A-14939, JULY 9, 1926, 6 COMP. GEN. 20
Highlights
WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM MELANCHOLIA NOT SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN INCIDENT TO HIS EMPLOYMENT. IS NOT PAYABLE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS. FOR A DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO PAY THE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED IN FAVOR OF DR. MELANCHOLIA IS DEFINED IN GOULD'S DICTIONARY OF MEDICINES AS "A FORM OF INSANITY CHARACTERIZED BY DEPRESSION OF SPIRITS AND GLOOMINESS. THE USUAL AGE AT WHICH MELANCHOLIA APPEARS IS DURING MIDDLE LIFE. NO EXPLANATION IS SUBMITTED OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONDITIONS OF THE SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT WHICH MIGHT HAVE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE DISEASE IN THIS CASE. THE DISEASE IS NOT ORDINARILY THE RESULT OF OR ATTRIBUTABLE TO AN INCIDENT OF EMPLOYMENT. PAYMENT IS NOT AUTHORIZED ON THE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED.
A-14939, JULY 9, 1926, 6 COMP. GEN. 20
MEDICAL TREATMENT - MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION EMPLOYEE THE EXPENSE OF MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT OF A HELPER AT A DREDGE DEPOT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION, WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM MELANCHOLIA NOT SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN INCIDENT TO HIS EMPLOYMENT, IS NOT PAYABLE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO MAJOR H. H. STICKNEY, UNITED STATES ARMY, JULY 9, 1926:
THERE HAS BEEN RECEIVED AT YOUR REQUEST OF JUNE 18, 1926, FOR A DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO PAY THE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED IN FAVOR OF DR. H. B. JACOBSON AND ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL FOR $37 AND $60.40, RESPECTIVELY, COVERING MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT OF JONAS SCHLOSS, A HELPER AT THE DREDGE DEPOT, MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION, WHILE SUFFERING FROM MELANCHOLIA.
THE REGULATION CONTAINED IN THE COMMISSION'S CIRCULAR OF JANUARY 23, 1923, PROVIDES FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF A PHYSICIAN AND THE FURNISHING OF NECESSARY MEDICAL, SURGICAL OR HOSPITAL TREATMENT ,IN CASE OF SICKNESS INCURRED IN THE LINE OF DUTY OF ANY EMPLOYEE.'
IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT AN EMPLOYEE'S SICKNESS MUST BE REFERABLE TO HIS SERVICE AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AND AN INCIDENT OF THAT SERVICE. A-3651, SEPTEMBER 5, 1924; A-9434, JUNE 5, 1925; A-10198, JUNE 30, 1925.
MELANCHOLIA IS DEFINED IN GOULD'S DICTIONARY OF MEDICINES AS "A FORM OF INSANITY CHARACTERIZED BY DEPRESSION OF SPIRITS AND GLOOMINESS, WITHOUT ANY ADEQUATE CAUSE * * *. THE USUAL AGE AT WHICH MELANCHOLIA APPEARS IS DURING MIDDLE LIFE. IT FOLLOWS ANY DEPRESSING CAUSE ACTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH A STRONG HEREDITARY TENDENCY.' NO EXPLANATION IS SUBMITTED OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONDITIONS OF THE SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT WHICH MIGHT HAVE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE DISEASE IN THIS CASE. FURTHERMORE, THE DISEASE IS NOT ORDINARILY THE RESULT OF OR ATTRIBUTABLE TO AN INCIDENT OF EMPLOYMENT. ACCORDINGLY, PAYMENT IS NOT AUTHORIZED ON THE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED.