Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-28
PHYSICIANS REPORT
CASE OF JOSEPH GREEN SUBJECT
OF INQUIRY.
Denial Of the Imputation Of Coroner's
Jury That Medical Treatment at
Hospital Was insufficient.

DR.. D. Percy Hickling, the visiting physi-
clan of the Washington Asylum Hospital.
today submitted to Commissioner West
copies of special reports made to him by
members of the medical stan of the hos
pital. regarding the death of Joseph Green,
June "a, which was the subject of coro-
ner's inquest Saturday. The coroner's jury
in it's verdict declared the medical treat
| ment received by Green was deficient.
The reports received are from DIR. Cain.
the resident physician; Dr. Bruce Mackali'
| who treated Green upon his arrival at the
| hospital: DR.. Francis ]. Kerns and DR.. J.
Ernest Mitchell. These reports all agree
and show that the entire hospital staff was
summoned for consultation regarding
Green's case. The man was admitted IN
dying condition. There was an indennite
history of an assault having been sur
fered and search was made for a propa-
BILE fracture. There were symptoms OF
uraema, very pronounced symptoms Inc
man entirely unconscious Wnen Ut.
Hickling, the visiting physician arrived AT
the hospital, Green was taken TO the opel-
ating room. and there search was mace
by an exploratory incision for fracture
near depression in the skull. None was
found in this region. and the patients con-
dition was such that further surgical IN
reference was not considered Justlned.
The patient died within little while.
Commissioner West is making an inquiry
into the matter. From the facts placed be-
fore him today it seems that all that was
possible was done for the patient. There
was no evidence of mistaken diagnosis.
No diagnosis appears to have been mace
until after the autopsy, which developed
bad fracture. The symptoms between frac-
ture of the skull or compression of the
BRAIN were equal with those of uraemia.
DR.. Hickling's Report.
DR.. Hickling has also submitted report
10 civ COmnlete
history of the affair. Il was informed that
an indefinite history of a fracture of the
skull was given by the persons who brought
him to the hospital" says DR.. Kicking in
speaking of Green. land that he had been
treated by the resident staff with this dag
nosis in mind. l was also informed that
Green had been struck in the abdomen
Upon examination 1 found his pulse to be
very rapid. and as 1 remember, about ~
beats per minute; his skin was warm with
probably some slight degree OF 1eVer, the
scalp was very much swollen over the right
SIDE of his head, the swelling extending
some what over the left side. l examined
his head carefully, but the scalp was SO
swollen that 1t was impossible to determine
with certainty any condition of the bone
beneath. His pupils were slightly dilated,
there were no signs of paralysis. There
was sign of external injury to the
head and there was no sign of bleeding
from the ears or nose. The patient was
completely insensible and his general con-
dition was such that L knew he could live
but short time
DR.. Hckling details the entire history OF
the case he received it, and then relates
the circumstances of the incisiOn made to
find a possible fracture on one side, where
a physician had thought he could feel a
ragged edge of bone The inc.Son was
made as a forlorn hope There was no sign
of a blood clot at this point.
1.-The patients case being such a desperate
one," continues DIR. Hickling, land believ-
ing that any furthr operation would be of
no avail. and not wanting him to die upon
the table, I considered it unwise to do any
thing further in the case.
Il have read with some surprise the an
nouncements in the papers that the cor
oner's jury are of the opinion that the
medical aid furnished Joseph Green at the
Washington Asylum Hospital was deficient.
The only criticism concerning this case
which, in my judgment, should be made
lies in the fact that 1 should have been
promptly notified of Green's condition when
he entered the hospital. when, as matter
of fact no attempt was made to notify me
until after l had left my Office Wednesday
morning. But from my knowledge of the
circumstances connected with Green's case
his condition was such when he entered the
hospital that no treatment could have in
huenced the result"