The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-20
FALSE DEATH RETURN.
Dr.. III. r. Allen Disclaims Knowledge
of It-BIank Permits Recalled

Dr. III. X. Allen DiscIaims Knowledge
of It-Blanlk Permits Recalled
DR.. H. r. Allen, jr.. of the Allen Surgical
Institute, called on DR.. z. D. Clark. secre-
tary of the Board of Health relative to
charges that bodies Of patients who died
with diphtheria had been illegally shipped
out of the State. DIR. Clark discovered this
fact Thursday afternoon when an employe
of Charles T. Whitsett delivered the death
return in the Finn case to the Board of
Health. The employee remarked that Mr..
Whitsett had no more blank shipping per-
mits. DIR. Clark a once discovered what had
been done. He had personal knowledge of
the case. as he had taken cultures and de-
veloped diphtheria germs from the patients
mouth. In the death return the cause of
death given was heart paralysis. When Dr.
Allen called on DR.. Clark yesterday, he said
that he had not made out the death return,
had not authorized 1t to be done and did
not know who made 1t out. DR.. Clark at
once began an investigation, and will try
to ascertain who Is responsible. He said
yesterday that he would consult with City
Attorney Kern with reference to beginning
prosecution on his return from Chicago
where he is to-day engaged in the Scent
fare case.
OH the lace Oh the QeaLn return. Dr. clark
says. Mr.. Whitsett would be relieved of
culpabilIty, as there is no reason why
patient dying of heart failure should not be
shipped away.
After the patient died." said Dr. Clark.
DR. Allen came to see me. was out. Aft
erward called him up. and told him the
body must be buried within ten hours. When
he was here to-day. he recalled that con-
versation and said that until this matter
came up he supposed that the order had
been complied with, although he gave no
instructions concerning 1t. While the death
return that was given Mr. Whitsett shows
death resulted from heart failure, he knew
that there had been diphtheria- AS 8 result
of this case, we intend to take up all ship
ping permits that have been signed in blank
and turned over to Undertakers to be used
in cases of emergency"
Under the rule, when an undertaken uses
a blank shipping permit, he is required to
bring the physicians death return to the
boards Office so that the stub corresponding
to the blank shipping permit may be filed
in. Until this case, Dr. Clark saws that
there has never been any trouble with false
death returns.
DR.. Clark says that another recent case,
10 which reference has been made in this
unpleasant controversy, is not parallel In
were similar to diphtheria. 1t was quaran-
tined, although the physicians were inclined
to diagnose 1t as tonsilitis The child recoV-
cred. Subsequently it died from heart fail
ure, very common complication following
diphtheria- This was regarded as proving
there had been diphtheria, but, DIR. Clark
says, the child had recovered from diph-
liberia and there was no danger in
scented. In the Finn case, however, there
was no controversy but that the disease was
diphtherla. The death return delivered the
undertaken showed paralysis of the heart
had caused death. Who was responsible for
this false return Is what DR.. Clark is in
terested in discovering.