Transcriber’s Notes Italic text displayed as: _italic_ Bold text displayed as: =bold= GOLDEN RULES OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE. BY STANLEY B. ATKINSON, M.A., M.B., B.Sc. _of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law; a Justice of the Peace for the County of London; Hon. Sec. of the Medico-Legal Society_ (_London_). _“GOLDEN RULES” SERIES. No. XVI._ Bristol: JOHN WRIGHT & CO. London: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LTD. PREFACE. The science, the art, and the correct estimation of the value of Medical Evidence is the province of Forensic Medicine. It is hoped that this little book will aid the General Practitioner when he is called upon to offer medical testimony, so that the ancient inquest jury especially may fully appreciate the bearing of the technical facts he narrates. Those who pose as “experts,” should _ipso facto_ be themselves authorities on the matter and the manner of bearing testimony. STANLEY B. ATKINSON, _10, Adelphi Terrace, W.C._ INDEX. PAGE Alleged drowning, uncertainty concerning, 47 — overlaying, uncertainty concerning, 47 — still-birth, uncertainty concerning, 47 Blood-circulation preceding sudden death, 48 Civil actions, the fees in, 44 Common witnesses of facts, 8 Coroner’s court, constitution of, 8 — — the fees in, 39 Criminal proceedings, the fees in, 41 Dead, the examination of, 21 Deglutition and peristalsis preceding sudden death, 48 Drawing up a medico-legal report, 24 Evidence, classes of, 8 — given before entering court, 10 — in court after being sworn, 30 — in court before being sworn, 28 Examination of the dead, 21 — of the living and the dying, 18 — of the living, dying, and dead, 17 Expert witnesses, 9 Fees, the rules as to, 39 Hearsay testimony, when receivable, 50 Limitations imposed by inadequacy of knowledge, 46 Limitations to medico-legal evidence, 45 Living and dying, the examination of, 18