The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-22
MEDICO-L SOCIETY,
Quarterly Meeting Held at Office of
DR.. w. H. Palmer.
The Latter Read a Paper on "The Inter-
probation of the Law"

i luo ounce OF LII. william H.falmer WAS
occupied by physicians yesterday after
noon. 1t was the quarterly meeting OF
the Rhode Island Medico-Legsl Society
and the president, II. Goodwin MacKaye
occupied the chair. After the election of
new mem bers DIR. Palmer read u paper
entitled Interpretation of the Law"
He began by stating that the office of
Medical Examiner was esta blishsd l3
years ago. 1t was created In order that
all deaths from presupposed violence may
be looked into thoroughly and with dis
cretion, On autopsy and other duties the
law is am mbiguous, therefore much Is left
to the medical examiners Interpretation.
He then went on to state how far the
examiner can 60. sour duty" said he
is to find out whether or not this body
came to its death by the act or neglect of
another. 1t IL not question of whether
1T was q crime or not, for that would pre-
suppose knowledge of criminal law. A
notice means knowledge. whether read In
the newspapers or heard on the streets.
Found or lying dead are the words in
the law, and 1 believe there is q distinc-
tion. Those lying dead are those dead in
the presence Of Others. in hospitals, homes
or intimsries. Those found dead should
not be removed from the spot.
"The word suppose almost amounts to
belief, mot suspicion. Death by violence
implies human agency. The medical ex-
aminer has the BODY In charge and il is
in his power to remove It or to do any
thing that will aid in the proper conduc-
tion Of the autopsy. There has always
been a sacredness about the dead and
touching the corpse is IHlmost considered
PROCLAMATION. Medical examiners should
be slow to move the body. IL death
occurred in a railroad accident or in q
factory, the witnesses testimony should
be taken.
SAN autopsy should be completes; every
organ, every part of the body should be
examined. II the medical examiner can
not ind that death was caused by the act
and neglect of "a person other than the
deceased, he should stop right there.
There are too many autopsies-more than
the Lawmakers Intended, especially In
large cities. If we have reached the
opinion that death was caused by act or
neglect, we should notify the ..Attorney
General, and he will know what to do. 1t
is unfortunate for our law that we have
such an institution as the coroner, who
bases bis act entirely upon our state
ments. Suppose the coroner is not q
lawyer, W hat more doss he know OF GRIM
inal law than We 90? Whether the act
or neglect is criminal, the Kitornsy
General has to decide.
On section "A DR.. Palmer had something
to say. II the non '. is that of stranger
whose home is not in the State it must
be buried at public expense.
''When abroad last year in France"
DR.. Palmer said, 81 found a better eys-
tenn than we have here. The public
officer goes to the spot; he has charge OF
detectives and has great power. He de-
cides whether a crime has been commit |
ted or not. The medical examiner also |
nas great powers" DIR. Palmer believed |
that 1t was not so good system in this |
State, where the medical expert is first |
summoned. There is need, therefore, |
for a coroner to investigate the legal side |
of the case. lie thought If the State law
was followed as the Legislature meant il |
should be, there was none better than the |
law OF our country.
A general discussion followed. DIR. |
Swarts, the chairman of the commi ittee
appointed to propose to the Legislature
at its next session a change in the present
law, offered a substitution. He stated
that the object Of the amendment
wouid be to see that in case Of every
death a certificate might be returned
aligned. and the medical examiner receive
DIR. Palmer served a very enjoyable
luncheon at Westminster hotel sitter the
meeting had adjourned.
The new members admitted to the
society are: Nelson Read Hall, Warren;
Charles w. Stewart, Newport; Harold
Metcalf, Wexford, Elisha T.. Clark, Hope
Valley. Associate mem embers-Francis q.
Peckbam Newport: Alex H. Briups |