The times., 1899-02-10
THE CRABBB Case
TO Be INVESTIGATED
Health Officer Woodward Takes
the Necessary Steps.
Attending Physician Lawrence
Asked to Explain.
Christian Scientists May He Pros
ecnted for Failing to Comply
with the Law.

DT Nlllam I. WoodWaru,s ste&A1rRsA3Hlcer
of the District of ColnnBIas YESTERDAY took
steps which will lead to a thorough inves-
tigation into, the circumstances surround
ing the death last week of the two children
OF MIR. and Mrs. William G. Crabbe. of
Fourth Street northeast.
It,is alleged that the children were treat
ed by Christian Scientists, and that they
were under their influence until shortly be-
fore their death, when physician was
summoned. DIR. Woodward stated yester-
day that he had learned of the case through
the exclusive publication of details in The
Times yesterday morning. He Immediate
ly began an investigation.
Neglect of Duty.
An examination of the death certificates
received at the Health Office on Monday
showed that the children were attended
by DR.. Arthur J.. Lawrence, Of the Colum
bian University. The death certificates
were signed by Dir. Lawrence. and showed
that, while Lucille. the 6-year-old daugh-
ter, who was the first to die. had been i'll
for a period OF two weeks he was called
in Just half an hour before her death.
at 4:30 O'Clock last Saturday morning. 1t
appears that the little girl became violent
u i'll on Friday night and thai medical aid
was summoned at the last moment but too
late to be of avail. While the father in
formed a Times reporter that he was not
sure whether his daughter had died with
the grip or pneumonia. the certificate
signed by DIR. Lawrence states that Lucille
died of supposed diphtferia.
Charles W. Crabbe. years old. the son,
who expired the day following the de-
cease of his sister. was, according to the
death certificate, sick for eight days. The
cause of death was given as diphtheria.
These death certificates constitute the
only notice that the local Health Depart
ment had Of the existence of diphtheria in
the Crabbe family, except that culture
of diphtheria was sent from the home
with the certificates.
The Child Was Dying.
1t appears that when DR.. Lawrence was
called in he supposed that the little girl
was suffering with diphtheria, but as he
was summoned only half an hour previous
to her death, and as she exhibited some
symptoms of grip, he made out a death
certificate TO the effect that death resulted
from supposed diphtheria." The second
case was plainly stated in the certificate
as death of diphtheria. An examination
of the culture sent 10 the Health Office
showed that Lucille had died of the same
contagion.
Dr. Woodward regards the matter as a
serious cne. in view of the fact that the
law plainly requires every physician TO
report the discovery Of diphtheria within
at least twenty four hours. The Health
Department officials stated yesterday that
Dr. Lawrence had sent no such notice as
IS usually done on 4 special ''diphtheria
card
A letter was sent to DR.. Lawrence by
the health authorities yesterday, calling
upon him 30 give full explanation why no
.'diphtheria card was received from him,
and to state all he knows about the case
Many Physicians Interested.
This is the first step in the fnvestiga-
tion that viii be made by the Health Office.
Dr. Woodward is backed by the entire
medical profession in his stand that the
contagious disease and other health regu-
lations must not be violated. Numerous
other doctors are also in favor of a thor
ough investigation into the death of the
Crabbe children so that the truth OF the
matter may be ascertained. The allega-
tion is made that the spread Of diphtheria
on Capitol Hill is due primarily to the
fact that Christian Scientists in that neigh
borhood permit their children TO have no
other treatment.
To reporter for The Times yesterday.
DIR. Woodward said: The law provides
that Christian Scientists Who have caused
the death OF children Shall be prosecuted
for practicing medicine without license.
The District failed to convict one of these
practitioners last year, but, if we can get
evidence OF Christian Science having been
used this time. we shall again prosecute.
We have reason 10 believe that, il things
reach such a stage. We will be successful,
as the circumstances in the previous case
were very peculiar If it can be proved
! that people attended the children aud
! failed to notify the Health Department Of
1 the existence of diphtheria, such failure Is
/ criminal, and if proved, will prosecute
! If We can find that the family itself had
/ any suspicious as to the true character Of
! the trouble. they must also be considered
! as offending parties. for the law provides
/ that diphtheria placards must be tackled up
| at once. | am even Of the opinion that the
/ failure Of parents to call in physician
/ until the last moment, can be punished by
| law"
Tie Biphthcria Law.
In explaining the diphtheria law. Dr.
| Woodward said that the first section of the
| health regulations makes It the duty Of
every registered, practicing physician or
other person prescibing for the sick. to
INN dia ely report 10 the Heal h Officer af-
] ter becoming aware of the existence of
| either scarlet fever or diphthera Failure
! TO report within twenty-four hours Is pun
| ishable with fine of from s. to $50. The
! section covering this phase OF the question
concludes follows:
In case no physician shall be in charge
Of such patient the householder where such
( case occurred, or person in charge thereof
the parent. guardian, nurse. or other per
son in attendance upon the sick person
/ knowing the character of the disease shall
make the report above mentioned, and in
| case of failure to report shall suffer the
same penalties as provided for physicians
in this act
The regulations also provide that chill
dren shall not be permitted TO attend
school while suffering with scarlet fever
or diphtheria, and DR.. Woodward will
make an investigation into the charge
that the Crabbe children attended the
kindergarten at 40i East Capitol Street.
The regulations covering this feature OF
the case are as follows:
That no person shall attend any public
! or private school, or place of public assem-
: blage, or appear on the public streets or
4 in the parks while affected with scarlet
fever or diphtheria, and any adult person
parent or guardian OF minor convicted
| of having knowingly violated the provi-
siOns of this act shall, upon conviction
| forfeit and pay a sum not less than 81 nor
more than $50; and it shall be the duty OF
physicians while in attendance upon cases
of scarlet fever or diphtheria TO exercise
such reasonable precautions to prevent the
spread of the said diseases as may be pre-
scribed by the Health Officer of the Dis
trict Of Columbia in regulations
That no person who has convalesced