Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-22
DEATH STRIKES DOWN
SON OF JOS. SCOTT
Physicians BaffIed by Disease--It Is
Believed the Child May Have
Suffered from
Rabies

Death, terrible in it's suddenness, and
of course entirely unexpected, entered
the home yesterday of Joseph Scott,
president of the Los Angeles city board
of education, also preSident-elect of the
chamber of commerce, and removed
from the family group Joseph Scott,
jr., the oldest child in family of
seven. Specialists called to the Scott
home, 9S4 Elden avenue, shortly after
2 o'clock yesterday morning, while un-
able to diagnose the cause of death,
are believed to incline to the opinion
that death might have been caused
by rabies, a disease sometimes sudden
in action and usually incurable. An
autopsy will be held today to determine
the cause of death.
Members of the family We're unable
last night to give any explanation of
the cause of the death of the boy,
other than to attribute it to rabies.
The boy was bitten in the calf of his
leg last December by a dog. The
decorations while little more than mere
punctures, were cauterized, and as the
wounds healed quickly no apprehen-
sion was felt. However, the dog, which
displayed few of the symptoms of
hydrophobia so far as known, was
killed. So little was the concern of
the boys parents and the family ply
~
brain and nerve center were not ex-
amined for traces of hydrophobia.
The seven children in the Scott fam
lily, like many children in the neigh
borhood, have been i'll with the measles.
The quarantine signs were removed a
few days ago from the houses and the
children We're allowed to go out and
play on the lawns.
Saturday Mr. Scott closed his office
tA YnIa hnUG
Joseph Scott, jr., was the Hveliest of
the crowd, and when his kite outdis-
tanced those flown by his father his
Joy could not be restrained. From kite
flying his fancy turned to -aeroplanes.
His deft, nimble fingers soon had fash
ioned the framework, and Sunday night
when the boy and his father retired
to their bed-they occupied the same
room-the boy kept sleep from his
fathers eyes for a space of an hour
while he gave vent to his enthusiasm
about the stick and paper airship he
was building.
Shortly after Q o'clock yesterday
morning Mr.. Scott was awakened by
something striking him in the face.
He found his boy unconscious and in
convulsions. The child's hands then
were icy in their coldness. 1t was this
that awakened the father DR. Col
at once, realized that the case was
beyond his ken of children's ailments.
At his suggestion DR.. H. G. Brainerd,
a brain specialist, was called in con-
sultation. Both men exhausted their
skill in endeavoring to alleviate the
suffering of the boy. Both We're ad-
mittedly. baffled. DR.. Brainerd de-
clared he had never attended similar
case. The boy died at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon.
Joseph was 10 years old and was a
pupil at the Hoover street school,
where he was leader in play and at
his studies. The funeral services will
be conducted tomorrow morning at 10
O'Clock from st. Vibiana cathedral.
Interment will be in Calvary.
Mr.. and Mrs. Scott. who have been
almost prostrated by the death of their
oldest son, denied themselves last night
to all except their closest friends. The
home during the afternoon and even
ing was visited by hundreds. Resolu-
tions expressing sympathy to the
father and family were adopted by the
directors of the chamber of commerce
yesterday afternoon Immediately upon
receipt of the word Of the boys death.