The Washington herald., 1908-08-15

Carted about the city in a farm wagon. I
with no shelter from the brOiling sun. I
from O'Clock in the morning until 3-3o
o'clock in the afternoon. at which time
he was admitted 10 a hospital. after be
ing refused attention at two other fnsd-
tutions. was the experience II Thomas I
Alexander. a negro. sixty-five years old,
yesterday.
He IS now a Casualty Hospital in
semi-conscious condition and may not
live. He is believed 10 be suffering from
heat prosTation-
The negro was brought 10 Washington
shortly after 9 o'clock in a farm wagon
He was taken 10 Providence Hospital,
but was refused admission. He was then
driven several miles 10 the Washington
Asylum Hospital
He was refused admission. and the
negro who had him in charge was driving
in the direction Of the Emergency Hos
pitaI when policeman Of the Sixth pre-
cinct stopped him and had him drive 70
the station house The patient was IN
| conscious. and the police summoned the
ambulance from Casualty Hospital
Ignorant of Case.
A physician a. the Providence Hospital
/ said last night that ne knew nothing Of
/ the case. The physician on duty in ths
morning. he said. was not al the hospital.
| and no one else could say anything about
the case. He admitted that should
man be brought 10 the institution in an
unconscious condition or suffering from
4 heat prostration. the rules would allow
him 20 be treated. provided he was not
suffering from a contagious disease The
/ physician would not give his name and
refused to give the name Of the physician
on duty IN the morning. the time the
aged negro was taken 20 the hospital
I Dr.. Byrne. one of the physicians a.
the Washington Asylum Hospital, said no
patients were taken al the Institution IN
less they had a certificate from the Board
OF Charities The only exception. he
said. was case Of emergency. Of life
and death Dr. Byrne was not OF duty
when the uesro was brought there. and
could not say what was his condition
He said, however. that his understanding
Of the case vas that the negro had no
order from the Board Of Charities. and
not appearing 10 be seriously I'll. was re-
Z fused admission
/ our hospital" said Dr.. Byrne. ''is
I maintained by the Board OF Charities.
/ and we axe allowed 10 take only such
Z patients as come through that institution
When a patient wishes 70 be brought
I here, some friend must go 20 a resident
OF the District and get from him a letter
70 the board The board investigates
and gives certificate. and the patient
Is then brought here.
Suppose the patient dies while red
tape is being unw0Unde' Dr. Byrre was
asked.
In case OF emergency we. Of course,
take in the patient" he said If some
one IS injured in an accident. he can be
taken 70 the nearest hospital, and no mat
ter what the rules. viii be given arter-
ton should his case be one q life and
death We certainly would not let a man
Ole on the doorstep. I understand the
case Of Alexander was not considered
serious. and he was therefore told 20 50
10 another hospital"
Physicians at the Casualty Hospital
said they had not made a complete dag
uosIs Of the negro's case. at a late hour
last night He was unconscious when he
was taken from the sixth precinct sta
ton. and while he had occasional lucid
periods. he would Immediately lapse into
Icoma, said the physicians.
Nay Be SunstrOke.
So far as they can understand. he seems
to be suffering from the result Of heat
prostration or sunstroke- His mind IS
not clear. and he appears TO be menJaIly
unbalanced His condition is considered
serious
AIexander's home is II ForestviTle
Nd Several days ago he tainted while
at work near his home He was taken
% the house and a physician summoned
who said he was suffering from heat
p-ostraJion- TIe regained Consciousness
in a short time and seemed al right IN
l I'll the next dal-- when he again became
unconscious For several DAYS he lay
in a comatose condition. gradually grow