THERE'S A SURGEON AT NO. 4.
And Because of That, W. I. Gessler
Is Alive Today.
It was related in The Journal Sunday morning that at the Walnut street police station the ambulance had been without a surgeon for a week. It was pointed out that if a call were turned into the station attend to a would-be suicide who had taken poison, the police could do nothing but take the man to the general hospital and he would probably die on the way, whereas if a doctor accompanied the police, emergency treatment might save the man's life.
Dr. W. S. Wheeler, city physician, yesterday stationed Dr. R. A. Shiras, his assistant, at the Walnut street station. This is the first time in the past two years that a doctor who received any pay for his work has been stationed at the post.
This act came just in time to save the life of W. I. Gessler, a young man of 21, who tried to commit suicide by taking four ounces of chloroform in the rear of a dyer's shop at 3226 East Twelfth street. Gessler was out of work and entered the store about 11 o'clock yesterday morning, picked up the bottle from a shelf and drank the fluid. The ambulance surgeon arrived in time to administer emergency treatment, which saved the life of the young man. It is said that had treatment been delayed until the patient arrived at the general hospital he would have died. Gessler lives with his parents at Englewood on the Independence car line. Loss of work is supposed to have been the cause of the attempt.
