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.

    49/66 (page 47)
    Mr Glover of falsehood, when all the facts are true, and because Dr Dobie says, Oh ! it is false, and Professor Syme says afterwards it is false, because he says, u I examined Patrick Clark, and find,” etc. They say he did not find it, because he did not examine the limb. It is quite true he found it, in another sense, because he got infor¬ mation at the Police-Office and in the Infirmary; but because he uses the words u I find,” you are to convict Mr Glover of falsehood. Now, how does this matter originate? One witness examined yesterday, the Superintendent of Police, says he wrote the following letter to Mr Glover: —■ Police-Office, 21st March 1853. Mr Glover,—Dear Sir,—The boy sent to the Infirmary on Thursday, who was injured by a cart in the Canongate, is reported to be very ill. A report is to be sent to the P. F., and therefore it will be necessary to know whether he is at present in a fit state to be examined. Please see him without delay, as an operation is to be performed upon him, perhaps this forenoon.—I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, (Signed) D. Miller. Now, gentlemen, from whom had that information come? Why plainly from that young man, Dr Dobie, who, to the last, had seemed to view his own opinion as far more authoritative, and of far more importance, than that of his superior, Mr Syme, for on the forenoon of that day, the police had ascertained that amputation was likely to be performed. Now this, Mr Syme says, that he had decided against on the Sunday before, and that the boy was in no danger; and vet it is allowed to be so known in the hospital, because, forsooth, Dr Dobie had taken up that opinion. Now, I say, that is a state of things which I think if Mr Syme devoted his attention to repress it would be of far more use to the institution than publishing letters upon this public grievance, as he calls it. I think that was a most improper state of things to take place in the hospital. And I think, that when the Superintendent of Police heard that an operation was to take place under which the patient might sink, it was verv na¬ tural for him to say, we must see whether he can be examined. Well, Mr Glover, being appointed under the regulations of the po¬ lice, which require him to report whether in such circumstances a patient’s life is in danger, instantly obeys his instructions. You will