Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-12
.DU POINT BOYS DEATH
SUBJECT Of INQUIRY
Physician Accused by PhiIa
Health Board Of Failing to
Make Prompt Report.

Philadelphia, Pa. April l2.--Dr. q. ii.
Thatcher Of No. zoos Chestnut street,
physician OF Francis !. du Pont. who
has residence here Mt No. is2a Spruce
street, and another In Wilmington. In
Mt odds with tho local Board OF Health
for his alleged failure to promptly re-
port to the Bureau OF Health the case
of Mr.. du Points l2-year-old son.
Alexis, who died on Sunday. April 2. In
the Philadelphia Hospital for Contasi-
Gus Diseases OF laryngeal diphtheria.
DIR, Thatcher was called before the
Board OF Health at "A special meeting
yesterday and afterward steps were
taken by the board to get the opinion
OF City Solicitor Smyth on the legal
aspect OF the case.
Christian Science practitioners and
nurses were In attendance on the
child during his Illness, according to
the report made to the board by DR..
A. A. Cairns, chief medical inspector
Medical physicians were also in at
tendance.
DIR. Thatcher. following his meeting
with the Board OF Health. declared that
he had reported tho case aa soon as
he was convinced that II was dlph-
iberia. He, has retained former Mayor
John Weaver an his attorney.
Il am not In a position TO talk at
| the present time" DR.. Thacher said
Il think the Board OF Health has n
| wrong conception OF my status In the
| case. l reported the case just az soon
as l wax- convinced that It was diph
iberia. irrespective OF what the board
says to the contrary"
DR.. Cairns report. summarized. says
hie Investigations showed the follow
Ing circumstances;
| Alexis du Pont left the Montgomery
School. wynnewood. where he was q
pupil. March "a, TO spend the Easter
vacation with his parents. and on
| March q he went 10 "Louvlers." q
country place near Wilmington. IL,
was taken 81 March 90. and brought
home the following day IN a railroad
train.
Mr.. du Pont looked at the boy,
throat, saw white patches there an,
summoned Drs, Mullen and Thscher
The latter made a positive DIAGNOSE
OF diphtheria, prescribed medicines. bu
did not administer anutoyin.
DR.. Thacher installed Miss Agatha
Thomas OF No. 1907 Nj. Vernon stree
ae nurse and when the latter noteS
the eeriousness OF the boys condition
ana suggested ant!toxin he admins
tered. The physician said he did no
believe in that treatment and instruct
ed her 20 give the patient his medicine.
Medicine was given as instruction
called for,
Later that day Mr.. du Pont sum
moned DIR. Allen who In turn recon
menSed DIR. Carpenter he called. IN
latter Immediately notified tho Heait
Bureau OF the boys condition and h
, was taken TO the hospital IN an arnbu
lance. Antitoxins were administers
b but the boy died at 40 o'clock Ia
following morning.
MIR. du Pont made a brief statcmer
: TO the board. My con became Ill o
. Thursday. March 80. and was put {
, bed" Mr.. du Pont said. He did nc
seem 20 be seriously I'll and slept a
that night. After ! looked Al his throa
: on Friday I called Up DR.. Mullin o
! the telephone. He came up from WI
mington and called DR.. Thatcher. Tn
: boys condition seemed 20 improve an
. the medicine was stopped. The ne,
day DR.. Thatcher told me my son wa
| seriously III and suggested q consulti
| ton. Then I called DR.. Allen"
| DR., Carpenter administered inmur
iZing antitoxin 10 two other your
| children OF the du Points, Delphtne ar
/ Marion, who were at home whe
Alexis was stricken, There are r.
other sons and another daughter. TT