The Paducah sun., 1906-04-25
Physicians Wisely Delay The
Burial Of Supposed Corpse.
Case Of New York Girl Who Seems
Dead Yet Shows Signs Of Life
Is Puzzling.
CATALEPsY APPARENT CAUSE,

Mccain, a beautiful child. is lying
in a white coffin In the home of her
parents, 2iS West Eighteenth street
They do not know whether she Is
dead or alive DIR. Frazier who at
tended the child, has ordered the
funeral postponed until he can be
sure. The parents are distracted
All the nelghborhood is aroused.
The Mccain family is in moderate
circumstances. II consists OF Henry
Mccain, his wife, three girls and a
boy. Veronica. ever since her sec
ond year. has been In poor health be
cause OF heart disease.
DR.. Frazier. formerly of the Hotel
Barthodli, has been the family ply
sician for ten years. He treated Yer
onica McCann with such success that.
In spite of her weak heart, she was
able 10 run about and play.
Veronica McCann stayed home
from school three weeks ago because
of Illness. she grew steadily worse,
and last Monday dropsy set in. Her
lower extremities became swollen.
The child collapsed utterly at 5
o'clock Wednesday morning. Breath.
ing ceased The heart, so far as
DR.. Frazier could tell. stopped beat
ing DIR. Frazier wrote a certificate
of death from heart failure. An un.
dertaker was called.
Tinge of Color I'm Cheeks.
There was nothing unusual in the
case except that faint tinge of color
remained in the cheeks, her lips
were still red. and her little limbs
remained flexible. There was no
trace of rigor mOrtis. DR.. Frazier
did not call again after writing the
death certificate. Neighbors sat up
with Mr.. and Mrs. McCann on We'd
nesday night and on Thursday night.
The funeral was to have been held
at O'Clock yesterday afternoon. A
few minutes before that time the
Rev. Father McGrath, of St Francis
Xavier's church, on West Sixteenth
street, arrived al the house. The lit
tie parlor was filled with mourners.
There were many flowers, among
them shield of white roses sent by
victoria's classmates in the school of
the church of st. Vincent de Paul on
West Twenty-thfrd street.
Father McGrath was struck by the
color in the chlld's face. He raised
the hands of the little girl.
1.-The doctor ought to see this child
at once" said Father McGrath. at
is not certain by any means that she
is dead"
Instantly the rumor began to
spread; Veronica McCann is alive" "
1t happened that DR.. Frazier came
In at that moment to attend the
services. He examined the body and
found the appearances which had
surprised Father McGrath.
81 will not take the responsibility
OF declaring the child alive" he said
''But the funeral must not proceed
now. As long as there Is a possibil-
lty OF her being alive We must go no
further. must have a consulta-
tion."
The mourners were dismissed
Soon the rumor ran through the
neighborhood that dead girl had
come to life.
No InfaIiible Sign Of Death.
DIR. Frazier called in another ply
sician, and they examined the child's
body. They could find no infallible
sign OF death. Rather the appearan-
ces were those characteristic OF cat
alepsy. They tried to revive the
child, but could not. The body wa:
put back in the coffin.
The mother of Veronica collapsed
81 don't know what 20 think" she
said ''My poor child was sick sc
long-oh. it's cruel thing that We
can do nothing for her!"
The reporter looked at the little
girl. Her lips were red, but the iaint
pink color had left her cheeks. Hel
hands we're soft as the hands of q
living child, but deathly cold. The
finger tips and nails were dark pur'
pie.
I'VE all fear there is no hope.
said veronica's aunt. as she noticed
this. "The suspense is awful"
The grief of the parents was more
intense then the grief over death