The record-union., 1896-05-19
DR.. 4. n. HAIGH1'S CHARGE
Says an Infant at the Founding Home
Was Starved.
The Matron and Nurses Deny the
Charge, and Explain Why the
Child Died.

sensation on the community in the shape
Of a charge that an infant that died at
the Founding Home on Friday last was
starved to death, either Intentionally or
through the ignorance or lncompetency
of the person having direct charge Of III
DR.. Haight has made a public state
ment in which he says he Is the part
ner Of DR.. Watts, the physician who at
tends cases at the home, and in the
latter's absence answered a call from
there last Wednesday evening. He says
he found an infant a few weeks old
suffering terrible agony. Its clothing
was too tight about the abdomen and
he had it loosened. The child did not
seem to get any relief and he ordered
some milk for it, and the liquid was
taken eagerly. This eased its PAIN
and he departed after leaving instruc-
tons that it be fed and cared for.
On Friday morning he was informed
that the infant was dead He went to
the home and made a post morten ex
animation of the body and found but
two drops of milk in its stomach. This.
the doctor says, was proof. that it had
not received any sustenance since his
visit on Wednesday.
He claims that the child was literally
been otherwise healthy He did not un-
derstand how this could have resulted
from ignorance. as he left explicit in
structions with the person attending it
as to what should be done.
DR.. Haight said he did not blame the
Matron, as she could not possibly know
at all times how faithfully the attend
ants were obeying orders. He intimated
that there might be reason to suspect
that the child was purposely neglected,
as the parents of these foundlings often
desire that their offspring do not live.
WHAT THE MATRON SAYS.
The Record Union last evening sent
reporter to the Founding Home to
interview the Matron of that institu-
ton and ascertain what explanation
she had to make in regard to the case.
"On the night of the 18th Of April,
about / o'clock a. nl.," said Mrs. Nellie
Clarke, the Matron, 81 was called up by
a ring at the front door bell I had not
yet gone to sleep, as had been think
ing about domestic concerns, and
sprang from my bed and hurried to
the window, where I had a good view
Of the porch. There was no one in
sight, but this baby which died on Fri
day night last was in the little buggy
that always stands ready for found
lings.
'I at once called my assistant, and
we brought the child in. 1t was only
Just born, and had not been properly
cared for, and it's only covering was a
cheesecloth. There was no one in
sight, and from that day to this have
never had the slightest inkling as to
whom the child's parents are.
This baby for several days before its
death had whooping- cough and dysen-
ferry. and its food was passed without
being digested. DR. Watts, who is a
partner of DR.. Haight, was called in
to see the babe, but next day went to
the medical convention. In the mean
time the baby grew worse, and called
in DR. Haight, who, being partner
with DR.. Watt, l considered the proper
physician. He came on the 18th, and
while there took the babe in his arms
and fed it DR. Haight is correct when
he said it took food ravenously.
He said that young children were
often dressed too much, but found no
fault with either the clothing or stom-
ach- band of this one. DR.. Haight did
not call on the 18th, being, I under
stand, called into the country, and on
the 18th, about IL p. m, the baby
died.
In making the statement that the
child had had nothing to eat for thir-
ty-six hours previous to its death, DR..
Haight was-well, was mistaken. I
fed it myself on Thursday evening, the
day before it died. I gave it an ounce
of milk, and again it ate ravenously.
But within ten minutes I was some
what surprised to find that the food
had passed through its system without
being in the least digested-
Further than this, was in the nurs-
cry every two hours, and if anything
had been amiss there 1 think 1 should
have seen it. So far as I have ever
seen, Mrs Drew, the nurse who lad
charge of the babe is a conscientious
woman and an excellent nurse, and I
believe she took the best care Of it
possible"
MRS. DREW'S STORY.
when that baby was sick" said Mrs.
Drew, the nurse in the ward in which
the unfortunate baby was kept, II fed
it regularly two ounces Of milk every
two hours during the day, and the same
amount about three times during the
night, or as often as it walked up.
After IT got very sick / fed 1t an
ounce of milk each hour, instead of two
ounces every two hours.
IAN day Friday 0he day it died. the
babe vert from one spasm into another
onward spasrns. the Matron called
them, and / think she was right, but
about p. m. It's jaws set and we were
unable to get it to take any food.
THE poor little creature had whoop-