The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-30
HARLEM HOSPITAL BLAMED.
HEED REsPONsLBLE FOR YoUNG
MEHERS'S DEATH.

n Csrsner,s Jury Decides THAT II was Due -
the Fuiiuro OF n Surgeon 90 Extract the
Pistei wac which the Lad Hsa Firea Int
Ia Hand while CeiobrntinE ON Jelly 9.
Coroner Dobbs and n jury held an inquest
Yesterday In the caso Of 15-year-old Abraham
Meyers, who died on July 10 at his homo at 243
East l23d street Of lockjaw. Tho Coroner's
once was notified of the boys death by his
father, Max. a jewellcr, who charged ut tho
time that tho death Of his son was due 70 i'm
proper treatment at Harlem Hospital.
Tho boy, while celebrating with q revolver on
July 8, shot himself accidentally through tho
palm Of his left hand. He was taken to Harlem
Hospital, where the wound was dressed. A few
days later he was seized with commissions. His
father called in DR.. Cronson of 225 East 118th
street. He consulted with three other ply
sicians. They examined the palm Of tho hand
and extracted from IL . piece of tho pistol wad
about q third of an inch In diameter and an
eighth Of an inch thick. Lockjaw had already
developed, and tho boy died subsequently In
great agony.
The first witness called at the inquest was DR..
Cronson. who testified that he was called in to
attend young Meyers on July 15, and found him
suffering from lockjaw. He described tho OPP
Grafton which was performed on tho boys hand.
and said that q piece of wadding was extracted
from tho palm. The operation was performed
at tho boys homo ten days after his FIRST visit to
the hospital.
DR.. John A. Clark, ono Of the physicians at
Harlem Hospital, then took the stand. He 10 q
tall, thin young man about 25 years old, who
wears gold spectacles and has an ascetic look.
when did you graduate. Doctor = asked
Coroner Dobbs.
I'm March last" replied the witness.
did you treat Abraham Meyers whom he
called ut the hospitalf"
Yes, sir. 1 carefully washed tho wound out
and dressed It. / also inserted q probe In tho
palm to find anything that might DO inside"
did you find anythingf'
II did not"
And yet you used tho probor'
"Yes, SIR"
The witness then said that he sent tho boy to
tho dispensary attached to the hospital.
".How long in all did it tako you to dress the
wound r. the Coroner continued.
9 a5out ave minutes replied the witness.
Yes, sir. that is the custom"
pital unless l I'M able to pay we'll for treat.
mont, +" said Coroner Dobbs Indignantly. =.
clan. said no dressed the wound and washed II
Ibid you search for any foreign substance in
tho boys palm ." he was asked.
Coroners' Physician Weston testified that hs
was due to locktew caused by the wound.
"Do you think tho boy would be alive to-day Il
no received proper treatment at the hospital z
asked the Coroner.
Undoubtedly he would" replied DR.. Weston
Coroner Dobbs then charged tho jury. HI
said that tho case was clearly one OF crimina
neglect on tho part Of the hospital surgeons
who had not given proper treatment to the boy
whom he was under their caro-.
A I can say. gentlemen, for myself 10, Coz
save mo from ever going into a hospital wher,
there are doctors Of this kind. said tho Coronel
in conclusion.
One Of the young hospital doctors who has
testihod smiled at this remark. and Corone
Dobbs, who saw him. got indignant.
This 10 no laughing matter, young man." h
said, sternly.
The Jury returned q verdict that Abraham
Meyers "came to his death by tetanus follow
ing q pistol-shot wound accidentally self-in
fiicted by the wadding of . blank cartridge. ant
wo oensure the surgeon or surgeons at Harlem
Hospital for failing to discover said wadding II
probing tho wound and for failing to remov
the powder also contained in said wound"
Lawyer George R Simpson, who represents
the Meyers family. said that q civil suit woul
hA inntftutad a0ninat the hOaDftal.