The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-19
DOCTORS QUARREL.
Salvation Army Wants to Re-
move Infected Patient
and Is Refused
Permission.


chickenpox' developed at the Salvation
Army hospital today. A man who has
been boarding at the hospital for the
past two months was taken sick with
the disease, and DR.. Hammond, ply
stefan in charge of the hospital, went
to Mayor Drew and asked permission to
remove him to the detention hospital
on East Fourth street.
Mayor Drew refused permission abso-
lutely on the ground that the detention
hospital was not a pest house and was
intended simply for the homeless sick
He said he would not consent to any
patient being moved there from any
institution or dwelling house.
DR.. Hammond then suggested that the
man would be turned out of the hos
pitaL Mayor Drew promptly replied
that he would see that he, DR.. Ham
mond, was arrested and prosecuted If
such action was taken.
DR. Hammond then asked a confer
ence with Mayor Drew, stating that he
would like several physicians to be
present. The conference was held in
the mayors office at 100 o'clock this
afternoon, and DR.. Hammond was ac-
companied by Doctors Sheldon and
Mitchell and Judge Reed. City Ply
sician Peers was present.
Mayor Drew stated that on two oc-
casions the Salvation Army hospital
had taken smallpox or Cuban chicken
pox" patients to care for, and that the
management of the institution had now
the same facilities for caring for such
cases as they had in the past. He re-
peated that the detention hospital was
by no means pest house and said he
believed that if the Salvation Army
hospital patient were moved there this
afternoon the people of the Second ward
would either burn or tear down the
building tonight.
And I wouldn't blame them either"
remarked Mr.. Drew.
Mox
if the city had a pest house he would
consent to the removal of the patient,
but as no such institution existed at the
present time he would have to insist
that the man be cared for at the hos
pital.
DR.. Hammond took occasion to an
nounce that he believed the refusal to
be malicious, and for the purpose of
suppressing the hospital if possible
Mayor Drew countered by saying that
he understood DR.. Hammond's motive,
as he had no doubt that he was at
tempting to make a case for the main
tenance Of the hospital at its present
location.
DR.. Sheldon and Dr. Mitchell said
they believed it would be only right to
the institution to remove the man to
the detention hospital.
IF a case of the disease should de-
Velop at my hospital" said DR. Sheldon,
Il would do just as was done a few
days ago at Christ hospital. I would
fire the patient out so quick he or she
would not know what had happened.
That was what was done with the wo-
man who was taken sick with the dis
ease at Christ hospital"
Yes. and it was a dirty trick to
throw that woman out of the hospital"
said City Physician Peers. She was
within few days of being confined, and
she was not welcome at the house
where she was taken"
DR.. Mitchell here took a hand in the
discussion. He said he was responsible
for moving the woman and that he took
her to the house where she said she had
been staying. He further stated that
he was not aware she was not welcome
there.
Then the woman lied said DR.
Peers. She told me that she told you
the woman you took her to did NOT
want her"
After considerable incidental discus
sion, the original question, that of re-
moving the man from the Salvation
Army hospital to the detention hospital
was again taken up. Mayor Drew rel
terated his determination not to allow
the removal because of the reasons pre-
viously stated
The man will be Quarantined in q
room at the hospital until such time as
a place for him is secured.
DR.. Hammond said this afternoon: 81
am simply doing the best I can. I am
trying to find a place for this patient
He is not badly broken out. The law
! provides that the city authorities shall
provide places for patients of this kind
and yet can get no assistance from the
city. 1t is notable that the disease has
not in any instance been communicated
to any one in our hospital or in our
block. l have many ordinary patients
of various ailments and I wish to keep
| them isolated from any one who has
the prevailing Epidemic