Evening star., 1952-09-18
|Dr. Joseph 5. Wall,
|Ex-Chief al Children s
Hospital, Dies at Is

DR.. Joseph Stiles Wall. rs,
prominent child specialist and
former chief bf staff at Children's
Hospital. died early today at his
home, 1914 Porter street NV.
He had been critically i'll for
about month. His wife died last
month but news of her death was
withheld from him. He had been
unconscious much of the time.
DR.. Wall is survived by daugh-
ter, Mrs. Frances Wall Hines, 304O
Idaho avenue NV. and a grand
daughter. Mrs. William C. Whit
ner OF Virginia Beach.
DR.. Wall, who spent most of his
life caring for children, lived to
see virtual accomplishment Of one
OF his fondest dreams-completion
OF a large and badly needed addi-
ton to Children's Hospital.
The auditorium in the hospital
will be named in memory of him.
DR.. Wall was closely associated
with the hospital-for SIS years.
During the last Is years of his
service there he was chief Of staff.
When he resigned from the staff
In october. 1851, the grateful
board named him honorary chief
of staff.
His last public appearance was
at the May session here Of the
American Academy Of Pediatrics.
DR.. Wall, a former president of
the group. received a rousing ova-
ton from the members, all Of
whom knew him by reputation,
If not personally.
In 1916 the Executive Board of
the academy gave DR.. Wall a
scroll containing a resolution of
appreciation for his "exact and
distinguished services, beyond and
above what would be expected Of
him in the ordinary performance
Of his duties. in favorably pre-
senting the position of the Ameri-
can Academy of Pediatrics on
child health matters before Con-
greSS :"
AS longtime chairman Of the
academy's Committee on Legisla-1
ton. DR.. Wall successfully fought
for such child health measures as
legislation forbidding the use Of
poisonous paint on children's
cribs.
Because Of his concern over
things harmful to children, a year
ago. the report Of the Children's|
Hospital Research Foundation con-
tanned optimistic news Of new
treatment for children with lead
poisoning.
Understood Child's Makeup.
But DR.. Wall was more than an
accomplished physician-he was a
man with rich understanding of
personalities.
He would often get down on
the floor of his toy-filled Office
and play with his tiny patients
until he had their confidence.
In explaining one time why he
preferred to limit his practice toI
children. he said:
II think you'll find those Of usI
who are closely associated with
treatment of children greatly
prefer them to adult patients.
They are innocent and trusting;
they are truthful and do not
Feign illness-they are so in
nerently honest .f ~.
His mixture of understanding |
and medical knowledge was il
ustrated in his treatment of one
A 7-year-old boy, criti-
ally i'll, was brought to the hos
oital. The child's greatest con-
'en. however. was over his collie |
1t home. The boy feared his dog
would not receive proper treat
nent.
Dog Stays in Room.
After watching the child's in
;reasingly severe condition, DR..
Wall and his associates decided t
his was one time hospital rules
must be broken. The dog was /
brought to the hospital, and re-
NAMED in the child's room
throughout the period of his re-