The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-29
THE DOCTORS FIGHT
And While They Do So the Patient
Dies.
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED
Fatal Officiousness of a Young Am
bulance Surgeon, Who Insisted
on Moving a Man That rad
Attempted Suicide.

81 west 1Z0tn street, Snot nlfnSelI Win
suicidal intent on Saturday evening.
The shot resulted in his death. but his
family and their physician declare that
but for the action OF an ambulance
surgeon attached TO the Harlem hospi-
tai. his life might have been prolonged,
If not possibly saved.
Mr.. Babcock was an agent of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance company.
lie was in his SD year, and his fam
lily consisted of his wife. his son John
and a daughter. Mr.. Babcock had been
in poor health for two or three years.
and IL had been his custom tn take a
small bottle OF whiskey every night af-
ter dinner. on Saturday evening MIR.
Babcock went out shortly after dinner
and got his regular allowance Nf whis-
key. 1t was his custom 90 take the
liquor to his room and drink Il at in
tervals through the night. He went TO
bed before Q O'Clock on Saturday even
ing
Mrs. Babcock and her chill lren To-
manned in the parlor. Mrs HabCOck
was at the piano when she heard
crash in Mr. Babcock's loom, which
made her think that something heavy
| had fallen down. She ran to her hus-
bands room. and found that he had
shot himself in the head lie hal used
n 32-caliber revolver. The bu.ie. rad
entered Just above the light car Mr..
scious. That was about O'Clock.
DIR. ]. Gardiner Smith. who lives at
No. 307 Lenox avenue, was summoned
TO the BabCOck house with al possible
speed He is the family physician. As
soon as he had examined the wounded
man. he sent for DR.. David NJ. Martin
Of No. 2099 Fifth avenue. and instruct
ed the messenger to tell DR. Martin to
bring his instruments. as II might be
necessary TO trephine Mr.. Babcock's
skull. DR. Martin responded to the call
very quickly. and the two surgeons
then made another thorough eXamina-
ton.
was demanded, and they performed IL.
The bullet had ranged upward, They
trephned the skull and removed some
clots of blood dressed the wound,
packed IL with antiseptic gauze and
bandaged up the head. BY 10 O'Clock
they had Mr.. Babcock as comfortable
as he could be made under the clrcum-
stances. and went away.
Outside the house DR.. Smith met Po-
liceman McKenna, who is attached to
the Fast 126th street station DR.
Smith told McKenna of the attempt at
suicide and said that when the police
man reported at the station house he
could tell the sergeant that no further
medical attention was necessary. and
that he would do all that his duty re-
quired in sending a policeman to the
house, as Is customary in such eases
McKenna knew the doctor. and did not
report the case until he went to tho
station house after his relief at mid
night Then he told the sergeant on
the desk what DR.. Smith had said. The
sergeant. however. was not satisfied
with what had been done. and sent n
call to the Harlem hospital for an am
bulance. AT the same time he sent
two policemen to the Babcock house.
Young DIR. Opdyke was in charge OF
the ambulance. What follows Is the
story as told by the members Of Mr.
Babcock's family and by DR.. Smith.
John Babcock says that when DR. OPP
dyke got to the house. he asked I'm the
regulation brusque way OF the ambu-
lance surgeon 10 see the wounded man.
Young BabcOck had no objection to
DR.. Opdyke seeing his father. but he
told the hospital surgeon that his ia
Their needed no more professional at
tention just then. To this he says Or.
Opdyke replied:
''If we don't sc; that man to the hos
pital right away. he'll die"
John Babcock says that he then said:
no. you must not take him to the
hospital lie has been properly cared
for. and we do not want him removed"
Young BabcOck also explained that
the ambulance had not been summoned
by their desire. and that their regular
family physician was I'm charge OF the
case.
AT this. he says, DR.. Opdyke became
angry and answered very roughly that
he understood what his duty was ann
what the law required. Mr. Babcock
was interfering in the performance OF
his duty. he said. and II the interfer-
ence was not stopped. he would have
Babcock arrested. Then there was an
p.
his point. and began an examination
OF the elder Babcock.
In the meantime. DR. Smith had been
sent for again with all haste. He went
back to the Babcock house Just as
quickly as II was possible for him 70
do 50: but when he got there Mr. Bah
cock was dead Young Mr.. BabcOck
told DIR. Smith that the young ambu-
lance surgeon had removed the band
ages which the two surgeons had first
placed on the elder RabcOck's head ana
had examined the wound himself He
had then redressed the wound I'm his
own fashion. All this time Mr.. Bah
cock was unconscious.
John Babcock says that after DR.. OPP
dyke had redressed the wound. he en-
deavored to arouse the injured man by
shaking him and that when he stopped
the shaking Mr.. Babcock was dead
DR.. Smith was very angry. IL Is con-
sidered an act Of extreme discourtesy
in the medical profession for one sur
geon TO remove the bandages put on
by another without the presence Of the
first man. II the frs man Is stiil in
/ charge Of the case. II would b. diff
| cult TO deliver a more direct or en-
| phatic insult.
DR.. Opdyke said late last night that
| the story OF his conduct was absolutely
I false. lie said that when he went 10
/ 81 al Oh he he
bers OF the family greatly excited and
/ flying around the house.
| When he saw the man. ne found that
/ blood was oozing out OF the wound.
| Instead Of taking OF the bandageys al
/ ready on the mans head. he simply
| put on other bandages.
AS TO having any words with DR..