New-York tribune., 1915-11-26
ooefation in Case of Rob
ets Child Fatal, Spe-
Cialists Decree.
FATHER WILLING
HER LIFE BE SAVED
Family Doctor Says Early Ac-
ton Only Can Stay Death
from Blood Poisoning.

When happy and healthy children
"a. down yesterday to turkey and
,ss Cane Gods and all the rest
hat goes with a Thanksgiving din
p.r Margaret Mary Roberts, the de-
,ect.ve baby born Tuesday night INTO
world where few even wanted II 10
live ate its first and last Thanksgiving
dinner in the Babies Hospital. The
dinner consisted Of ono course-bariey
water heated to blood temperature.
Unconscious that its death is only
matter Of days, unconscious of the STIR
lis unfortunate lot had caused, uncon-
seious OF it's misery. the infant drank the
bsr,ey water greedily and seemed to
enjoy il rs much as any boy or girl
of fourteen or fo-ty-or eighty. for
thst matter - enjoyed his or her
THANKSGIVING dinner.
While il was partaking OF this nour-
ishmcnt just enough to sustain life
four of the most eminent physicians
sn6 surgeons in the world, specialists
on children's diseases, were in con-
su..ation. They gave assent to the
decth verdict pronounced Wednesday.
Thev decided that an operation could
10 be performed. This meant death
for the unfortunate baby
ic1ir5t the unanimous opinion OF
tn r7ecialists, Dr.. Robert Able and
Dr.. william A. Downcs, surgeons, and
DR.. Peuel B. Kimbdll and DR.. L. En-
mel Holt. physicians, DR.. Maurice
Ro,epberg was still set. He repeated
his declaration Of Wednesday that an
immediate operation was necessary.
II an operation is not performed at
once the child will die Of blood poison
ing" said Dr. Rosenberg. "ln this case
the malformation of the spine is COW
cred only oy q thin membrane, and
unless surgi ,al skill is resorted to this
will become bruised. Blood poisoning
will result. I still believe, as / did
when delivered the child, that an
operation is necessary"
Operation Would Kill.
Here is the statement issued by
Drs. Holt. Kimball. Downes and Able;
"In view Of the unauthorized opln-
ions which have appeared IN the pup
lie press regarding a newly born in
isnt named Roberts, now patient IN
the Babies Hospital, a simple state
msnt Of facts seems called for.
"The infant is suffering from not
uncommon malformation of the spinal
column and spinal cord, technically
fnown ss spina bifda, with complete
paralysis of the lower half OF the body.
In only the mildest grades Of this de
formity is this condition amenable TO
surgical treatment and such treatment
"a regularly given. In the more Sc
we're grades Of malformation, such as
exists here, and in the child's present
condition, IL is our unanimous opinion
that no operation Is justihable. It
would probably shorten the chld's
life"
To this Statement. was appended the
ngnatures OF the four specialists
Miss Mary Agnes Smith, superin-
tsnden. Of the hospital, said the child's
condition. since its admission 20 the
hospital was unchanged.
The mother Of the infant was very
low yesterday. The father, Joseph +.
Roberts. who spent most Of the day
beside his wife's bed, at their home
l5s East Seventy-second Street, visited
TIE hospital yesterday morning and
watched the child take its morning
neal
III the surgeons can save the little
ones life they certainly have our per
mission 70 do So" said Mr. Roberts,
who FASTENED 70 correct statement
made b. Dr. Rosenberg that the moth
sr joined with him and Mrs. Margare'
B-anely. the child's grandmother, in
urging the surgeon 70 let nature undo
rs blunder, as had been done in the
bolinger case in Chicago.