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.

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    a double splint in the inner side of the leg. The splints were fixed by bandages, immediately below the knee, and on the ankle. The bandages were looped. The large wound was dressed with wet lint, and covered over by a sheet of gutta percha, extending half way up the leg. The bandage on the foot may not have been a loop. It may have surrounded the foot. The wound had been dressed that morning. Mr Glover did raise the bed-clothes. I made a restrain¬ ing motion with my left hand, and said—a the limb is dressed.” I put my hand on the bed-clothes. I was determined that he should not examine it. He wTas not able from the raising of the blankets to see anything of the position and nature of the wound at all. I thought that the bone was so seriously injured, that the fracture was so extensive, and that there might not have been enough of bone to have restored the limb,—the tibia might not have been restored properly,—that he might be in danger of suffering from deformity in the limb ; and I also had a fear of mortification, because the soft parts had suffered so much. I saw the certificate; and on the Thursday following, the 24th, I took a copy, because I considered the certificate not correct—not true, as I considered Mr Glover had not examined the limb. I knew he had not. [A certificate was here shown to the witness.] The words are the same : but I am not sure that this is the identical document of which I took a copy. (Mr Patton then proceeded to read the certificate, but was interrupted by the Dean, and after a short argument in which the Lord Justice- Clerk took part, the examination was continued.) By Mr Patton.—I considered it not correct, because I considered that Mr Glover could not find that there was a lacerated wound of the soft parts without an examination of the wound itself. I took the simple meaning of the certificate as I thought. I com¬ municated a copy of it to Mr Syme. I was surprised at the terms of the certificate. Mr Patton.—Did you consider there had been such an examina¬ tion as entitled Mr Glover to grant that certificate % The Lord Justice-Clerk.—That is not a question for the witness; it is a question for the jury. Mr Patton.—Then I should wish the question noted, if you please. The Lord Justice-Clerk.—To note such a question as that! How¬ ever I will do it if you wish me. Give me the question % Mr Patton.—The question which I desire to put is,-—Did you