Illustrations of medical evidence and trial by jury in Scotland.

Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Illustrations of medical evidence and trial by jury in Scotland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/66 (page 9)
    MR SYME TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE. Edinburgh, April 9, 1853. Gentlemen,—There is at present a boy under my charge in the Royal Infirmary, on account of a very severe and complicated injury of the leg. A few days ago the Surgeon of Police, Mr Glover, went to the ward where this patient lies, and attempted to turn down the bed-clothes in order to examine the limb, but was prevented from doing so. He then gave a certificate, “on soul and conscience,” describing the particulars of an injury which he had not seen, and expressing an opinion as to what he had no means of knowing any thing. How far the Procurator-Fiscal, Mr Lothian, was justified in preferring a document so questionable to the authentic information which might have been procured from myself or the House Surgeon, is a matter that belongs to the Lord-Advo¬ cate,—and to his Lordship has accordingly been submitted. But being informed by Mr Lothian that, in giving the certificate, Mr Glover acted in the discharge of his duty as Police Surgeon, I beg to ascertain from the Commissioners—who, of course, determine the duties of their officers—if they really have authorized a proceeding which I may safely say has no precedent in any hospital within her Majesty’s dominions.—-I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, James Syme. The Commissioners of Police. Copy of Mr Glover's Certificate. Edinburgh, March 21, 1853. I hereby certify, on soul and conscience, that I this day examined Patrick Clark, aged about eleven years, lying at the Royal Infir¬ mary, and find he has a large lacerated wound of the soft parts on the outer side of the left leg, and a fracture of the bone a little above the ankle; that his life is in danger, and that he is in a fit state to emit a declaration. (Signed) Geo. Glover, Surgeon.