Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
DIAGNOSIS APPROVED
VERDICT OF JURY REGARDING
DEATH OF A CHILD.
Mother Of Infant Had Requested an
Official Inquiry-Attending Ply
clan Present.

An inquest was held at the sixth precinct
station today in the case of Elsie Theresa
Wheeler. fifteen months old. who died Of
cholera infantum early Monday morning at
the home of her aunt, No. 100 18th street
southeast. DR.. John ". Carraher, who had
charge Of the case prior to the child's death,
was present at the inquiry. He was repre-
scented by Attorney Edwin Forrest. The
inquest was held because the mother of the
child was not satisfied that death resulted
from cholera infantum. Several witnesses,
including reputable physicians, gave testi-
mory to show that DR.. Carrahers diagnosis
and treatment were proper, and the jury re-
turned a verdict approving the certificate OF
death. The jury found that death was the
result of cholera infantum and the case
was ended.
Druggist Testifies.
Moses Sexton, 1901 18th street southeast.
a registered pharmacist was the first wit
ness examined. He testified that a pre-
scription shown him was brought to his
store about noon last Friday. Witness filed
the prescription and delivered it to an aunt
Of the sick child He explained how he
filled the prescription and how he prepared
the suppositories furnished. The prescrip-
ton, he said did not appear to him as be-
ing anything out of the ordinary. Witness
said he made no comments about the pre-
scription when he filled it.
Mrs. Alice G. Ewing, 1905 I street south
east. an experienced nurse. testified that
Saturday night she went to Mrs Wheelers
and offered her services. Sunday between
II and IL o'clock witness was engaged to
take charge of the patient. She was there
when DR.. Carraher came She suggested
to the doctor that the child had the dysen-
terry, and the doctor responded in the af-
firmative. Sunday morning about 3 O'Clock
the patient appeared to have spasms. An
other doctor was called in consultation.
The child died Monday morning about 1920
o'clock. Witness said she was familiar
with different diseases. and expressed the
opinion that the child had the dysentery.
Mrs. Wheeler's Statement.
Mrs. Catherine Wheeler. 760 18th street
southeast. mother of the deceased. told the
jury that her child was taken sick with
bowel complaint Monday of last week. and
so DR.. Carraher was called about II o'clock
that night. From that time until Friday
the doctor saw the child every day, pre-
scribing powders and liquids. Friday the
suppositories were prescribed, and witness
said she followed the directions. When the
doctor came, about 80 or 2 o clock in the
afternoon, and saw the drowsy condition of
the child, he inquired if she had admin
stered two of the suppositories, and she
answered that she had. DR.. Carraher, she
donna and relieve the babe. Several other
doctors, she stated, were called in consul
tation They worked upon her little one,
but without avail The several doctors
called in consultation, she said, did not
prescribe any medicine. DR.. Carraher, she
stated, remained in attendance upon the
child until death occurred.
Cross-eXamined by Mr. Forrest witness
said she caused the investigation.
Symptoms Regarded as Alarming.
Mrs. Margaret c. Lohr sister of Mrs.
Wheeler, at whose house, 759 nth street
southeast. the infant died, was next ques-
toned. Witness explained the symptoms
of the chids illness. The patient was
brought to her house Wednesday. After
the second suppository was administered,
witness said, there was a quiet sleep and a
paleness of the face which she did not like
When the doctor came he inquired about
what had been done, and witness said he
expressed himself being sorry that the
second suppository had been given. The
doctor, she said. told her there was NOR
phine and belladonna In the prescription,
but the druggist showed her the prescrip-
ton and told her there was no belladonna
in it. Belladonna and coffee were adminfs-
tered, said witness, but the child never re-
covered from the supposed effects of the
morphine.
How old was the chid?" Mr.. Forrest
asked
When was the child born?'
ION the 4th of April, 1901
Witness stated that the suppositories were
administered July 4 and death occurred
July 7. The little one had no spasms until
the belladonna was administered.
The Consulting Physicians.
DR.. c. M Emmons testified that he was
called in consultation and he found DR.
Carraher's treatment had been all right.
He told of his visits to the house, and
said ne filled out the certificate at the re-
quest of Mrs. Wheeler and her sister. When
the question of morphine was suggested
| witness explained to Mrs. Wheeler that if
the morphine had been fatal the childe
death would nave occurred long before it
did. He considered that DR.. Carraher had
given proper treatment in the case.
DR.. T. c. Clark, 81 East Capitol street
| testified that he stopped at Mrs Wheeler
house with DR.. Carraher and was told that
! the child had died Of cholera infantum.
| Witness did not enter into a consultation
| with the other doctors 1t was about IL
O'Clock Friday night when witness was
! there No suggestion of morphine was
| made to him.
| DR.. A. D. Butz testified that when he was
| called to the house he found several doc
| tors there and he concluded there were
| enough of them without him DR.. Carraher
| told him the child had cholera infantum
| Mrs. Mccartney, S16 North Carolina ave-
nue., aunt of the deceased, testified to her
| visits to the bedside of the sick child. She
| told of the treatment of the child as de-
| scribed by her sister.
Deputy Coroner's Report of Autopsy.
J Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified that
he had performed an autopsy this morning
and the condition Of the remains showed
that the deceased had been sick several
| days DR.. Glazebrook said the body had
been embalmed. which rendered 1t almost
useless to search for evidences of drugs
| The child. he said, had what is commonly
| called cholera infantum. Witness said he
| had preserved the chld's organs. From
! what he could find there was no evidence
| Of morphine poisoning.
| The Attending Physician.
| DR.. Carraher told the jury that he was
called in to see the child July 2, and found
her suffering from attack of cholera IN
fantum. He spoke of his visits to the bed
side Of the patient at all hours, and said
| his treatment was similar to what he had
administered to hundreds of others who
were similarly afflicted.
| The doctor said when he gave the NOR
| phine suppoSitories he gave orders that the
| infants condition ShOuld he noted hefOre