Dr. JOHN NATHAN BAINBRIDGE, examined by Mr. GROVE--I am a doctor of medicine and medical officer to the St. Martin’s Workhouse. I have had considerable experience of convulsive disorders. They admit of a very great variety of symptoms. There are causes of them varying from what are called chronic diseases to rigid opisthotonos. Hysterical convulsions are very frequently accompanied with opisthotonos; convulsions of the muscles of the back and of the limbs. The different cases vary very much as to the frequency of the recurrences, and as to the muscles attacked. Periodicity is very common, that is, occurring at the same hour, the same day, and at an interval of a year. I have known this very common at shorter periods, such as twelve or twenty-four hours. These disorders run so imperceptibly one into the other that it is almost impossible for the most experienced medical man to decide where one kind of convulsion terminates and the other begins. Epileptic attacks are frequently accompanied with tetanic complications, or tetanic spasms. Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Do hysterical convulsions ever end in death without being attended by these tetanic symptoms?--Very rarely indeed. I have known one case within the last three months. Can you undertake to say that that was not a death by apoplexy?--No. The symptoms were somewhat of the same character, but more of the character of epilepsy. It would be very difficult for any man to define the difference in some instances between hysteria and epilepsy. [Sidenote: J. N. Bainbridge] In fact, had not the man been subject to these fits for a long series of years, and at last he died in one of them?--Yes, he had. In attacks of this nature is there in the fits a loss of consciousness?--Sometimes. I have seen several cases in which there has been, and in others they can almost understand anything you say to them, not perfectly perhaps, but you may rouse them. Have you ever known an instance in which a man was able to speak when the paroxysm has set in?--They will scream, and recollect what we have said to them. I never knew any of them, in the actual violence of the paroxysm, ask to have their position changed. Epilepsy, when it is very bad, is sometimes attended with opisthotonos. When the convulsions are so violent that opisthotonos is produced, have you ever known patients conscious?--Partly conscious. If they were asked subsequently they would recollect what had occurred. I have seen cases of traumatic tetanus. As far as I have observed the patient always retains his consciousness. I have frequently known epilepsy end in death, and also hysteria with tetanic complications end in death. Because you tell me you have known of hysteria ending in death, I wish you to inform me what in your opinion is the distinction between them?--The less consciousness more especially found in epilepsy, and the sudden falling down.