Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-27
INQUIRY MEETING.
Charges Against Ear and Eve
lnfrmary at Portland,
Investigated at Special Meeting Called
by the Trustees, tuesday.
A Number Of Witnesses Examined and BritI
Exccutiv, Session Held.

Portland, Me. Feb. 2G.-The special
meeting called by the trustees of the
Maine Ear and Eye Intirmary to in
quire into the alleged irregularities in
the institution was opened at = o'clock
this afternoon. Only one witness was
present at that time, Mrs. Margaret
Riley of Portland. She said that some
time ago she went to the Infirmary
with her 3-year-old daughter. to have
IAN operation performed on the child's
leyeS. Just as the surgeon was about
TO perform the operation. he asked
witness if she was prepared to pay for
the treatment. The sum he named
seemed too large and she decided she
icould not afford it and took the child
Iaway. She said she was very much
hurt by the surgeons manner when he
addressed her. The surgeon she said.
was Dr. q. r. Smith.
DR.. Smith was not present and re
cess was taken while he was being
called.
After recess DR. Smith appeared and
said he might have spoken rather
sharply to Mrs. Riley but it was his
Ipractice always to treat ladies III Il
lgentlemanly way. He said il was the
rule of the Institution to charge Il dol
lar for ether in connection with opera
lions as Well as I dollar Per day for
board.
Or. Smith was corroborated by other
physicians connected with the intirm-
larry.
The next complainant was a lady
who said she had visited two promi-
lnent eye and ear doctors to ascertain
IhoW She could procure free treatment
lat the intirmary as she was not able
to pay for the Same. She claimed that
in each instance instead Of being given
1.-THE desired information the physicians
Ileated her privately and then cXactel
payment. She now appeared before tht.
trustees Of the institution TO inuuir" Of
them how she could enter the Iniirm-
airy as a non paying patient to b.
treated for rapidly failing eyesight.
| The woman's story was 50 pathetic
that all present were visibly affected
and steps were ut one" taken to have
Iher admitted without expense.
| At this point there was q disposition
| to adjourn the session, but col Dow
be gone into. This case is that Of a
| 4 year-old boy Steadman Peterson who
was at the infirmary for an operation
and who was. it has been alleged,
cruelty treated By the doctor who had
| him in charge. 1t has been stated that
Il he cried during the operation and made
so much trouble for the doctor VINO
was working over him that spanking
4 Il;
uuiet. This gentle reminder failing of
its intended purpose the doctor put
strip of adhesive plaster over ms
mouth to stop the noise. The doctor
who had this case in charge has since
resigned from the staff of the lniirhary
land has secured government position.
In addition to these charges II was al
LEGGED by the members OF the peterson
family that Steadman was not given
a bath for the entire seven weeks ne
was at the infrmary and that ne was
covered with vermin.
Miss Mary T. Bartlett, the nurse VINO
had charge of the floor at the time the
Peterson boy was undergoing MS
troubles, was stated to be Ill IN beo
with the grip, but she furnished let
ter which was read. In this letter lhe
writer denied knowledge OF the alleged
spanking. said that the story OF the
application of a plaster to the boy
mouth had been exaggerated, stateu
that the child was bathed twice week
and asserted that she saw no yer
on the boy. Appended to TINS ie''e'
were others from four other nurses
who said that they all gave the poS
one or more baths during the seven
weeks he was at the hospital.
Mr.. James Hawkes.. one of the tru9
tees who has investigated the mater
on behalf of the infirmary. was asheu
to give statement of what ne k'ie"
about the case but he declined TO oo
so saving that it would all come GU, d.
Augusta and he did not care TO tei, !.
so many times There being no furthe1
business the hearing adjourned III ''-o
after which brief executive seS7io''