New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-30
BURNED in A HOSPITAL.
AN ALCOHOL EXPLOSION INJURIES A
DOCTOR AND A DRUGGIST
ACCIDENT IN THE LABORATORY OF THE woMAN's
HOSPITAL. IN LEXINGTON -Avr.-DorpTS

ACCIDENT IN THE LABORATORY OF THE woMANs
HOSPITAL IN LEXINGTON -Avr.-DorDTs
OF THE PHYSICIANS RECOVERY.
DR.. Leo Ross, twenty four years old. senior as
sistant house surgeon in the woman's Hospital
Lexington-ave. and Forty ninth and Fifteth SITS.
and August s. Wolf. thirty years old. druggist
for the same institution. were badly burned yes
terday afternoon in the chemical laboratory OF
the hospital by the explosion Of quantity OF al
coho which they using. Wolfs injuries.
which were confined TO the superficial burning OF
the hands. face and neck. are extremely painful
but are not likely to prove fatal Or. Ross was
terribly burned about the upper part OF the body.
however. and his friends In the hospital fear that
he may not recover. In the excitement which fol-
lowed the accident. the patients in the institution
were not aware of the trouble. and there was no
panic or disturbance among them. The place In
which the accident happened Is in an isolated
one-story structure on the hospital grounds and
Is used solely for the drugshop and It's labora-
tory II is at a considerable distance from either
Of the large structures which make up the hos
pital proper.
When the accident occurred Dr. Ross and Mr..
Wolf sterilzing catgut for which alcohol
and boiling water used. In some way the
fumes Of the alcohol gnted and an explosion
followed.
There was n sudden burst OF fame which
ncd the room in moment and suddenly
went out again This set fire to the clc thing ~
both Or Ross and Mr.. Wolf. who stood close
20 the table where both were working. DR.. Ross
the nearer Of the two. and he received the
full force of the explosion in the upper part OF
the body and face. WOLF was at such dis
tance that he got only part of the exploding
fluid
The clothing Of both men afre In an
instant Without waiting to get relief In the
room where he was wo.'ing for several other
employees Ct the hospital were in the same build
ing DR. Ross opened the door and ran out INTO
the yard His clothing was blazing hercely, ana
he ,Ia he'd across the Ia to he operating room
nf the hospital a distance of nifty feet. anu leap
ing up the steps burst into the room where an
operation was in progress. IN Inc presence Vi
two surgeons and several nurses.
For a moment the surgeons were unnerVeu AT
the sight OF their companion with his co'nil's
on fire. but in twinkling the unfortunate I'la.n '
was drenched with water and was coVeIeu WI"
wrapping which speedily smothered the names
As soon MS Wolf saw that he was In danger OF
being burned TO death he shouted for he,p anu
threw himself the floor of the room Assist,
anco was close at hand, and the fire, whlch hao
badly blistered his hands face and neck. YVES
quickly extngushed. His injuries are no, cor
sidered serious. but II VIII be some lIiHe oeloc
he will have recovered from the effects OF MS eA-
perieccc ,,
Dr Poss was burned in a horrible manner
about his chest back and head. He was uncon-
scious when removed To room in the hospital
where his wounds were dressed. 1t was said az
,ha hosrital last night that while nobody was
able 10 predict Or. Ross recovery, there was
some hope for him. it is believed that ne did
not swallow any Of the flame.
Dr Ross is the son Of a rich San Domingo
planter. his father being an American; VINO mar
ried San Domingo woman The doctor Is
graduate Of the College OF physicians ana ou.-
saans tbis citv He has been In the Woman 8
Uospital about n year. and before that tinne hau
some hoarita experience
No oxrlanation Of the ca Use OF the explosion
- H. alcohol could be given by the hospital Of
Gcers hui il was reported outside or the hospital
,va,,s that the alcohol made use of In the process
| Of sterilization was OF higher PROOF lnah shou'u
| have been used.