John Lizars, Esq, Surgeon, against James Syme, Esq., Surgeon, Monday, 26th July 1852 : (before the Lord Justice-General and a Jury).

  • Lizars, John, 1787?-1860.
Date:
[1852]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: John Lizars, Esq, Surgeon, against James Syme, Esq., Surgeon, Monday, 26th July 1852 : (before the Lord Justice-General and a Jury). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    You know Mr. Lizars of Edinburgh by name? I have known him long by name. Was the article of May 16th alluded to in Mr. Syme’s letter written by Mr. Lizars? It was not. He had no connection with it whatever. Had he any knowledge of it ? Hone. Do vou know the writer ? I do, Mr. Kesteven. The article in the journal of May 16th was a review ? It was a review of a book. m Had you requested Mr. Kesteven to review that book ? I had. Of your own motive ? Yes, entirely of my own motive. Does the letter of Mr. Syme, as published in the Gazette, con¬ tain all that the letter itself contained ? No. When you received the original letter, what did you do ? I sent it to Mr. Kesteven, who wrote the review, with a request that he would read it and return it to me with any comments he might have to make. He returned it to me, and made no comment. I read it over carefully, and struck out one or two passages which I thought very offensive. Now, look at the 4 Monthly Journal of Medical Science’ of August, 1851, and say if the passages of the letter within brackets are the omitted passages in the 4 London Medical Gazette’ ? Yes, these are the passages struck out of the letter. In what respect did you think them objectionable? I thought them highly objectionable, as reflecting on the character of a medical man, and that they would involve the publishers of the Medical Gazette in an action for libel. Did you think that these passages convey a meaning injurious to the character of a medical man ? I do. By the Court — What is the injurious meaning to which you allude ? It would prevent another medical man from consulting Mr. Lizars, or recommending any patient to consult him. By Mr. Deas—Would it lead you to think that his character in the profession was reputable or disreputable? Certainly dis¬ reputable. Were you personally acquainted with Mr. Syme or Mr. Lizars at that time ? No. You see an editorial note annexed to the letter in the Medical Gazette. Did you write that note ? I did. I understand you to say, that all you did in this matter was done