The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16
The Grand Jury Will Hear
His Version of Hospi-
tai Treatment.
DR.. Du Puy Says Any Physician
of Skill Should Have Found
the Fracture.
How the Wife of the Patient Was Led
to Sign a Statement to Screen
the Hospital Doctors.


he was roughly treated and roundIy
abused at the City and County Hospital
on the 7th inst, will bring his case to the
attention of tie Grand Jury.
La Berge's statements in some respects
are contradicted by the hospital authors
ties, but the evidence is inclusive that
some one at the hospital bIundered
DR.. Du Puy of the Richmond district,
who attended the patient alter the latter
was removed from the hospital, was in ter
viewed yesterday. The doctor said:
when the patient was brought to me l
saw on examination that two of his ribs
were broken. He was band aged loosely,
and | sought to put a plaster jacket on
him, but he was so prostrated by weak.
ness and pain that he could not stand
erect. So made him as easy as posi- BILE
with the bandages, and after he had had a
nights rest / put on the plaster jacket
The patient was suffering intensely with
every breath he drew"
In reply to questions DR.. Du Puy said: {:
"Any physician of ordinary skill should
have discovered the fracture"
La Berge, who was present when the
interview took place, admitted that he
did kick and make a noise at the hospital,
but it was because he was suffering great
pain and could get no one TO attend to his
case. II. Giannini, lnterne. said to him !:
IF you don't stop your noise l will throw
you out. You are here on charity any
how and probably robbing some poor
doctor on the outside"
Continuing his statement La Berge
said: II resented the charge that l was
there on charity and re minded the inferno
that the hospital was supported by tax
payers"
In Yesterdays CALI there was published
statement over the signature OF Mrs. O..
H. La Berge. I is statement sets forth
that she removed her husband against the
wishes and advice of the medical anu sur
gical staff of hos pital physicians, and did
so of her own free will and accord. La
Berge makes the following explanation of
the manner in which the signature to this
statement was procured:
ii was on my feet ready to leave the
hos pital with my wife. She was detained
to be told that she must sign q paper to
get out of the gate. Sne began to read the
document and l protested against the de-
lay, suffering great pain at the time.
One of the attendants said to her: Never
mind about reading it; sign it, And she
signed.
"Why the statement made by the hos.
pital authorities i'll to-day's CALL that the
only injury | had received was sight
CONFUSION OH Tue TlSuI Slue lS u 'uI
The fact is / was not bruised at all on the
right side. The broken ribs are on the
left side. l did not know that l was
examined by DR.. Philip Thomas until
read DR.. Giannini's version of the exam
ination in to-day's CALL.
81 snail not let the matter rest here, but
will take the case to the Grand Jury.
know how / was treated at the City and
County Hospital and l am told that un-
fortunate fellows who are taken to the
City Receiving Hospital also get dose OF
brutality. Here is letter which I re-
ceived to-day:
SAN FRANCISCO, May IA, 1897.
C. Fl. La Berge, 81 Fifth apenue-DEAR SIR:
saw nouce n this mornings CALL OF your
unfortunate fall and partial ex pose of the in
human and unkind treatment and actual
abuse from the men who pretend to treat and
care for the unfortunate who are taken to our
Receiving Hospital, and am glad you feel de-
termined to expose In a measure at least those
inhuman wretches.
l am speaking from a knowledge and ex.
have recently been there, and while would
comfort and console you in your af1iiction, if
could, yet my special object in writing you al
this time is to let you know that if you want
any other incidents of ill-treatment, more
evidence of their impudent and inhuman
condu ct in your efforts to expose them, you
can get it fresh, Tree and without fear or favor
by calling on writing to the undersigned.
/ work at the carpenter business, and have
been in this City nearly fifteen years. On
Saturday, May 1, l was putting up little
porch over door for one of my customers,
and when turning from the porch to a ladder
it gave way and let me fall some eleven fee t,
striking square on my back. Well, as could
not get up or walk, the ambulance was called,
and wanted them to take me home, but no,
l must be taken to the Receiving Hospital and
be examined. l did not know then that il was
q slaughter-house or a robbers den, and
consented, and to the hospital they took me.
10 benefit
to know further par rticulars will gladly give
them, If by SO doing we can better inform the
people who pay freely 10 sustain the hospital,
what they may expect If any of them are ever
so unfortunate as to have to be taken there.
am now some what better and able to walk
around little. With best wishes for your re.
covery, am, respectfully yours,
M. CoMsToCK, 1858 Market st.