Cook, John Parsons, -1855; Palmer, William, 1824-1856 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Murder) -- England -- London
Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--I learned from the man’s wife
that a linseed meal poultice had been applied to this ulcer a day or two
before. The jaws were completely fixed when he came, so as to render him
incapable of swallowing anything. He said he had just been taken with
strange symptoms about the jaws at dinner that morning about eleven
o’clock. He was able to speak, though he could not open his jaw. That is
the case in tetanus.
Were there also symptoms of rigidity when he was brought in about the
abdominal and lumbar muscles; did you learn from him how long this
rigidity had been coming on?--Not further than that the first symptoms
of the illness he had felt were that morning. He did not say how long he
had felt this rigidity about the neck. He was seen by the parish surgeon
in the afternoon before coming to the hospital. I have no doubt that the
disease had been coming on from the morning.
[Sidenote: J. B. Ross]
Though you cannot speak as to the precise character of these sores, were
they ugly sores?--Yes; sores of a chronic character--ulcers. The two on
the right elbow were perfectly running into one another. A piece of
integument connected the two, so that they would be likely to run into
one another eventually. By saying that those sores were undermined I
mean that the wounds continued under the skin. There were no signs of
healing, and they had the appearance of old, neglected sores.
Were they near the site of any particular nerve?--They were near the
ulnar nerve, a very sensitive nerve connected with what we call the
“funny bone.”
How soon was he seized with the first paroxysm after he came in?--He had
one directly he came into the hospital, but I did not see it. Half an
hour from that time he died.
Had he had any paroxysms before he came to the hospital?--I believe he
had, all the afternoon.
That was not one continuous paroxysm?--No; there was a twitching of the
muscles of the legs and arms.
What are the particular symptoms of the case to which you refer as
indicative of death from tetanus?--From the tetanic symptoms and from
having wounds.
Put aside for the moment the fact of his having the wounds that would
lead to that inference; what were the symptoms that manifested
themselves previous to, or concomitantly with, death which you would
call tetanic?--The tetanic symptoms there are the lockjaw and the
muscles of the abdomen and the back also being rigid; and he complained
of pain in his stomach, just over the stomach. I did not hear the
account given of the symptoms of Mr. Cook’s death.
Re-examined by Mr. GROVE--Strychnia was suspected in this case before
the body was examined. The nerves of the tongue are very delicate ones.
There are very delicate nerves at the throat and fauces.
Were you here yesterday when a case was described of an injury in the
throat--a sore throat that caused tetanus?--I was.
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