ns had not carried ont the rule providing that.
"AU cases OF insanity and alcoholism are To be
brought TO Bellevue Hospital. Cases not rcquir-
Ing immediate treatment. and who can walk -
their homes. need not be- brought to the hospital.
but th" surgeon will b. very careful in his de-
cision in such cases"
Warden OHourkc recommended that a rule be
provided that al cases should 10 taken to hos
pltal and diagnosed by the house surgeon. Dr.
P.t'is said in his defence that there an 'odor
of alcohol in Harrons breath. but that there were
no symptoms of serious injury. DIR. Kelly made
substantially the same report.
President Porter % the Charities and Correction
commissioners. was dissatisfied with the reports
and referred the - the Medical Board OF
Gcuvcincur Hospital for Investigation.
Nrs',rlny afternoon a Trbire reporter called on
Dr. Henry VI silver. Of 80. % Soy, nh-st. who has
ho'n for eo+, raj years president of the Medical
iorri pr. silver sAld that h" know nothing "t IN"
ease tn point. hut clearly OF the opinion thht
ail patti SHOULD be taken hospital ana kept
There long enough FOR the house surgeon 20 h'
d. .aIh,.i to mike correct tgnosis
IN Official circles u L. deemed probah" that IN
future an persons ~ho may b.. overcome by Ill
L"n or alcoholism ~ the public streets VIM be-
'.n,l"r Il..tirs ~ anbuanr- surgeons
Dr. Silver very pgop"rl, saiI that the odor 81
alcohol ia mans breath is by ~ means lrsltlN"
",ld.nc. ~ iuioNiraiiou and should not be ailow"i
o. initiate agaius; any patient Many uihcI ih-
..rl.f INSTANCES Of neglect ana brutality have re-
c"niiy boon r-portrl The ambu!anc" surgeons
Gulfp n their Irfcnc" the trite Old saying. There
fh., I'm a,ich work the 'lack sheep should SEEM
iuey prelomiuate. There is only on" remedy iOr
the rnhuiaucc evil. AMI that is TO take all patients
directly , nusiif1'.