The Washington times., 1901-08-24
CUSTOMERS DRIVEN AWAY.
A GrOcer's Business Injured by q
Diphtheria Card.
Sign Alleged to Have Been Put Up
az Result of Professional Jeni-
ousy-Cbnrged That Child's Ill
ness Was Not Correctly Diagnosed.

ness was NOt correctly Dt0EnOscu
\ most remarkable case of alleged pro-
| fessional Jealousy. to which the Health
Department is alleged TO have been made
a party, and which has resulted in the ex-
termination of a prosperous business,
was brought to light yesterday even
ing when Attorneys solomon and Darr
were authorized to enter suit for alleged
malpractice against Drs. Charles X
KooBes, of Coo NJ Street northwest, and
Frederick X. Sohon, of SO Street north
west The complainant in the case Is
Max Lazerow. who keeps a grocery store
at 1886 B Street northeast.
1t is asserted that the physicians told
Mr.. Lazerow that his little child was sui
ferfng from diphtheria. and held out GER
tain inducements if they were given the
case Mr.. Lazerow consulted other physi-
Clans who assured him thai it not
a case of diphtheria. but one Of hcular ul-
cera.or tonsilitis. When the two physi-
clans against whom suit is to be entered
heard that other doctors had been called
in, 1t aroused their ire, and they are
stated to have reported to the Health
Office that case of diphtheria existed at
the house of Max Lazerow. Without even
securing a culture, as Is the custom In
such cases. an inspector from the depart
ment was sent to the house and the sign
was placed upon the door announcing the
presence of contagion within.
This card, it is asserted, has practically
ruined Lazerows business. which has
fallen OFF from about SIS day to practi-
cally nothing. as but few people dare
face the danger conveyed in the sign
Although no culture has been made by
4 a lxrU r
or Sohon the card still remains upon the
door despite the fact that culture
made by DIR. Grafton d. p. Bailey has
definitely shown that there are positively
no symptoms of diphtheria.
DIR. Bailey has attended Mr.. J-azerow's
family on previous occasions, and last
Friday a week ago, when one of the chill
dren showed signs of illness the father
took 1t to DIR. Bailey's office. at 223 Fourth
Street northwest. The doctor was not in.
and as the child was very fretful and the
father feared that something serious was
the matter, he hurried to the Office of DR..
koones. After examining the child DR..
koones is said to have told the anxious
parent that while ne was not positive he
believed that it was case of diphtheria.
Mr.. Lazerow did not believe that the
child had the disease and on his way
l.. Frederick, 329 East Capitol Street and
after an examination of the child Dr.
Frederick stated that there were posi-
lively no evidences of the disease.
Saturday DR.. koones called at the Laze-
row home and stated that he was going
out of the city. but that in his absence
DR.. Sohon would care for the case for
him. The next day DIR. Sohon called and
announced that the child was developing
a well defined case of the disease
The same day Sunday Mr.. Lazerow
sent for DR.. Bailey, and without telling
him anything OF the case asked what was
he wi tha
full examination of the child DR.. Bailey
stated that ii was a form of tonsilitis.
He was then told of the diagnosis made
by the other physicians. He seemed ex-
ceedingly surprised and at once prepared
to take a culture Of the throat.
In the ,ieantime DIR. Koones is said to
have returned to the city. and hearing
that other physicians had been called in
on the case he and DR.. Sohon said to
have reported to the Health Officer that
diphtheria existed at 1876 Street north
east. Under the general practice of the
department such reports are accompanied
by the material for a culture. but in the
present instance. il Is alleged, this for
mality was dispensed with. and within
few hours card had been tackled upon
the front of Mr.. Lazerow's house an
nounctng the presence of the disease
within.
When DR. Bailey called at the house
Monday TO announce that the culture he
had made showed positively that 1t was
not case of diphtheria. he found the
card staring him in the face. He found
that the slight fever with which the child
had been suffering the previous day had
subsidized. and that il was running about
the house and playing with the other
children. apparently in the best of health.
Dr. Sohon had told the parents when he
saw the children thus playing together
that all of them would soon be down with
the disease
That evening DR.. Bailey returned to the
house, accompanied by Dr. William n.
Whitson. of i29 Sixth Street northwest.
and took another culture which verified
the former one. as did also the diagnosis
of DR.. Whitson. Although the Health
Office is said to have been advised of the
result of DIR. Bailey's experiments. and
they have failed to investigate
for themselves. the card still remains upon
the door of the house. acting red flag
to drive away customers. and the man
who a short time ago vas possessed of
comfortable income and a prosperous
business is now threatened with bank
ruptcy. Ii is upon this loss that the suit
will be based. and papers will probably be
served within a few days. The Health
Officer, who placed the sign upon the
house was asked to examine the child.
raf IN