Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-21
ARRESTING SICK MEN
A PHYSICIANS REMARKS RE-
GARDING THE coLsoN CASE.

There is one point regarding the Coll
son case which should not be overlooked"
said IA northwest physician to a Star re-
porter.
There is large amount of conflicting,
evidence in this unfortunate case. but
from the standpoint of a physician there
can be no doubt that the system we have
Is IN need of revision to the end that 4
recurrence may be very remote These
cases in cities seem necessary to bring
ABOUT ofttimes needed reforms and every
circumstance in the case from the mans
initial arrest until Judge Kimbalrs dis
covery of his real condition shows that
better medical attendance upon prisoners
IS imperative TO save ourselves from ad-
verse criticism, well as for other prom
inent reasons.
1t seems that the officers nripcinaI
reason Tor considering Colson drunk was
that ne was vomiting in the street OF
course, now that we know that he was
suHerlng from peritonitis IL is NOT aston
fishing that he vomited. 1t seems that ona
or the first charges placed against Col
son was that he was arrested for yiolat-
s side une ordnance against splitting on the
sidewalk: in fact, that was what was
stated to be the cause of his arrest
AS physician / have no hesitancy i'm
asserting that If the police are TO arrest
t..iZehs Tor vomiting in the street under
.he ordnance which prohibits splitting on
the sidewalk, a halt in the practice should
De called at once. Expectoration is one
thlhg ana nausea is entirely another; one
IS voluntary and can be controlled while
the other is involuntary and is absolutely
beyond control While it may NOT he a
Pheasant thing to witness nausea upou a
pupilc street. sickness in any form is un-
pIedsant- Most certainly arrests for Ill
ness which may take on the form OF
nausea, even where the subject NAV
nave been drinking. but who is not neces-
sarliS drunk. are entirely unjustified
by reason of various ni1
oLten seized with nausea upon the public
thoroughfares. Perhaps their phys'caI
Sohu,tion may be so weak that they may
De Obliged to sit down upon the curb,
stone or to hold on to a tree or Iamn-
post Even slight forms of nausea bring
ABOUT resultant muscular relaxation and
.bat paIehess, often to such an extent
a ot sober man who may thus be ar
nlcted seems intoxicated; perhaps he NAV
even stagger, and often does
IN such instances arrests should not
NC Haue at all. but, on the contrary the
sun should be assisted to a street ca.
or TO a carriage or the ambulance call
should be turned in.
Men are often seized with sharp alb
NOMINAL pains, as in peritonitis and acuta
appendicitis, and suppose that they have
merely collie. 1t is a natural impuIsa 10
AT once take drink of brandy or whis-
Ky, and this is the common rerady -
Tered and accepted in such instances pa
sultant nausea does not proceed from the
siects or the stimulant, but from the
lIeh intestinal Inflammation Where ar
Iests are made, as is frequently the case
where the individual complains and CON,
silues TO complain, as did Colson of alb
aoninaI pains. he should go post-hasta
10 the hospital and not to the staftnn
mouse cell or the Police Court.
any system which does not provide f,r
me disposition of such cases is so faulty
that steps should be taken at once 70
remedy It, These unfortunate cases OF
WheIe a man should go to hospital in
steau Oh cell are of too frequent occur
renee in all cities
Arrangements might be made at M
great cost whereby physicians could be
summoned by telephone call i'm these in
H ia HAD this been the case Colson's
Liiisht nave been preserved as well
as that Of the West Virginian who re-
oently uied In a cell at night when il was
supposed that he was drunk when az
III q mater ti, OF TACT, he was fatally sick at