Cook, John Parsons, -1855; Palmer, William, 1824-1856 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Murder) -- England -- London
Cross-examination resumed--After the 29th of July did the convulsions
continue throughout the 30th and part of the 31st?--The convulsions came
on during the night, and they appear to have remitted during the day,
except a muscular rigidity. The tetanus did remain.
But were there no spasms during the daytime?--I believe not.
In the daytime, although there were no convulsions, were the muscles of
the body, of the chest, and of the abdominal back and neck all
rigid?--Yes. That continued throughout the two days I administered
tartar emetic. The rigidity of the muscles and of the stomach would go
far to prevent sickness.
You have no doubt that your tartar emetic would have produced its effect
but for the rigidity of the muscles?--I suppose it would have done so.
When did the symptoms begin to abate?--On the 1st of August, on the
fourth day, and they gradually subsided. They appeared to have subsided
during the night. I saw the child during the middle of the day, and I
found that they had subsided, and in fact had entirely gone off. I
thought he was going to get well.
You told us the woman set him up in bed for the purpose of changing his
linen. Would that in any way have brought the toe, that part that had
been attacked, into any friction with some parts of the bed?--It must
have done so. But I do not think the simple irritation of the toe at
that part would have any effect.
But there not having been, in your judgment, nervous irritation set up
from the original seat of the disease, can you account in any way for
the nervous or muscular disease of tetanus?--If the cause had not
entirely gone the symptoms were brought back by the act of sitting up in
bed. My impression is there must be some action about the spinal cord as
the immediate cause of the symptoms.
Action set up in the spinal cord by irritation of the nerves in the
immediate site of the laceration or wound?--Quite so.
May it not be reasonable to infer that any irritation of the part
originally injured, exciting or irritating the nerve or the nerves
connected with the part, may support its action over the whole system,
and so produce convulsion?--I had removed the end of the diseased part,
so I cannot conceive that the same cause could exist.
[Sidenote: John Gay]
If you imagine you feel yourself justified in saying that the irritation
of the spinal cord once set up continues, why should you infer that the
irritation of the nerve may not also continue?--There must be some
peculiar irritation of the nerve to give rise to the affection of the
spinal cord from which tetanus arises. There appear to be some
particular circumstances which produce it.
You have no doubt the state of the toe was the original cause of the
convulsions?--I have not.
And that death took place by something or other distinct from the first
cause?--Yes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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