Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-03-14
Xray Machine
Cause Death of
Local Doctor
DR.. II. J. Robb Electrocuted
While Manipulating X
Ray Machine
Funeral Held On Wednesday
Attended By Many Sym
pathetic Friends

Tragedy of an unusual nature,
visited Plentywood Saturday night,
taking DR.. II. J. Robb, who was
stricken while in the act of perform
ing one Of his professional duties.
Death came to the local physician
at the Sheridan Memorial Hospital
about $3.50 o'clock last Saturday ev.
ening, while he, with the assistance
Of Beatrice Waite, nurse, were
manipulating an X-ray machine, pre-
paratory to taking a photograph of
fractured limb of patient. The
doctor, after turning on the current,
reached over to some other part of
the machine to make some minor
adjustment and in so doing came in
contact with the current which re-
suited in his death.
Just how the accident occurred is
not known for the room was in
darkness preparatory to the taking
of the X-ray. The patient, six
year old son of Mr.. and Mrs. Charl-
es Vielen of Reserve had suffered
severe fracture of a thigh bone
which gave the doctor considerable
trouble in setting and he was trying
to locate the trouble by use of the
microscope. Miss Waite was standing
ing along side of him administering
an anesthetic to the patient when
the shock came. The shock stunned
her, but she recovered almost instant
ly and had Mrs. Vielen, who was
present in the room, turn on the
switch.
She found the doctor lieing uncon-
scious and although his heart was
beating feebly and he was breathing
spasmodically, it was apparent that
he was practically beyond human aid.
DR.. Campbell arrived on the scene a
few moments after and applied ar
tificial respiration but to no avail
and death came a few moments af-
terwards.
Miss Waite, outside of severe
burn about one of her hands. along
the arm and one of her limbs, was
not seriously injured and was able
to resume her duties without inter
ruption.
How the contact was made re-
mains mystery for only slight
burn on the hand of the dead man
revealed where the current entered
The patient was also shocked hav-
ing burns on the face and the sole
Of his foot where the current entered
and went out.
DR.. Robb was born at Detroit,
Midh., Oct. 6, 1889, and had lived
at Broadview since January, 1918,
where he maintained his own hospi-
tai. He moved here in August, 1927,
and had built up large practice.
He was graduate Of the Chicago
College of Medicine and Surgery and
is survived by his wife and two
small children, his mother and two
brothers, DR.. Herb Robb and DR..
David Robb of Detroit, who were
present at the funeral.
uiiCid a oCi NiSCS WCic nCiu dt Ciic
Orpheum Theatre Wednesday after
noon, where the large auditorium
was filed to it's capacity with sor-
rowing friends of the deceased. A
sea of flowers, tokens of esteem and
love, banked and literally covered
the casket.
The funeral service was conducted
by Rev. S. w. Monroe, a Seventh
Day Advent pastor from Billings,
choir composed of Mrs. C. c. john
son, Miss Sarah Hansen, H. D.
Moore and Martin Nelson, with Mrs
A. 0. Opgrande as accompanist rem
dered several appropriate selections.
Robert Henderson of Reserve, Tom
Brockley, DR.. G. E. Campbell, DR.. R.
f. Gustafson, Art LANCER and Pete
Stewart served as pail bearers. The
body was laid to rest in the Plenty
wood Cemetery.
DR.. Robb was man who at all
times exemplified the high character
of his calling. He was a skilled ply
sician, but more than that-a man
whose integrity was beyond question,
whose conscientiousness commanded
confidence and whose kindliness
made him loved and respected by all
who knew him. His untimely pass
ing is recognized as a distinct loss
to the community.