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.

    18/66 (page 16)
    a boy of the name of Clark in the Infirmary. Cannot say what day it was. Saw four or five medical gentlemen, but did not know their names. Did not understand that one of them was Professor Syme’s assistant or clerk. Had a medical certificate with me, which had been made out by Mr Glover. Had never read the document. (The witness read the certificate, and found it to relate to t le oy Clark.) Received that certificate from Mr Lothian, the Procurator- Fiscal. Received it for the purpose of inquiring into the state of the boy’s health, and it was given to direct me as to the boy I was to inquire about. Did not read it then, because it was merely a matter of inquiry. Mr Lothian told me to go and inquire into the state of the boy Clark’s health—the boy who had got his leg broken in consequence of an injury by a cart. Had the certificate merely as a memorandum, to let me bear the case in mind. Showed the certificate to the medical gentlemen in the Infirmary. Did not know any of them by name; did not see any of them here to- ay. One of them took it from me, and made some pencil-markings. They went aside, and they took some pencil-markings from it, and returned the document to me, and said they would send a proper certificate to the fiscal. Told Mr Lothian I had shown them the certificate, and lie found fault with me. I understood afterwards that it was irregular for me to do so ; at the time I did not think so. By the Lord Justice-Clerk.—Do not know the date at which 1 went to the Infirmary. Did not make notes of what he did, as it was merely an inquiry—no regular business. The visit was made not exceeding three days after the date of the certificate. I am not aware that the boy had been examined before that. The Lord Justice-Clerk.—I cannot believe that Mr Lothian would delay for three days when the boy was in that state. This is the result of your not making notes, as you ought to do, of every¬ thing you are engaged in. . The Dean.—Look at this gentleman (Dr Dobie.) Is that one of the gentlemen you saw in the Infirmary !—I cannot say. Patrick Clark examined.—Am about thirteen years of age. Re¬ collect wetting hurt down at the gas works nearly two years ago, and being taken to the Infirmary. Recollect Mr Glover, the police- surgeon,“coming to see me. There was a ticket hanging over the becT and after he had looked at the ticket he told me to put out my tongue. Then he felt my pulse and looked at his watch. Then he lifted up the bed-clotlies a little and put down his hand about as far