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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    they were quite pale. The milk tubes contained milk, or opaque white fluid. The mouth of the womb was large enough to admit several fingers ; its mucous membrane was nearly healthy, except being of a deep colour. I found no signs of malignant disease of the womb.” On the second day he said—“Since the last day of this inquiry, I have, in conjunction with Dr. Pugh, re-examined the womb of the deceased Mary Lewis. Mr. Benaey, who is now present, was present part of the time, during part of the examination of the womb. He left of his own accord, and he took a small portion of the uterus for micro- scopical examination. Before proceeding with my evidence to-day, I wish to amend that portion of my former evidence relating to the posterior rupture described as existing in the uterus. I found, on further examination, that the band of uterine tissue included the pos- terior lip of the uterus, and that the rupture had taken place through the wall of the vagina, and the recto-uterine cul-de-sac of the perito- neum. I carefully noticed the state of the lining of the uterus. It presented a villous appearance, very distinctly seen when the parts were floated out in water. I also examined some portions under the microscope, especially in reference to the question of malignant disease. I did not find any indication of the presence of malignant disease; the villous appearance of the lining membrane of the wTomb closely resembles that condition known as the membrana decidua, which exists in the later periods of pregnancy, and which does not exist under other conditions. It could not be produced by any form of disease. I believe that the deceased girl was pregnant shortly before her death. I could not trace distinctly in what portion of the uterus the after-birth was attached. I examined the edges of the rupture of the fundus of the uterus. I found that the peritoneum presented a well-defined edge, showing that it was not the seat of malignant disease. That portion of the uterine wall which was the seat of the rupture was somewhat bevelled off and thinner than the other portions of the walls. The wall of the womb, which was the seat of the rupture, appeared to be healthy, and was not softened. The other rupture was through the wall of the vagina, and into the cavity of the peritoneum.” [Before the magis- trates he said—“ Both lungs were much congested; the spleen almost diffluent.”] “ I estimated the uterus to be between five and six inches in length, about four inches or a little more in breadth, and the thickness of its walls appeared to me to be from one-fourth to one-third of an inch.