The San Francisco call., 1899-06-21
SURGEON WARE
VICTIM Of AN
HALLUC|NAT|ON
His Malady the Result
of Using a Drug.
1T MAY AFFECT NEALL CASE
COL. FARWooD SAYS THE SUR
GEON WAS COMPETENT.
Captain Neall's Friends Think Differ
emily and Declare DR.. Ware
Should Not Have Been
on the Court.
1T MAY AFFECT NEALL CASE
COL. FARWOOD SAYS THE SUR
GEON WAS COMPETENT.

The case of Captain Isaac p. Ware, as
sistant surgeon. United States army, is
causing much sympathetic comment in
army circles. DR.. Ware is highly spoken
of as a surgeon of superior ability, whose
record for industry and investigation is
excellent. When the Government began
to make active preparations for the Span
ish war the work of army doctors was
greatly increased. At that time DR.. Ware
was suffering intensely from physical
ailment and in order to obtain relief from
pain to enable him to perform the many
duties assigned to him he resorted to mar
cotics. 1t is said that his case would not
have reached a dangerous condition if he
had sought the advice of another physi-
clan instead of prescribing for himself.
Army officers do not care to discuss the
health of Dr. Ware, but the admission Is
made that he manifests signs of physical
and mental breakdown. Major Robert J..
Gibson. surgeon; Captain Edward EYertS.
assistant surgeon, and Captain Thomas L.
Raymond. assistant surgeon. were ap-
pointed as a board of officers to inquire
concerning the mental and physical health
of DR.. Ware. When officer is thought
to be disabled physically the judgment OF
one doctor is regarded as sufficient to
disability. When indications point to
trouble in the mind the opinion of three
physicians is required. A prominent
officer remarked yesterday:
L
no doubt that he could to-day pass an
examination readily and answer all ques-
tons without faltering; but he has suf-
fered intensely, and as the result of ap-
plying narcotics to gain relief has gone
too far.
DR.. Ware is a native of Maine and was
appointed to the army from that State in
1892. He was ordered to the Presidio
about a year ago from Los Angeles,
whittier he had gone -on sick leave from
the Department of California. When he
came here his unfortunate failing was
known. and his brother officers kept a
close watch over him and did everything
in their power to prevent his using the
drug to which he was addicted. When
under it's influence his hallucination was
as sad as 1t was humiliating On all other
subjects DR.. Ware was apparently per-
fectly rational. He .endeared himself to
all with whom he came in contact. Some
poX was quarantined on the Reservation,
Dr. Ware was the surgeon put in charge
of the case.
When the quarantine was declared off
and he was relieved and returned to the
post one of his superiors was shocked to
discover that the young surgeons S mental
condition was such that 1t was evident he
had been freely using the narcotic during
the quarantine. The facts were reported.
and Colonel Farwood, the chief surgeon
of the department. ordered the necessary
board to examine DR.. Ware. This the
board did on Monday, and while its re-
port has not been made public, there is
hardly any doubt but that DR.. Ware will
be ordered before a Retiring Board, al
though it is possible the board may rec
ommend that he be sent to some place for
treatment.
There is one fact in connection with the
unfortunate case that is of material in
terest DR. Ware was member of the
court-martial that tried Captain Neal
During the trial there was much Joking at
DR.. Wares expense because he was un-
able to keep awake. 1t has been rumored
that at the time of the trial Dr. Ware
was freely using some drug, and that he
was in no mental condition to administer
justice.
Colonel Farwood declares that DR..
Ware was mentally fit at that time to sit
upon the court, while Captain Neall S
friends firmly assert that he was not 1t
is fact that DIR. Ware fell asleep during
many sttings of the court.
Officers who are posted on military law
say that Captain Neall can not have a
new trial. but it is not denied that the
very fact of DR.. Wares being mentally
afflicted and that he was a member Of the
court that convicted Captain Neall may
have great effect with the President. in
whose hands the fate of the cavalry Off
Ger now rests. At present DIR. are is
confined to his Quarters