The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-01-25

OF Dr. j. T.. Adams and the hob
bles Of professional ethics are
charged with unnecessarily caus-
ing the death Of little Viola Con-
ser from dread diphtheria.
Viola Gonser was the daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs, George Gonser,
623 John avenue. She was the
flower Of the family. Only ten
years Of age, she was in the sixth
grade of the Matt Carpenter
school. All who knew the child,
loved her..She had "a beautiful dis
position and her future possessed
rare promise.
For the last time, Viola Gonser
came home from school on Friday,
December 6. She rolled up her
little mittens and put them away
in the orderly manner which was
her habit. She attended to her
other little tasks, radiating SUM-
shine, joy and love in the humble
home.
The ,.ext morning, Saturday,
DecembS,7 7, Viola was indisposed.
Her condition grew worse and, at
about 2 p. m, George Gonser, the
father, summoned DR.. j. C. Adams.
Mr.. Gonser, now employed at the
Superior shipyards, once worked
for the N. P. r. and had a minor
injury neatly treated by DR..
Adams, the company physician,
therefore he trustingly turned to
him hi when the little daughter fell
in.
DIR. Adams appeared at the Con-
ser home at about 6 p. m. He
looked the girl over and wrote
prescriptions, calling for a throat
gargle and some powders.
eff she is not better in the
morning." he informed the anx-
ious parents, eve may have to in
ject something into her arm.''
eff she is not better in the morn
ing, come to my, office" DR.. Ad-
ans also instructed Mr.. Gonser.
Viola was no better Sunday
morning and Mr.. Gonser called at
the DOCTORS office as early as 9
a. m. He got in touch with him
at about 10 a. M: The doctor d.
rected the continued use of the
remedies he had prescribed.
"What's the matter with our
little girl?'' the anxious father in
quired. .~
II have not said," DR.. Adams
is alleged to have replied.
"Come again this afternoon if
she is no better" the doctor said.
At 5 p, -m.,. Sunday, Dec. s, Mr..
Gonser went to the doctors office
but he did not show up. =.
Monday morning, Viola was no
better and the father promptly
went to DIR. Adam s office. He in
formed the physician that there
was not much of a change but that
she asked for food. DR.. Adams
told the father that it would be
proper to give the little girl nour-
ishment. =
That is the matter with our
little girl?' again asked father
Gonser. "Will she pull through 2"
L am not God. I am only a
doctor. How can 1 tellY" was the
non-committal reply.
A visit to the doctors office
Monday afternoon had about the
same results as the other calls.
Late Monday night, Viola became
much worse. Shortly after mid
night, Tuesday morning, Dec. 10,
DIR. Adams was called out of bed.
The night was stormy. He re-
fused to come; to his little patient.
why can't you Gomez asked
the worried father.
"Oh, I can't come. I'm sick"
was the unsatisfactory reply. And
the recreant physician did not
come to his case, either.
Cant you send a doctor Yuwas
next asked. ,->-@
II cannot. You call someone.
yourself -: :,
DIR. Adams did ask Mr.. Gonser
ST he had, any brandy or whiskey
IN the house. .Give her some
,brandy OF. whiskey and keep on
using hot towels. ~"
Attempts then were made to get