Rock Island Argus., 1916-05-15

have beeu made which do not give all
the facts of the matter as it transnir-
ed In Justice to the hospital, we feel
the pubic has a right to be apprised
OF them.
1.-The ambulance driver informed
the assistant superintendent he had
city case, a gasoline explosion. and tn
call the city physician, Dr. Horwitz.
On previous occasions we had been
informed city cases were county cases
and should be taken to st. Francis
hospital. as it is the only hospital au-
thorized by the county to receive those
cases
1.-The ambulance driver was re-
minded in that instance it would be
county case and should 60 to St
Francis. He then inquired if we would
let the woman die Of her burns. NO"
said the bookkeeper, IF that is the
case bring her in and we will take
care of her. We have never sent away
an emergency case"
Instead, the driver called the city
hall and said: We are at the Proctor
and they refuse to have anything to
do with the case. The bookkeeper
again said: Why, we will take her in,
if it is as serious as you say In the
interval the assistant superintendent
had gone to get the emergency wheel
carriage to receive the case When
she came to the entrance she was sur
prised to see the ambulance driving
away
I'VE have never sent away any
case, county or otherwise, which re-
quired immediate care. Within the
past two weeks the same driver
brought in a negro women from the
| lower end who had been slashed with
knife. He said he knew it was a
| county case, but the woman was
bleeding profusely, and was afraid she
would be in a bad condition if he
waited to take her to ST. Francis. She
was admitted and given immediate at
| tention. We care for great number
of similar cases throughout the
year.
Separated Two Years.
George Prince, the husband, arriv-
ed from Rock Island too late to see
/
the fatal accident on Thursday even
ing. There had been an estrangement
between the couple and for two years
he had lived elsewhere. Mrs. Prince
had a savings account of 5000 in one
of the banks and carried insurance
on her life and fire insurance.
THE unfortunate misunderstanding
| whereby Mrs Prince was not given
! first aid at the Proctor hospital has
brought about new order of things
! in emergency cases. 1t seems that
| during the regime of Supervisor Orr
/ he insisted on cases, emergency, acci-
dent or otherwise, being referred to
! him, and his sanction secured before
! they could be cared for at any hospi-
tai except the st. Francis, or he re-
I fused to be accountable for the bill
| He declined to empower the police
even in extreme cases, from taking
/ patients to other hospitals where the
! county might be liable for cost, until
! his order was had.
1T was this state of affairs that is
! primarily the cause of the occurrence
Thursday. This morning Secretary
| Milton Neman called on Chief of Po-
| lice Rhoades and a clear understand
ing was arrived at. Hereafter the am
bulance crews are instructed to take
patients in extreme cases to the near
est hospital, where first aid shall be
given. A meeting of Mr.. Neman,
Chief Rhoades and Supervisor Carroll,
who has succeeded Mr., Orr, will be
held and arrangements that will OBJ
viate a repetition of so unfortunate a
happening will be made"