The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-26
THOUCHT DOCTOR
CAME TOO OFTEN
Swiss Watch-Maker Has No
tons of His Own Re-
garding Physicians
DISCHARGES DOCTOR
AT CRITICAL TIM
Objection of Parent Causes
DR.. Grinnan to Call in
Policeman as Spec
ial Escort

William A. Meylan, matchmaker,
employed by the Nowian Company,
jewelers.. has queer notions as TO when
and how often a doctor should call
while attending a patient
To make long story snort. he be-
heves that the doctor should wait
until he 10 summoned, even after he
has taken the case in nand.
The matchmaker attempted to put
these ideas into effect when his four
months-old child was taken III a week
or two ago with summer complaint.
Several doctors, " appears, were
called in at one time add another. DIR.
st George T. Grinnnn, oesng the last.
As in the case of the others. Dr.
Grinnar was Instructed not to come
except when he was especially called.
He did not relish this method of doing
business, and notified .ne city health
of9icials. knowing that the child was
Ill and likely to die for lack of at
tentson.
Whereupon Or. Levy. the chief
health officer. promptly wrote the
father a letter couched in firm but
polite language. telling him that he
must summon "A doctor at once or
stand the consequences. That was
Saturday morning.
Calls In Bluccoat.
About the same time the services
of the police department were soil
cited. with the result thar a big blue
coated minion OF the raw accompa
MED DIR. Grinnan to the Meylan home
at si4 North Sixth street.
The presence OF the blue coat was
naturally very effective and DIR. Grin
nan was ena bled to enter the premises
without danger OF personal violence
Later in the day, another call was
made with the same escort SATURDAY
afternoon the child died, despite the
efforts OF DIR. Grinnan to save it,
little life. Sunday afternoon. the body
was laid to rest beneath the greer
SOD of Riverview cemetery.
Both Mr.. Meylan and his wife. whe
are Swiss and speak English with
difficulty, seemed much distrsugh
Sunday morning when the reportei
called at their home. They wer:
unable to see that they had done any
thing amiss and could not understand
why big policeman had come witt
pr Grnnan on his last visit, Mr.
Meylan displayed the letter from Or
Levy and also showed a note from
The Nowlan company. saying that h.
would do well TO let the doctor conn
whenever the latter deemed II brepe
to do so.
Not a Scientist.
Are you Christian Scientist " MI
Meylan was asked.
II don't know" he replied hesitat
insly.
t'No." put In Mrs. Weylan, VIII
seemed to understand English lit
tie better than her husband, we ar
not Christian Scientists.
But we tried to do what wa
right" she went on. The doctor
wanted to- come SO often and "
didn't want them TO come until W
sent for them. We didn't think bah
vas so III
little tot. barely able TO wall
chung to its mothers skirt while sh
talked. The child WAS freffnl an
finally began to cry.
TAKE him into the other room
she commanded as the father pickle
I'D the young one In his arms.
Baby Begins to 6awi.
He In the only one left" continue
Mrs. Meyian. with moistened eyes, q
the baby began to bawl In the kitcne
In the rear.
..Dr. Grinnan lie good doctor. the
say. and we were glad to have hin
but we didn't think he ought To con-
until he Was sent for she insisted,
Three other doctors came but the
were not as good as DIR. Grinnan wh
makes a speciality OF children's dis
eases But Or. Grinnan--ne brougf
the big policeman can't understan
that"
The death certificate signed by ID
Grinnsn says that the child was sic
for ten days without medical after
tfon and that two doctors were dis
charged Will. IL WAS Ill. no medic;
attention being given in the mean
while.
Ento colitis was the official cause
death.