Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-14
GIRL OF 12 YEARS A MOTHER.
Died After Caesarian Operation Was
Performed-Child Survived.

Helen Elster, who would have been thir-
teen years old on November next died in
the New York POSTGRADUATE Hospital Sat
urday forty-fve minutes after the surgeons
performed the Caesarian operation on her
The operation was last resort to save the
lives of mother and baby. 1t was success
fui, for, although other causes were fatal
to the child-mother, her baby survived and
yesterday was cheerful and healthy, weigh
ing seven pounds.
The operation is so-called because 1t is
stated on doubtful authority that Julius
Caesar was brought into the world by It,
Helen Elster lived with the family of her
uncle, Eduard Kaless, near Carnarsie lane
Nanderveer Park. Flatbush. Her mother
Mrs. Henry kuben2, having married the
second time after her first husbands dea tn
four years ago, lives in New York city
Helen was the third oldest In n family of
five children. She was sturdy healthy
vlvacious girl of the blonde type mentally
and physically energetic. She had little re
ligious training. but went to public school
near her uncle's home.
kaless was teaching her German. One
night last November he sent her to buy
bottle of ink at a drug store eight blocks
away. She returned intensely agitated and
remained silent. Next day she said a big
black dog had rushed at her and terrified
her
The girl returned to her mothers house
August g. Next day Mrs Kubenz visited a
physician of highest neutrality-suspicious.
gist to the Post-Graduate. Hearing the
history of the case. DIR. Boldt asked Mrs
Kubenz to bring Helen 10 him Tuesday She
did so and he recommended that she go to
the hospital. She went there with her
mother Wednesday, and Mrs. Kubenz being
assured that an operation was absolutely
necessary, consented to it. She understood
that it was to be done Friday. When
she left her daughter Helens last words
were:
'If I die, mamma don't tell any one
why"
The child was seriously III when she
entered the hospital. She showed strong
symptoms of eclampsia commissions which
resemble those Of epilepsy and which
most commonly manifested in puerperal wo-
men. Helen soon went into a CONFUSION
and became unconscious 1t became neces-
sary to perform the Caesarian operation at
once, and 1t was performed Thursday night
before several physicians and psychologists
who were present by DIR. Goedts invitation
Mrs. KabenZ promptly informed of
the operation and Of Helens death and the
baby's birth. The house physician at the
Post Graduate made the death certificate
to Helen Elster. The board of health re-
fused the certificate too vague, and the
case was reported to Coroner Scholer. He
and his physician, DR.. Lepane, went to the
hospital and found that the surgeons there,
wrongly supposing that the death certifi-
cate would be received, had made
topsy on Helen's body.
Coroner Schoer said that DIR. Leblanc was
not satisfied that 1t absolutely neces-
sary to perform the operation at the time
It was done. This question will be deter
mined at his inquest. The jury will be
composed of doctors. The coroner said
emphatically that the Post-Graduate sur
geons, knowing Helen was minor. should
have notified either the police the Gerry
Society that they were about to perform
the extremely dangerous operation.