Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-22

NueN Ut. llplUH LOOK the Sldnu Sat
urday morning al 9:15, InQuisitor
Dougherty first took up the charge
that Dr. Mohlau, an inmate at the
asylum, had been entrusted with ad-
ministering drugs to other patients.
Referring to this charge, the witness
said: DIR. Mohlau, who was a practic-
ing physician at Carlsbad, was sent to
the asylum as an Eddy county pa
tient. His mental arrangement was
wholly due to the use OF morphine and
cocaine. He was normally as sane as
any one, and his insanity was only
provoked by over use OF the drugs
became satisfied OF this fact after
keeping him under observation for a
number of weeks, probably about six.
He was very intelligent, well educated,
clever anatomist and pathologist and
an enthusiastic student. My work was
very heavy, and | needed some assist
ance. DR.. Mohlau seemed so interest
ed and anxious to work, he had re
ed and anxious to work. He had re-
peatedly asked to be allowed TO dress
wounds, open assesses, put on band
ages and otherwise look after pa
tients. After placing him ON proba-
ton for a reasonable time was salts
fled he was competent to render as
sistance. and knew that the privilege
OF SO doing would be most beneficial
to him in taking his mind off his trou
Bile and relieving it of the effects of
idleness. Whenever he was admitted
to the drug room was, of course, care
ful TO lock up all morphine and CO.
caine and other such drugs. counted
all doses issued o him and had an at
tendant go with him to administer
them. was never able to discover
that he stole single dose. He helped
also in making analyses and mounting
and in holding autopsies. Among 9TH
ers ! intrusted him to make an exam.
nation of the body of Mary Leonard.
who was admitted from DOna Ana
county and died July "a, 1899. several
months after her admission The main
reason for making the examination
was that she was supposed to be preg.
nant. | had been uncertain on this
point, but her history had established
this belief among the attendants. Con-
sequently, the examination, which fail
10 reveal any such condition. After
tais examination some special dissec
lions We're made in order to review
some parts of regional anatomy.
In this connection, will say that
! had on several occasions felt the
lack OF a skeleton at the ASYLUM in
making comparative studies, DIR.
Mohlau had asked why the asylum
was not provided with skeleton, and
mad made the usual reply--lack of
FUNDS. He suggested that, il permit
ted, he would clean up this body and
later articulate It, The body was nm.
claimed. although | had written TO the
sdress given-that of a sister. be-
lieve. | had received no reply nor was
sbe letter returned. The body lay Tor
several weeks in the dead room, and I
then gave Mohlau permission to re.
move the flesh, intrusted the steward
TO bury that, as usual and the bones
were later placed in a barrel to rnaccr.
ate. That is all recall about Moh-
iaus case. Since he left | have learn.
ed that he became health officer in
Pueblo"
Attorney Spiess asked: "In your
opinion. was he ever incapacitated by
the use OF drugs when assisting in any
way in the asylum
Never"
10 you remember the circumstan.
ces Of his being confined to his cell
at one timer"
4 remember that he presumed on
his privileges by giving unwarranted
orders, and ! ordered him confined 10
mis- ward. He was never locked in a
CELL"
Did you ever know of any in ef-
iects resulting from his work."
Never"
In answer 70 the question OF the
gag. witness said he had no recolIec.
tion OF ever having ordered the gag.
though he could conceive OF a case
in which the gag would be necessary:
for instance. as in case the patient
would chew or eat his tongue. OF
course. gag is sometimes necessary
In the case Of feeding a patient with
the stomach tube to prevent them
from closing their teeth upon the tube.
Have you record Of the percent.