Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-11-18
Views on Fate of
Defective Infants
WIDESPREAD DISCUSSION cAus.
ED BY CHICAGO CASE
PARENTFAyoREDDEATH
Divergent Opinions Expressed by Ex-
Perts From Moral and Hun,antarian
viewPOints-Raby Died at Midnight.

Chicago, Nov. 1.-THE Bollinger
oaby, defective mite whose mother,
ON professional advice, decided 1t
should not undergo an operation which
the German-American hospital here
at midnight.
Baptized Before Death.
The child was baptized with the
name of John, shortly before it's death
Mrs. Bollinge- was not informed of
the death of the baby, DIR. Haiselden
deeming it advisable to keep the news
from the mother until morning.
Prior to the death of the baby the
subject of the propriety of sacrificing
the unpromising spark of life in the
infant, that it might not grow up a
burden to itself and possible mem
ace to society, was the subject of
widespread discussion. DR.. H. ]. Hal
sender. on whose advice the mother
acted, was visited by many medical
men today and telephone calls alter
nately accused and praised him. He
remained unaltered in his Conviction
that death was the greatest blessing
which could be hoped for the infant
Physical Defects of the Baby.
The principal physical deformities
OF the baby were the closure of the
intestinal tract, paralysis of the nerves
of the right side of the face, absence
of the right ear, blindness of one eye
and malformation of the shoulders
DR.. Haiselden, who off1ciated at the
birth, noted the absence of a neck.
The brain he found to be only slightly
subnormal, but the cranial nerves were
absent or undeveloped-
If he grew up he would be hope
less cripple and would suffer from
'fts,' said the doctor.
Not Certain About Mind.
Would his mind clear? Would his
soul be normally alive?" he was ask
ed.
"That do not know, but the chances
are against it."
The questioner cited the case of
Roswell Smith of Chicago, supposed
ly harmless defective who, after reach
| ing the adult stage, killed little Hazel
| Weinstock, for which he was hanged.
Another visitor remarked that F1yo-
dor Dostoievsky, born a defective
who had epileptic fits. developed into
a great novelist and one of the great
est psychologists in Europe.
A Moral Wrong to Allow IL to Live.
1T. would be. moral wrong" the
physician continued, ito allow this
child to live. 1t seems to me that a
city which allows Black Hand out
rage a week, thousand abortions a
day and an automobile accident every
round OF the clock is hardly in a po-
sition to criticize a man who holds
death preferable to life to defec-
tive
DR.. John B. Murphy, former ,presi-
dent of the American Medical sAsso-
citation and Physicians. professional
men and women, including a number
of clergymen, generally took sides with
DR.. Haiselden. But his critics were
just as numerous.
Nature viii Provide Best Remedy.
DR.. Murphy said: THE babyss life
is in the hands of a high~r power.
Nature will provide the best remedy"
DIR. Rosalie NJ. Ladova commented:
"A life is life and 1 wish DIR. Haisel-
den would step out and let someone
| else operate"
Clarence Darrow, the lawyer, known
as a humanitarian, remarked:
"Chloroform unfit children Show
| them the. same mercy that is shown
beasts that are no longer fit to live"
Mother Still Favors Its Death.
Mrs. Anna Bollinger, the mother,
remained steadfast in her belief that
death was best for the little one She
has three healthy children and the
| plight of the condemned one is be-
| lieved to have been due to an attack
| of typhoid fever which the mother
suffered recently.
Authorities Took No Action.
The authorities took no action fur
ther than TO determine that no death
certificate should be issued until after
an investigation by the coroner. >