The Queen v. Beaney : extraordinary charge of murder against a medical man, in consequence of a diseased womb being ruptured after death : with medical notes and observations / by C.E. Reeves.

  • Reeves, C. E. (Charles Evans), 1828-1880
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Queen v. Beaney : extraordinary charge of murder against a medical man, in consequence of a diseased womb being ruptured after death : with medical notes and observations / by C.E. Reeves. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    to the fifth month of pregnancy, being over five inches (two at the University) in length and rather more than four in breadth—if milk existed in the breasts (old men and newly-born male infants have milk in the breasts)—an indistinct areola around the nipples (a very possible thing in a non-pregnant woman of dark complexion who has had children)—the menses suppressed, and the womb of a reddish brown colour (very like the colour of the womb during menstruation), the circumstances are not inconsistent with pregnancy. I saw the womb, and the extent to which it was distended. It must have contained (when Buhall’s hand was in it) some sub- stance, and from the 'post-mortem examination, and symptoms during life, I am of opinion that they were consistent with pregnancy. My opinion is strengthened by the full abdomen. [Maega ret Cronan, the only witness who could speak as to this fullness, said that she rubbed her bowels both before and after Mr. Beaney’s visit, and found the abdomen ‘ flat and hollow.’] I examined the womb for signs of disease ; as far as I could discover I saw none.” He continues to pile up the symptoms of pregnancy, “ pains in the head and chest,” “fancies of wThich ladies at particular times are full of.” [Is it confined to ladies at that period. Don’t doctors sometimes suffer 1] Smell of the breath and changes of the complexion from red to pale are all consistent. At the first trial he was somewhat more discursive on the signs of pregnancy. He then told the Crown Prosecutor that a “feeling unwell in the stomach, pain and weight in the stomach, that it (pregnancy) tries a woman’s strength and makes her feel badly in many ways,” pro- duces flatulency and irritability of the stomach, paleness of the face, and leucorrhoea. At the last trial Dr. Pugh, who preceded the doctor, told Mr. Aspinall “ that a large belly and a yellow complexion were indications of pregnancy.” Since these statements there has been an epidemic dread of pregnancy raging, and in Mr. Archer’s next report on the mortality of Melbourne we may expect to see “ that four males, aged respectively 40, 45, 50, and 60 have died of pregnancy.” Henceforth any gentleman with a large stomach, who may happen to suffer from flatulence and morning sickness, and a “ fancy ” as soon as he awakes for a glass of the very smallest and