The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-26
YOUNG DOCTOR
STRUCK PATIENT
Dir. D. I. Stuart, Of Virginia, Dis
missed from Hospital.
THE MAN BIT HIS FINGER
He Saved His Life but Lost His Position.
Had Been Called on Ambulance to
Treat Attempted Suicide Case.
Was Educated in Virginia.
nv Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, D. c. September %
Because he struck a patient in the
face, Dr.. David T. Stuart. OF Virginia
senior resluent physician Of the Central
Dispensary and Emergency Hospital. was
summarily dismissed last night.
DR.. Stuart attended the case and pro-
badly saved the mans life While UNI
conscious, the patient caught hold OF the
physicians finger with his teeth and
closed his jaws like a wise DR.. Stuart
then struck the man on the side OF the
face When the physician in charge
asked DR.. Stuart whether he struck the
patient he answered aflrmatlVely ailo
was instantly dismissed.
A few minutes after midnight on Tues
day, a man rushed into the office OF the
Emergency Hospital and notified the at
tendant in charge that man had at
tempted suicide on Fifteenth Street, near
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest. Dr.
Stuart went with the ambulance 10 the
place and found a man lying unconscious
on the sidewalk. He was put hastily INTO
the wagon and taken TO the hospltai. by
the time the wagon arrived at the lnstl-
tuition. the man had regained conscious
ness and began resisting the ehorts VI
the physician. He was placed on tne
operating table, and while two attenu,
ants were holding him, DR.. Stuart inserted
the gag III HIS lllOulAA pANpo
use of the stomach pump, which IS the
usual procedure in such cases. But pc
fore the physician locked the instrument
the patient jerked away. and again 1t
was inserted in his mouth.
BIT DOCTORS FINGER
In tho tussle which occurred, 1T is
stated. the man attempted to bite Or.
stuart's finger, and for the purpose OF
,ubduing him the doctor struck him
With his hand on the left side OF the
ACE.
The patient soon recovered and at .
o'clock A. NJ walked away from the
hospital. He declined to give his name.
About Q o'clock yesterday morning DR..
Johnson questioned the physician regard
ing the occurrence, DR.. Stuart frank
" admitted striking the patient, but in
sisted it was necessary to do 80 In order
to bring the instrument into prompt ac-
ton. Last night about 7 o'clock Dr.
Stuart was informed that his term of
service would cease this morning.
DR.. Stuart last night was reticent In
speaking Of the action taken. Il regret
that the institution must be brought in
to trouble Of this kind" said he. II
have made an earnest effort to do my
duty ever since I have been connected
with the hospital. The patient l treated
early yesterday morning was said to
have taken poison. He resisted my eff
forts and attempted to bite my fingers.
did what I thought was necessary. 1
did not strike him hard and 1t had no
other effect than that which I intended,
which was to bring him into submits
sion"
KNOWN IN VIRGINIA..
The young physician who is dismissed
Tor this offense is well known and has
many friends in Richmond and Virginia
He is a graduate Of the class Of 1900
Of the medical department Of the Uni
versity of Virginia. For his professional
studies he was prepared at Pantops
Academy. Hampden-Sydney and Freder-
icksburg College. At all three of these
institutions DR.. Stuart Is well remem-
bered as the star of the football team
He is popular and regarded as one Of
the rising men In the medical profession
in Washington. he is the son Of a.
Presbyterian missionary, who has been
prominent in China as a worker for that
denomination for twenty-siX years.
DR.. Stuart was born in China in the
missionary compound of Hang Chow and
came to the United States when nine
years old.