The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-03


day TO the Administrative Board:
Richmond Va. Feb. 2. 1914
To the Honorable Administrative Board
OF the City of Richmond:
Gentlemen,-As the three undersign-
ed are referred to in the letter of Dr.
Geo. Ben Johnston. which appears in
the Richmond papers OF this date, we
ask you to consider this joint reply.
Tho personalities In DR.. Johnston's
letter are beside the question. and
should not be allowed to obscure the
real Issue. The public Is not inter
any OF US and DR.. Johnston So far
as his services to DR.. Horsley are con-
cerned. Of which he boasts, 1t may be
said that the obligations between Dr.
Horsley and DR.. Johnston are Mt least
mutual. 1t might also be an interest
ing question whether DR.. Johnston Sow
cred his professional and social reln-
lions with DR.. Horsley because OF the
latters unworthineSS or whether Dr.
Horsley severed all relations because of
his opinion Of DIR. Johnston's unworthi-
ness
stons letter having reference to Dr.
Darlington and DR.. Bryan are con-
cerned. it suffices to say that they arc
without foundation. 1t is not our In
tention to deal in personalities. The
issue is DR.. Johnston's conduct while
on duty at the City Home
The approaching selection by your
honorable board OF the visiting staff
Tor the Virginia Hospital as city
institution, and the consideration OF
rules and regulations for the govern
ment of that hospital. seem to us to
afford ample reason for presenting to
you the record of DR.. Johnston as visit
Ing surgeon for tho past two years
DIR. Johnston calls attention to his
manly course" In regard to the unfor-
tunate death OF Jesse Crawley, and Il
may be worth while to briefly analyze
the situation. Crawley had been struck
on the head by an assailant. The fact
is undisputed that there was q COM
pound depressed fracture of the skull.
which Is always regarded as serious
condition. DR.. Johnston was notified
OF the Injury. On his own admission
he did not examine the wound him
self, though he said In his testimony
before the Police Court that 1t was his
duty to examine all serious cases"
The man was finally operated upon
seven days after admission to the hos
pital mot five days, as stated by Dr.
Johnston) and died. The sending of
an eye specialist, nerve specialist. or
any other specialist, to see n patient
who has compound depressed frac-
ture OF the skull, does not relieve tho
surgeon In charge from his obvious
duty to examine the wound and deter
mine upon some course of action. The
assailant OF Jesse Crawley was arrest
ed on the charge OF murder. Natu-
rally, the lawyer defending the assail-
ant would bring out in court proceed
ings the fact. which DR.. Johnston adj
mitted, that there was IAN element OF
uncertainty In the victims DEATH" and
that perhaps If we had been a little
more painstaking, his life might have
been saved" To appear In open court.
subjected to cross examination and
confronted with the hospital records In
the case, would probably have been
much less desirable than the "volun-
tary" appearance in the Police Court,
OF which DIR. Johnston boasts. Prompt,
active, personal attention to the in
Jured man by DR.. Johnston might have
been more effective than his voluntary
appearance in court after the death of
the victim"
Tho appointment OF n surgeon to the
solemn obligation to conform to the
rules and regulations governing tho
staff, and as the chairman OF the stan.
DR., Johnston. should have been espe..
these rules and regulations. Section
5. Of tho regulations. having refer
enca to tho visiting staff, Is as follows:
The physician and surgeon shall
visit the hospital at least once a day,
and the specialist ut least once week
during their terms OF office. oftener
II necessary"
The letter of Mr. Graham b. Hobson
shows that he personally undertook to
dissuade DR.. Johnston from resigning
from the staff al the beginning OF the
mittee on Relief of tho Poor. assumed
the authority OF granting DIR. John
ston leave of absence for January.
with the ' Notwithstanding that You You
might. supply competent person or