Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-11

attending physician on the cnso nnd also
that the child had been treated b. q
Christian Science practitioner aud
nurse.
"Dr. Joseph +. O'Nclll, in charge Of
special work was delegated on this case.
He called to see DR.. Thacher on April .
and the doctor acknowledged the case
had been seen by him IN company ,,t With
DR.. !. W. Mullen. of West street, Will
mington. who had called him into con. 4.
sultation and that he had aftcrward
taken charge Of the cnsc.
DR.. Thacher stated to DIR. ONciI
that at that time the patients tonsils
and fauces we're covered with mcm-
brane and that there was some laryn-
geal obstruction. d. Ttachcr also nc
knowledgcd that Christian Science
nurse was reading science and religion
to the boy and when DR.. Thachcr asked
her whether she had administered the
medicine she said she had not.
DR.. Thncher then went downstairs
and advised the family that a trained
nurse should be obtained. as the boys
condition was serious.
Nurse Was Sent for
"Obtaining the permission he tele-
phone the Nurses Club. 2W7 Mt. Vcr-
non street. and Miss Thomas was sent
to take care of the patient. DIR. Thacher
also tsatcd Mr.. Dupont had called at
his Office about 3 T.. NJ. Saturday,
April l, when the case was first dis
cusscd: Mr.. Dupont admitted the
mother was Scientist, that the boy
had received no medicine up to that
time.
"Dr. Thachcr also stated thnt later
In the afternoon he was asked to see
the case with DR.. Carpenter, but that
he had stated at the time that he
would not be able to agree with DIR.
Carpenter on the case. and he was
again called on the telephone and told
the family wished to have DIR. Car
penter so DIR. Thnchcr at once retired
from the case.
On Monday. April 3. at A. NJ,
the Division Of Medical Inspection re-
ccived II postalcard dated April |. 1922,
q 80 l.. NJ. Penn Square Station. on
which Dr. Thacher reported this cnse.
"Dr. Thnchcr first saw the boy with
DR.. Mullen, Thursday, March 30. about
noon; made n positive diagnosis of
period of at least nifty
four hours or two aud onc-quartcr days
before DR.. Thachcr made any attempt
to report the case to this department
as required by law. No safeguards
were thrown around. nor was any at
tempt made to prevent the spread Of
the disease until after the arrival of
DIR. Carpenter, who Immediately re-
ported the case by telephone and had
the patient removed to the Philndcl-
phia Hospital for Contagious Diseases.
and gave minimizing doses of antitoxin
to Delphinc and Marianne du Pont,
age five years.
"Thc census of the du Pont house
includes ten people. to wit: Five in
the immediate fnmil j.. one sovcrncsS
and four servants. These people were
the Department of Public Health.
"A Christian science nurse. Mrs.
Waller. used no prccaution whatever 20
prevent the spread Of the disease rs re-
quircd by the regulations Of the depart
mcnt. and she left the house against the
rules of the department.
AT the time of the visit Of the first
medical inspector. April |. to obtain the
history of the caes. no mention was
made to the inspector that Christian
Scicpcc was identified with the case.
Neither was he told that any physician
other than DR.. Carpcntcr was connected
with the case or had seen It.
1T has been my experience that when
cases are under the care OF Christian
science healer. about the time death
is due to take place. he nbscnts him
self from the house and Il secrctive
screen is thrown around so that they
TO not appear. 1t has taken me three
days to obtain the information and date
l have placed before you in a manner
us brief rs possible
Signed "A. A. CAIRNS.
"Chrf Medical Inspector
"Whcn learned that my son was
suffering with diphthcrin,' Mrs. Du
Pont said this afternoon. 81 called
in another physician. believing that he
might administer an hntitoXin.
Il was SO upset and worried Mt the
time do not remember whether or
not Dr. Thachcr refused to administer
an nntitOxin.'
DR.. Thnchcr. when told Of the rcr-
ommcndation of the Board of Health.
expressed complete ignorance of it.
This IS all news to me-" the physi-
clan said.
II have not had any word from the
Board of Health which would lead ne
to believe that my arrest had been
recommended.