Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-30
FATHER ASKS INQUIRY
INTO DEATH OF SOLDIER
Wrong Diagnosis" Alleged in
Case of First Regiment
Private

Because Of the death-bed request Of hi
l.. First Pennsylvania Infantry. who die,
In the Naval Hospital last Friday after a.
operation for peritonltis. Thomas Mcguire
| OF 1905 Parrish street today asked tha
| Colonel Brown, commanding officer Of tn,
| First Regiment. conduct an investigation
into the medical treatment given the hoy
irior to the time he was removed to the
| tospltal
The claim made by the father Is wrong
diagnosis" 1t being said by him that for
three days and up to the day of his death
the boy was treated for gastrits. when he
was removed to the hospital and operated
on for peritonltis. 1t was said at regi-
mental headquarters that careful investiga-
ton OF the case would be made.
Just "A little while before my boy died. "
Mr.. Mcguire said. "he whispered Father.
! shouldn't be- lying mere this way now If
had been treated differently. want you
to look into IT after I am gone"
Major Frescoln. head regimental surgeon.
said that young Mcguire reported his illness
only day before he was removed TO the
hospital, and that, at the worst. If a wrong
diagnosis was made. "the doctor who made
1t is above blame, because tho diagnosis was
most conscentiously made
Lieutenant Colonel Fritzinger, command
ing officer Of the companies encamped ON
the University grounds. said that he knew
little OF the case and could make no COM
most conscientiously made"
old member of the guard for six wears
and border" man during the trouble with
Mexico last summer lie was taken sioly
ms tather says. week ago last Monday
For three days he lay in the hospital tent
nursed by relay Of guardsmen and treated
by the company physician None Of the
Mcguire family WAS notified of his illness
Mr.. Mcguire says. until the sick boy him.
self dispatched comrade to tell his father
10 come and bring his some fruit because
he could keep nothing on his stomach" II
was only on Thursday afternoon. the father
asserts, that, in "A dying condition his son
was removed to the hospital lie was oner-
ated on for peritonits and less than twelve
hours after his arrival there the father
says. his son died.
AT the Naval Hospital Or. Henry Dunn
|. ). n, executive surgeon. refused Ia make
any comment on the case. Doctor pratt
who attended the boy there and who, tho
rather says, signed the death certificate Civ.
ing general peritonitis as the cause for The
death, would not discuss the case other
than to say that the boy was too sick when
he came for any one to tell what was reoII,,
he matter with him.
Mr' Mcguire says that upon the bows en- !
trance into the hospital an attending phvsi- |
clan pronounced the case a severe ono nf |
appendicitis. Major Frescoln said durirg
an interview that 1t was possible the death
was due to ruptured appendix.
Frank was the only son and support of !
MIS- father, who Is seventy years old
Il don't want to be unfair" the fatber |
said, "or to reflect discredt on the repi |
nent. ON his dying bed, though. the bov |
told me to look into the treatment he had |
received He wasn't neglected, but he |
wanted to go to the hosptal--he said So
and they didn't take him until twas too |
late"