Truth : a libel by law : the evidence of Sir J.Y. Simpson, bart., M.D., and others, in the case of Sharp versus Wilson, with diagrams and correspondence / by James Wilson.

Wilson, James, L.F.P.S.

Date:: 1869

Credit: Truth : a libel by law : the evidence of Sir J.Y. Simpson, bart., M.D., and others, in the case of Sharp versus Wilson, with diagrams and correspondence / by James Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

66/152 (page 52)

$A do_ not luio-w if tbo child was turned before tho' birtb. I do not know how long Mrs L a child lived. Tbo only peculiarity in I. M.'b case was tbut it was slow laboii and a big child. There wore a few people in the house at tbo birth. Mrs D Mrs M and L M.'s mother were tbo only people present. / heard on that occasion the pursuer read a letter said to he from the defender to Dr Grein Portsoy Tho parties present when bo read tbo letter were L II., her mother, and me. 1 did not on that occasion boar tho pursuer call tbo defender by any name. While I was .B attending I. M. I beard the defender say that he was going to the country but would be back in time to attend at tbo delivery. I was in the way of seeint' I. M after her confinement. I saw nothing the mutter ^vitb her after her doUvery She said nothing to me. There was nothing peculiar about Mrs S.'s case except slow labour. Letting off tbo water from the womb is an operation of difficulty sometimes. It IS often difficult when tho water cannot be reached. I consider that in some cases, when the water cannot be reached, it is necessary to take it off, because the C child cannot get past it. I cannot say bow long she was ill after her'confinement. She was in an ordinary way on the third day after her confinement. I heard that she was removed to Banff. She called for me some time ago, and told mo that she was still wealdy, but in much better health. I was not at the confinement of the wife of A. M. / do not remember seeing any medical practitioner turn a child in the womb except Dr Shaip. All which I depone to be truth, as I shall answer to God ; and I depone I cannot wi'ite. Ten words delete. I' (Signed) James Gordon, Comr. Francis George, CLk. Compeared Mrs JANET DONALD or WILSON, relict of John Wilson, crofter in Portlinockie, who, being solemnly sworn and examined, depones—I am sixty-six years of age. I have known the pm-suer for at least twenty-six years. I know Iilrs Spence or Geddes, wife of John Geddes, innkeeper, Portknockie. I was present at E her first confinement. It was twenty-six years ago come Ajsril. The pm-suer was there. She lived at tho Bauds of CuUen at that time. Before I went to the case, Mrs Sharp, a midwife, was there. She is now dead. The pm-suer bad not come when I went there. I do not remember how long I was there before the pm-suer came. Mrs Geddes was taken iU on a Tuesday, and sbo was not delivered tUl the Friday following. I cannot say at what bom-. / saiu the pwsiier try to deliver her. He did not manage to deliver her. In trying to deliver her he used the forcqis. When F/ie failed to deliver her, Mrs Geddes' father suggested that another doctor should be got, and the pursuer told them to get any doctor they pleased. Dr Carmicltael, from Buckie, was sent for, and he came. Dr Carmichael, when he came, delivered Mrs Geddes. He used the forceps. Dr Carmichael used his own forceps, I think. Dr Carmichael suc- ceeded at first in extracting the child. I think Dr Cai-micbael's forceps sUpped once. The delivery was successful. I did not see the pursuer do anything that I con- sidered improper in the treatment of jMrs Geddes. I think the pursuer did all he G could for Mrs Geddes. It is so long since I cannot recollect whether the pm-suer treated Mrs Geddes kindly or not. The woman and child both lived. Interrogated: Have you over attended any other midwifery case wheve the pm-suer was present? The defender's procurator objected to tbo question, and to any question being put to the witness about any case or cases other than thoso specified in the counter- issue. Tho Commissioner repelled tbo objection, and allowed the examination to proceed, H against which judgment tho defender appealed to the Lord Ordinai-y. And tho question being repeated, the witness depones—I was present at the case of A. S., where tbo piu-suer was. Mrs Wright, a midwife, was also present, '\\1ien I wont to A. S.'s house, Mrs Wright was there, and the pursuer was sent for. He wa.s sent for some hours after I wont there, but I do not remember how many. Ho camo and delivered A. S. He used the forceps, and gave her chloroform. Tho pursuer was sent for because Mrs Wright could not deliver A. S. Tlio dolivorj- was successful. I I do not know why Mrs Wright could not deliver her. She bad a good recovery. Both sbo and the child are still living. I was present wilh tbo pursuca- at tho caso of E. L. She then lived at Portkuocldo. Sho now lives near Portsoy. Tbo pureuor$