The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-15
.EGAN NOW HAS
HIS INNING
Prosecution Closes in Fort Doug
las Court-martial.
MAJOR M0SELY ON STAND
CHIEF SURGEON TESTIFIES
AGAINST POST DOCTOR.
MAJOR MoSELY ON STAND

Evidence against Major Egan in the
ccUrtmartial in progress at Fort Doug
las was completed yesterday. The first
witness to be called in behalf of the
accused surgeon was then heard in an
effort to refute the charges of neglect
and inattention to sick soldiers related
concerning him. From now on to the
termination of the inquiry it VIII be
Major Egan's turn. Efforts win be
made to purge him Of the charge and it
is generally believed that the proceed
ings will drag along until Wednesday.
Major Edward B. MOseley. chief sur
geOn of the department of the Colo
RADIO. with headquarters at Denver,
was the first witness heard yesterday
and the last to be called by the judge
advocate in behalf of the prosecution.
The major told of being sent to Fort
douglas last month TO Investigate the
conditions complained of by Major
Young and his subordinate officers He
did not spare the post surgeons feel
ings in the slightest in detailing his
experiences In qualifying to testify
as an expert it developed that Major
MOseley has been an ARM. surgeon
twenty-seven years and has recently
returned from the Philippines, where
he has been in charge of hospitals.
What Doebic Itch Is.
The major first defined "doebic Itch
of which so much has been heard dur
ing the proceedings, as almost any
thing in the way of a skin disease"
This assertion was borne out by 9TH
ers and the information came out that
the term is OF Hindu origin and means
literally in the tongue of far-off India,
IAN ailment contracted through con-
tact with the clothes of another-Wash-
erman's disease"
The major declared that he had ex-
amined a number of soldiers, both in
the hospital and outside, and described
the ailments from which they suffered.
He affirmed that itch victims suffering
severe attacks should be put to bed
and dieted in order to effect a cure;
that they should not be required TO
do duty; that q man in the condition OF
Private Crawford Holland, a witness
heard Friday, should be in bed rather
than compelled to perform duty; that
the operation he underwent was not
the proper thing and that it was the
duty of a surgeon under the circum-
duty, take him into the hospital, give
him local treatment and perform the
desired operation in such d way as to
get him into condition to do his full
duty.
Witness Grows Caustic.
Under cross-examination the major
grew rather caustic. The defense pre-
scented a question implying that his
experience with "doebic itch" was gen
eral rather than specific, becaUFe he
had been associated with the manage
ment of large hospitals instead Of
practicing.
ooh, don't know as my observation
has been particularly superficial, -. re-
torted the medical officer.
The witness volunteered the explana-
ton that Egan was not accused of
maltreating patients after they had
succeeded in gaining admission to the
hospital, hence he had paid little at
tentiOn to those inside that institution
while conducting his investigation.
Men who had been denied admission
several times were found by him in a
condition that he maintained justified
admitting them.
May not the diagnosis made by
Major Egan in these cases have been
correct from his medical standpoint"
the witness was asked.
4 don't know what his diagnosis
was, as 1 have not seen his books
don't know what his medical stand
point is, either In my opinion he, as
a surgeo with the rank of major in
the regular army, should have an un-
usually high standard that would af
ford the best possible treatment to
patients"
Did Not Report Egan,
Did YOU have cause to report that
the mode of medical treatment adopted
by Major Egan was not correct"
Il made no report of his mode of
treatment. I did report on the sub
ject of his not treating patients at all"
Frequent clearing Of the court, due
to arguments in executive session, took
up so much time that only one other
witness was heard.
DR.. James H. Hepburn, contract
doctor stationed at the post who de-
scribed skin diseases as his speciality
and qualified as an expert by detailing
several years of army service at home
and in the Philippines, appeared as
Major Egans first witness. The tenor
of his statement was to justify sending
itch patients TO perform duty. In sup
port OF TINS ne cited men IN the same
condition who had been kept on duty
in the Philippines.
Men performed duty there while
badly wounded, too, didn't tbey2" de-
manded Judge Advocate Skerrctt.
Yes"
That was a necessity Of the silva
ton. wasn't it?"
Not necessarily"
Protests Over Question.
You treated these same kind OF
cases in your practice as a civilian. In
civilian practice when patients body
was covered with open sores and
eruptiOns. and he complained of bodily
pain, did you suggest him to go about
his daily work with the sores sticking
to his clothing and nothing but an Oc-
casiOnal wash to relieve him?"
This brought protests and objections
from Captain Cronkhite, counsel for
the accused. After argument, the wit
ness was ordered to answer.
Fer open sores 1 would apply a pro-
tective dressing. Some can stand more
than others and will do duty while
suffering considerable pain. Others give
up to the slightest injury"
At this point adjournment was taken
up to 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
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