Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1902 — MISTAKE OF A NURSE. [ARTICLE]

MISTAKE OF A NURSE.

Causes the Death of Two Women One a Resident of Rensselaer. The Chicago Inter Ocean ofTuesday has an acoount of the death of Mrs. Laura Moore, of Rensselaer, whiol* took place at the Presbyterian hospital in Chicago August 2(ith, her death being caused by the mistake of a nurse in administering the wrong medicine. Mrs. Moore was the wife of Alfred E. Moore, who lives on the Alter farm, east ot Rensselaer. They moved here from Hoopston, M,, a few months ago. Mrs. Moore was 27 years of age and leaves a husband, but no children. Tho remains were buried at Hoopston. The following is the account from tho Chicago paper: Coroner Traeger will begin investigation today into the death of two women at the Presbyterian hospital last Tuesday. It is alleged that a young nurse administered tho wrong medicine to the two patients by mistake and that they died soon afters ward. The women were Mrs. Laura Moore, of Rensselaer, Ind,, and Mrs. John Dubsky, 514 Robey street , Chicago. Coroner Traeger called in SuperintendentjFrancis Nesmith of the hospital yesterday and questioned him about the cases. Dr. Nesmith said that the physicians had wanted tomake a post mortem examination of the body of Mrs. Moore in order to verify their diagnosis of the case, but that the family had objected. The bodies of both women have been embalmed. That of Mrs. Moore was taken by relatives to Hoopston, 111., for interment and that of Mrs. Dubsky was buried in tho Bohemian ‘•My investigation will be of an informal nature,” said Coroner Traeger yesterday, “as none of tho relatives of the decedents have filed a formal complaint with me. Dr. Webster, who was the regular physician in charge, says that both Dr. Farnum, an interne at the hospital, and Dr. Nesmith, admitted that poison might have been administered to ttie women by mistake. Both patients had undergone operations some days before, but 1 understand they wore strong and comparatively well on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday night they were dead.”

Dr. David W. Graham, chief of the. hospital physienns, was asked: “In your opinion, was there anything mysterious or irregular in the death of either woman?” “I decline fro say. It's none of the public’s business,” was his answer. He was questioned as to the probability of his making a report on the casesto the coroner or the health department. “I shall make no report,” he said. “The health department issued the burial permits, and that closes the incident. Will the bodies be exhumed? Certainly not. There’s no law in Illinois to make me order such a thing. What’s more, there is no law to make me talk to the newspapers, or to the coroner, or to the health department about the case.” Dr. Farnum, who signed the death certificate of Mrs. Moore, said yesterday: “On Tuesday of last week I was attending a blood poisoning case iu Lake Forest. Dr. William N. Senn had charge of my hospital cases, among which was that of Mrs. Moore. I was notjpresent when she died, and can, therefore, say nothing about the matter now.” The cause of Mrs. Moore’s death, as set forth in the death certificate, was inflammation of the kidney’s heart trouble, and complications following an operation. If the coroner finds in his investigation today that the circumstances warrant such action, he will order one or both of the bodies exhumed. Even if this step is taken, however, it will be difficult, Mr. Traeger says, to discover traces of poison at this lato day on account of the influence of the embalming fluids.