Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
CORONER'S REPORT
NEARLY ONE THOUSAND INvES-
LEGATIONS IN A YEAR.
Recommendations Made Which the
Commissioners Are Asked to In
dorse-Chapter on Suicides.


cessitated investigation by the coroner. oc
CURED during the fiscal year ended June
30 last. OF this number 336 fatalities were
due to some violent cause and hfty-five
were suicides.
These were the most startling figures OF
the annual report of Coroner hewitt. which
was submitted to the Commissioners today
The investigations were of all sorts of deaths
mysterious enough 10 warrant the calling
In of the coroner or of the morgue master.
The expenses of the coroner's office for the
year, including inQuests, salaries OF the
coroner and all his assistants and general
maintenance of the establishment total
Si,97279 during the twelve months For
next year DR.. hewitt asks that his force be
increased by the appointment of a stenog-
rapher and another helper at the morgue
In his synopsis of the cases which he
was called upon to scrutiniZe during the
year Coroner hewitt states that 466 deaths
were due to natural causes, 50 resulted
from accidental causes, blows etc. SO were
due to railroad accidents - caused by
burns. 46 by drowning, IA by accidental
gas poisoning a total of &c due to acct
dental poisoning and 20 were classed as
homicides. OF the suicides, IA were caused
by gunshot. l. by opium poisoning IA by
carbohc acid and 4 by hanging
Suicides by Poison Increase.
The balance OF the coroner's report, which
includes several important recommended
tons, follows:
The number of suicides by poison were
greatly increased over the past year. am
or the opinion that a more stringent poison
law for the District would materially re-
duce the death rate from this cause: under
the existing law 1t is only too easy to OBJ
tain the desired drug. During my investi-
cation of several deaths which were SUM-
posed TO be due to alcoholism learned that
o1 tod
well. further consideration of this mar
t1cnlar case developed the fact that not
only was this drug sold in violation of law,
out 'here We're actually paid agents who
went to private houses and solicited Gus
toners for the drug and supplied habftual
users.
one death during the past year given as
alcoholism was the case of man who
drank only the essence of jamaica ginger
II is well-known fact that there are MANY
ginger topers.' am reliably informed that
there are several drug stores that sell great
quantities of TINS preparation to users In
many cases the ginger topper diSpenses with
the more legitimate appearance of present
ing bottle to be refilled, but places on the
counter his cup with nickel or a dime.
as the case may be, and gets his dose with
out any question.
In the past two or three years several
patients IN no less than four OF our local
hospitals met death by jumping from win
doWs. Only those who have had charge OF
the delirious or the insane patients, with
tnelr WeIl-knoWn cunning and suicidal ten
dencies. can appreciate the vigilance that
the task imposes
For the most part the immediate cause
OF THESE. as well as all other patients
rests with the trained nurse. who, with
very Few exceptions, is an intelligent and
CHRISTIAN young woman. who appreciates
highly the moral obligation of her profess
sion.
Suitable Quarters Needed.
The existence OF such feeling was forci-
bly, brought to my attention about a year
ago. during the investigation of one of
these cases. young colored woman was
a patient In one Of our hospitals suffering
with delirium During unguarded mo-
ment (being left apparently asleep) the
patient escaped through window on the
fourth floor to the cOrnice of the roof. The
patients absence was Immediately dis
covered on the return of the nurse, who
without any hesitation, followed the pa
tent out or the open window and along
the edge of the roof. Just as the nurse
was about to reach for the girl the latter
jumped to her death.
After carefully investigating these par
ticularly distressing cases l believe that
these deaths are not unavoidable, and that
the greater fault lay, not so much in the
attendance. as to the inadequate facilities
which exist for the treatment of this class
of cases. 1 take II to be entirely within
the province of your honorable board not
only to recommend, but, II necessary, to
compel the various hospitals to establish
suitable quarters for the treatment of these
particular classes of patients. certainly from
these institutions that receive appropria-
ton through your recommendation.
Another Feature Discussed.
May 1 further bring to your notice an
other deplorable death list-namely. that of
fatal burns of children and Infants left
unattended by their parents. or IL not. in
the care of other children little older than