The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-06-20
WILLIAM H. BARTON, M. D.
Who Faced Death Like Hero from
Blood Poisoning Contracted on Duty.


Blood Poisoning Contracted on Duty.
DR.. William H. Barton, Assistant
Physician and Pathologist at the
New Jersey State Hospital at Morris
Plains, died Tuesday evening last
Of blood poisoning. The infection
was received while performing an
autopsy on the bodies of Lewis
Cohen and Stephen Musack, the two
peddlers who were found dead at
Hibernia, June End. In short time
after the autopsy, the Doctor MOTTO
ed small red speck on the ulnar sur
face of his wrist and knowing the
possible consequence and danger in
such matters, he Immediately placed
himself under the care and treatment
of DR.. H. A. Cossit, fellow assist
ant at the State Hospital; but it is
now known that nothing but amputa-
ton of the arm within twenty four
hours after the autopsy was perform
ed could have saved his life if indeed
that could. Infection was received
through hair folicle. not by cut
AS soon as swelling developed the
arm was incised in several places and
antiseptios applied freely. For
time this seemed to stop the progress
of the infection, and not until Satur-
day last did serious symptoms de-
velop; and even on that day, the doc
tor himself was we'll enough to make
psychological examination of Gull
lures from the wound. This examina-
ton showed the presence of STREET
pococcus bacteria of the gas produc-
ing variety, which is the most deadly
form known to medical science. AS
result of this examination, the doctor
fully realized the seriousness of his
condition, and said that in three days
he would either be dead or past the
critical point on the way to recovery.
On Monday morning a consulta-
tion by the physicians at the hospital
was held when it was decided that an
operation should be performed i'm
mediately. DR.. Cossitt performed
the operation, making several incisions
extending through the arm. All of
the tissue was found to be in very
bad condition, being filled with gas.
On Tuesday morning, it was decided to
remove him to Mount Sinai Hos
pital in New York, where his case
could be under the personal supervis-
ion of some of the best surgeons in
the country with the hope that some
thing might be done for him. On
arriving at the hospital consultation
was Immediately held by DR.. Lilien
thai, DIR. Abby and the other members
of the staff. They decided that re-
covery was out of the question, and
that death would follow in a few
hours. They stated that he was
practically doomed from the first.
Their prediction proved correct and
he died within twelve hours after
arrival. In accordance with the laws
of New York which requires an au
topsy on cases where death occurs
within twenty -four hours after
reaching hospital, an autopsy was
performed. This showed that every
organ in the body had undergone
pathological changes, small abcesses
being found in all of them. The
surgeons considered it such a danger
Gus form of infection that they gave
direction that the body be immedi-
ately removed and buried at once, and
the operating room in which the au-
topsy was performed was closed for
at least two days and thoroughly
disinfected before being used again
William Henry Barton, NJ, D., was
born at Newton, Mass, August "a,
1871. While yet child his family
went to Waltham, Mass, and have
lived there ever since. He attended
the Waltham High School. Worces-
ter Academy, Springfield Theological
School, and was graduated in 1892
from Harvard Medical School He
was on the staff OF the Massachusetts
General Hospital, Boston City Hos
pital and studied pathology and bac-
teriology under Drs. Councilman,
Mallory and Wright was appointed
interim Of the New Jersey State Hos
pital in 1898 and remained about one
year when he left to travel in Mexico.
DR.. Barton afterwards practised two
years in New Britain, Conn. and Octo-