Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-17

Last night there was the old story
Of a man probably fatally hurt, and no
one with authority to secure his adj
mission into a hospital for treatment.
We have county physicians, and a
city physician, and a number of hos
pitfalls, but there is a missing link in
the chain, and in an emergency, where
an unknown victim is wounded unto
death, there is no apparent recourse,
and no means of obtaining the imme-
diate aid necessary.
About half-past ten o'clock last
night yard engine No. So. of the B.
G O., struck an unknown man, about
Forty-seventh street. The victim was
walking the tracks and seeing train
approaching on one track stepped off
to the other, only to be struck in a
moment by the engine. The engine
crew saw the accident at once, and
stopping, the wounded man was gath
cred up from the track and brought
up to the station, at the foot Of Twen-
ty-frst street.
BY good fortune DR.. Roger, B. &
o. physician, was there, and he took
temporary charge of the case. A pre-
lininary examination showed that the
man had his right arm cut off just be-
low the shoulder, and that he had sus-
tanned many cuts and bruises about
the head and face. He was bleeding
profusely from the wounded arm and
from the wounds on his face, and was
as cold as a chunk of ice, with no
pulse, and only an occasional respira-
ton. Stimulants were administered,
and DR.. Campbell, one Of the resident
B. & o. surgeons, was sent for. On
his arrival it was quickly ascertained
that the patient was not B. & O.
employee, and then came the difficulty
of providing for him. He could not
tell his name, the B. & o. was not re-
sponsible for his treatment, the city
authorities could not take care of him,
there being no provision for such
cases, and there the victim laid for
two hours, liable to die at any mo-
ment, and no one attempted to extend
the aid needed.
DR.. Regor gave the necessary emer-
gency treatment, and when DR.. Camp
bell came he at once called up police
headquarters, and communicated with
| the City Health officer. The latter
| thought it was case for the County
Commissioners. President McGregor
could not be communicated with, and
| finally, about midnight, an Eighth
| ward officer was sent to awaken Com
missioner Fritz. Pending a report, the
residence of H. M. Russell, Esq, was
called up. Mr.. Russell was out of the
| city, but Mrs. Russell authorized ac-
ton, and about one o'clock this morn
| ing, three hours and half after the
| man mad been wounded, he was re-
| moved to the City Hospital, where the
necessary surgical aid was rendered.
His recovery is matter of grave
doubt. After midnight it was ascer-
| tanned that the wounded man boarded
near Forty-third street. He is either
Pole or Slav, but his name could
not be ascertained. He talked at inter-
walls while lying in the depot, but no
one could understand word he said.
He is about five feet ten inches high.
would weigh about $50 pounds, and
was apparently about forty-fv years
of age.
The case is one of those which IL
Illustrates the necessity for prompt
treatment of emergency cases. A cit
izen or a stranger may be dangerously
injured, and If no one recognizes him,
or no friends are about, he may lie for
hours, and probably die. The hospitals
of the city do not appear to fill the
bill in such cases, and the city and
county authorities are apparently
powerless to act. Physicians present
on the scene can do nothing, under
such circumstances, except to give en-
Urgency treatment, and so life may
be lost, or much suffering entailed. 1t
is high time the city or county author
itieS-Or bOth-tOOk some action