Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-14
DOCTOR IS GIVEN TIME
TO PREPARE DEFENSE
Masterson Appears in Court.
Upheld by Medical
Society.

William l. Masterson Of StOneleigh
Court In connection with a charge of
negligence brought against him by the
District health Department. Health Of
flcer Woodward today reiterated the
charge that, in his opinion, DR.. Master
son had made q premature report on
scarlet fever case and declared that SIM
liar cases in the future which come to
the attention Of the health department
will be prosecuted.
DR.. Masterson appeared in Police Court
this morning In answer to a warrant
sworn out against him by the health de-
partment. He asked that he be given
time to obtain counsel and prepare q de-
Tense. hearing Of the case thereupon be-
ing continued until next Wednesday.
The injection of the controversy into
the proceedings Of the Medical Society
last night was followed today by the
making public by DIR. Woodward Of q
letter sent to DIR. Masterson. March IL.
| In which the health officer stated that
ne would be pleased to receive sugges-
lions from Dr. Masterson showing why
prosecution should not be Instituted
against him.
DR.. Woodward's Letter.
1t is learned that. following the receipt
OF this letter, DR.. Masterson called on
Health Oficer Woodward and explained
his side Of the case. but that the District
Ofncial after receiving the explanation.
decided that 1t was not sufiicien. to JUS
try abandonment Of the proposed prose-
cution.
The letter Of the health officer to DR..
MastersOn Is as follows:
January 20. 1872. a card signed by you
was received at the health department
11S1 Penn street northeast, suffering from
scarlet fever. and February q q card
signed by you was received at the depart
ment reporting the recovery OF this
patient When one Of the medical in
spectors called to examine this patient
before releasing him and the premises
from quarantine 1t was found that des-
QuamattOn had not ceased. consequently
the patient was not discharged from
quarantine.
Some days subsequent to the inspec-
tors visit the child was on at least two
different occasions found on the public
streets. the mother. 1t seems. being under
the impression from your conversation
with her that the child was we'll and safe
to mingle with other persons. notwith-
standing she had been instructed by the
inspector to keep him In the house. On
the I'd instant this boy was examined by
two Of the medical inspectors of the
health department and found to be still
desquamating on the feet. Section OF
An act for the prevention Of scarlet fe-
yer, etc., in the District of Columbia
provides that no persons shall certify
knowingly or neSligently that any patient
has recovered from scarlet fever until
such patient Is in such condition as to be
free from danger of communicating the
disease from which he is suffering to
other persons
Gets society's Support.
THE department feels that the report
Of the recovery sent by you to the health
department was in violation of the act
referred to, and feels constrained to pre-
sent this case to the corporation counsel
for prosecution in the Police Court. II
| You can suggest any reason why prosecu-
ton should not be instituted against YOU
! shall be pleased to receive such sug.
gestion before final action Is taken In
| the case
When the matter was brought up al
| the meeting of the Medical Society. last
night, DR.. Masterson invited DR.. Wood
ward, who was present, to present his
side Of the case. The health official re-
fused to participate In the discussion.
After hearing DR.. MastersOn's ex-
PLANTATION the members of the society
voted to support him In the contention
and to employ it's own counsel in de-
Tending him.
DR.. Woodward today said that the
Masterson case is not the first one of
its kind to be prosecuted by the health
department.
DR.. Masterson would not discuss the
matter other than to state that his
course in the treatment OF the scarlet
fever patient had been regular and that
he had violated no law.