Evening star., 1895-04-02
A DOCTORS DUTIES
A Question Of Naval Ethics De-
cided by Secretary Herbert.
Case OF MEDICAL INSPECTOR KERSHNER
Views Expressed by Capt. Evans
and Admiral Meade.
THE DOCTOR SUSTAINED

Secretary Herbert has keen called upon
to settle question of naval ethics in dis
pute between high officers attached to the
North Atlantic station. The parties to the
dispute are Admiral Meade, commander
in-chef of the squadron, and Capt. Robley
d. Evans. commanding the cruiser New
York, on one side, and Medical Inspector
Edward Kershner, attached to the New
York fleet surgeon, on the other. The
latter was censured by the admiral, and
his alleged offense has been reported to the
Navy Department for such action as may
be deemed necessary.
According to the Stcry, as told in naval
circles. the trouble occurred while the New
York was at Bridgetown, Barbados, on
the 9th of February. A Nova Scotia mer-
chairman anchored 4 short distance away
sent aboard for medical assistance. The
captain reported that ne had a case of
poisoning aboard DR.. kershner refused
TO respond to the call on the ground that it
might be case of yellow fever, and he
suggested that physician from the shore
be summoned. DR.. kershner held that his
first duty was to his squadron, and that.
therefore, he couid not afford to respond
to call in case that might prove TO be
a contagious disease. Capt. Evans didn't
take this view of the case which, he sug-
gested, might be one of urgent necessity.
DR.. kershner held to his decision, and
the circumstances to Rear Admiral Meade,
who was in command of the squadron. Ad-
miral Meade also received a statement
from DR.. Kershner. In indorsing Caot.
Evans report Admin al Meade made a Sc
we're attack on DR.. Kershner.
Capt. Evans Report.
In his letter to the admiral Capt. Evans
says:
Il. have the honor to report to you that
a call from a Nova Scotia vessel lying a
short distance ahead of US was received for
medical assistance about . ,. M yesterday,
the messenger stating that man had been
poisoned, and as the captain was on shore
they appealed to us.
..2. Medical Inspector Kershner objected
to answering the call. on the ground that
they might have case of yellow fever,
and that it was their business to send on
shore for doctor, whose practice it is to
attend to such cases, and Furthermore, that
the captain would beat the owner by charg-
ing doctors fee for this case.
''3. l suggested to Medical Inspector
kershner that this might be case of ur-
gent necessity, maybe of life and DEATH to
which he replied that he should have sent
on shore in the first place and not to US.
~. By your direction, medical assistance
was sent and the case proved to be sim
pie one.
-. The vessel was lying about 400 yards
from this ship
Admiral Meade returned this report with
the following Endorsement
Respectfully returned to the command
ing officer of the New York, who will direct
Medical Inspector kershner to submit such
statement to the commander-in- chief as he
may deem necessary to explain such action
on his part"
DIR. kershners defense for his action ap-
pears in his Endorsement, which reads
The sanitary advice given to Capt
Evans was as stated. One of the first and
most important duties of my office, as l
understand it, is the protection of the
health and lives of the officers and men of
the feet The advice was given in conson-
aEce with this understanding of my du-
ties"