Elements of medical jurisprudence / By Theodric Romeyn Beck and John B. Beck.
- Theodric Romeyn Beck
- Date:
- 1836
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Elements of medical jurisprudence / By Theodric Romeyn Beck and John B. Beck. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![examiner. A convict who was confined on board the Retribution hulk at Woolwich, during the period of his sentence, which was seven years, kept his right knee bent so as not to touch the ground with his foot all that time; and he was, on that account, not sent to hard labour with the other convicts. He was commonly employed in executing light jobs, which he could do in a sitting posture. When he moved from place to place, he used to hop upon the left foot with the assist- ance of a stick. At the end of the seven years he was discharged ; and upon going away, he very coolly observed, * I will try to put down my leg — it may be of use to me now.' He did so ; and walked off with a firm step, without his stick, which he had previously thrown away.* Some of the best formed men in the British army feigned various distortions — as of the spine, the chest, or the limbs. It is hardly necessary to say, that nothing but careful and repeated examination will detect the fraud. Wry neck was also not uncommon in France. In real cases of this disease, according to Orlila, the sterno-cleido-mas- toideus of the opposite side is not tense ; but in feigned ones it is. The impostor, also, cannot readily turn his eyes to the side opposite to the contraction.-]- Ulcers are frequently induced by the use of epispastics, acetate of copper, quicklime, the juice of euphorbium, or other acrid plants ; and real ones are often prevented from healing by similar means. Some, again, cause them by rubbing the part, and they have been known to keep up irritation by thrusting pins through the bandages. Besides noticing the nature of the discharge, whether it be pus or sanies, and also attending to the habit of the patient, it is sufficient to mention, that ulcers caused intentionally are readily distinguished from real ones, since their borders are less callous, their surfaces more superficial, and generally less painful; and by the use of lukewarm water, and covering them with lint, they are readily healed; and the reason for this is, that they do not originate from or accompany a disease of the system. Frauds of this description are frequently attempted in hospitals, or to avoid the performance of labour of every kind. In 1810, a fellow en- listed in the marines at Portsmouth (England), and received his full bounty. In a few days it was discovered that he had a very bad leg. On investigation, it was proved by his wife and others, that to avoid * Scott, vol. ii. p. 138. A writer in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. viii. p. 284, suggests the idea, that the sudden recovery of lost powers is not a positive proof of malingering. To a certain extent this may he true; but these cases it will not be so difficult to decide as those of an opposite description. A man is struck with a stick or hammer about the hip-joint; he recovers from the external bruises, but continues lame. Nothing that indicates injury can be discovered on examination; but remedies produce little or no effect, and the individual walks with a crutch. A case of this kind became the subject of a lawsuit in Glasgow some years since. The injured thigh had sensibly diminished in size, but this was attributed, by the witnesses on one side, to the prosecutor not giving the limb its due share of motion. It is, however, well put, that if this was a case of feigned disease, the in- activity, being only for the public eye, would have been so trifling as not to cause this extenuation. The probability was therefore in favour of its reality Lancet, N. S. vol. viii. p. 7^0, from the Glasgow Medical Journal. f Orfila, Lemons, vol. i. p. 409.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2044347x_0053.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
