The Washington times., 1901-07-30
MEDICAL AID FOR FIRBMEN
Duties of the Board of Police and
Fire Surgeons Made Clear.
Chief Dutton Gives His Views Upon
What Pertains to the 0Gice-He
Recommends That the Regulations
of the Department BE Upheld.

The Commissioners recently received a
complaint from c. r. Kuhns. assistant
foreman of Engine Company No 4, Of the
District Fire Department. Mr.. kuhns
reported that Watchman Willig, of No.
Company, was taken sick and removed
TO his home. 1t was further reported
that the sick fireman's wife called at the
enginehouse and asked for medical assist
ance for her husband. From the engine
house ii was reported that DR.. Vale was
called, but could not be reached over the
telephone DR.. Burch was also called,
but was out of the city. DR.. Mayfield
was then called, but refused to attend the
sick man because it was outside of his
district.
The matter was first referred to the
Board of Fire and Police Surgeons, who
reported, through DR.. Clifton Mayfield,
that the Board of Surgeons understands
its duty to be primarily to protect the
department against fraud. and incident
ally to attend sick firemen. He stated
that he did not regard the case of Watch
man Willig as one of emergency, and
therefore declined to go out of his police
district. After saying that the pay of
the police and fire surgeons was not suf-
ficient to warrant them in giving the
duties prominence over their private
practice DR. Mayfeld stated that Watch
man Willig's illness was caused by in
dulgence in eatables,'' and that, to his
mind, was just as reprehensible as indui-
gence in alcoholics, which always meets
with the disapprobation of the Commits
sioners.
Chief Engineer Dutton, in forwarding
the papers TO the Commissioners. stated
that Waterman Willig was thus left
fCsa IRON he
Police and Fire Department surgeons,
and that his family was forced 10 call in
an outside physician to attend him. He
stated that the laxity of the official ply
sicians in the matter would form the
subject OF supplemental report to the
Commissioners.
This report was submitted yesterday
afternoon and Chief Dutton stated that
II was impossible for the department to
take the same view of the case as the
Board of Surgeons. Referring to the
regulations relative TO the matter, Mr..
Dutton said:
Paragraph 1S7 of the Police Manual,
provides that, 1t shall be the duty of
the surgeons to render medical and sur
gicals aid when needed to all members
of the police force and paragraph 1SS
provides that when member of the
force feels unable In consequence OF SICK
ness, OF is incapacitated by injury, to do
duty, he shall, without delay, report to
or send for the surgeon OF the district
In which he resides. who shall render the
needed assistance Section 1 of Article
XIII of the rules and regulations gov
erning the Fire Department, reads as fol-
lows: 1t shall be the duty of the surgeons
of the department to render medical and
surgical care and aid 10 all members of
th-separtment in need of such care and
aid Section of the same article pro-
vides that when a member of tie depart
ment feels unable in consequence of ill
ness or because of injury, to do duty,
he shall without delay. report to or send
for the surgeon OF the district to which
he is assigned, who shall render the nee
essary assistance
''rhe rules quoted were duly approved
by the Commissioners and so far as this
department is informed have never been
repealed or amended. If this be so this
department cannot agree with the Board
of Police and Fire Surgeons, as stated
by DR.. Mayfield. that its duty is primarily