Cook, John Parsons, -1855; Palmer, William, 1824-1856 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Murder) -- England -- London
[Sidenote: John Gay]
Mr. JOHN GAY, examined by Mr. GRAY--I am a Fellow of the Royal College
of Surgeons, and have been for eighteen years a surgeon of the Royal
Free Hospital. In the year 1843 I had under my care in the hospital a
case of tetanus in a boy eight years old. He was brought in on the 28th
of July. The accident occurred a week before. I saw him on the 28th of
July. He could not open his mouth at that time. He complained of great
pain and stiffness about the neck. During the first three days I saw him
he had unusually severe paroxysms.
By LORD CAMPBELL--During the first night of his admission he started up
convulsed, and spasmodically closed his jaw. During the following night
he was a good deal convulsed at times. The abdominal muscles, as well as
the muscles of the neck and back, had become rigid during the night. The
muscles of the face were also in a state of great contraction. On the
following day I found the muscles remained in the same state. In the
morning of that day, at two o’clock, on visiting him I found there was
much rigidity of the muscles, especially those of the abdomen and back.
The following morning the muscular rigidity had gone. He opened his
mouth as usual, and was able to talk. The lad appeared to be thoroughly
relieved. He had no return of the spasms till the following day. At that
time he asked the nurse to change his linen, and she was lifting him up
in bed to do so when violent convulsions of the arms and face came on,
and he died in a few minutes.
Examination resumed--About thirty hours elapsed from the time the
convulsions of which he died came on and the last preceding convulsions.
The last paroxysm before he died lasted a few minutes. Before it came on
the rigidity which I have described had been completely relieved. At the
time he was convulsed the nurse was lifting him up to put on his linen.
By LORD CAMPBELL--The second day I gave him small doses of tartar emetic
to produce vomiting, but without effect. I repeated them in larger doses
of 2 grains, but without effect. I did not repeat the dose after the
third day.
Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--What was the accident?--A large
stone had fallen on the middle of the left foot and had completely
smashed it. The wound had become very unhealthy. When I first saw it it
had portions of bone and cartilage adhering to the surface. I amputated
the toe. When the boy was brought in his mother said he could not open
his mouth so wide as usual. When I saw him his mouth was almost closed
up.
On 29th July he slept but little during the night, and during sleep
started up convulsed and spasmodically closed the jaw. The jaw remained
closed until the 1st of August. It was closed when I administered tartar
emetic to him. In all these cases so trifling a remedy as the tarter
emetic is easily given.
[Sidenote: John Gay]
By LORD CAMPBELL--The tongue seems to retain its powers?--Yes. The case
is recorded in the _Lancet_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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