John Lizars, Esq, Surgeon, against James Syme, Esq., Surgeon, Monday, 26th July 1852 : (before the Lord Justice-General and a Jury).

  • John Lizars
Date:
[1852]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: John Lizars, Esq, Surgeon, against James Syme, Esq., Surgeon, Monday, 26th July 1852 : (before the Lord Justice-General and a Jury). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ( regarding him as long placed beyond the pale of professional rc- ‘ spect and courtesy/ what was the impression conveyed to your mind when you read it ? That it tended very much to injure the professional character of Mr. Lizars. In what respect was it calculated to injure him ? It cast a stigma on his professional character, and that he was not to be trusted— that was my individual impression of its effects, supposing it was true. Would you consider, from the words, that he was in good re¬ pute or the reverse ? If I had not known the individual, I would have looked upon it as a serious charge against him; but knowing him as I did, and do, it did not convey such an impression to my mind. Supposing you had not known him, would the words have con¬ veyed to your mind, that he was in good or bad repute in his profession ? In bad repute, and that he was the reverse of being respected in his profession ; and that he was not entitled to respect in his profession. Had the charge been true, that he was not entitled to respect in his profession, would you consult with him, or any medical man to whom that statement was applicable ? I could not. Would you recommend patients to go to such a man ? I could not. And you would not apply for the professional aid of such a man ? I would not. Would you allow any patient of yours to go to such a man, if you had the opportunity of preventing him ? I would not allow any patient of mine to go to him. By the Court — By which you mean, that you would dissuade him from going ? I would dissuade him. By Mr. Macfarlane—You said you know Mr. Lizars — had this statement any effect on your mind ? I have had such expe¬ rience of the kindness and unselfishness, and professional abilities of Mr. Lizars, that it neutralised the effect of the statement. Do you know whether that article was talked of a good deal in the profession ? Very much talked of. Is that Journal read a good deal ? A good deal. Examined by the Solicitor-General — I think you said that you considered the passage read as casting a stigma on Mr. Lizars as a man not to be trusted—what do you mean bv that ? I mean that
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