Report of the trial of Prof. John W. Webster : indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, before the Supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on Tuesday, March 19, 1850 / Phonographic report, by Dr. James W. Stone.

  • Webster, John White, 1793-1850, defendant.
Date:
1850
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the trial of Prof. John W. Webster : indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, before the Supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on Tuesday, March 19, 1850 / Phonographic report, by Dr. James W. Stone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    between the upper and lower jaw so peculiarly, that the impression left upon my mind was very distinct. I remember the peculiarity of the lower jaw, with great exactness. The circumstances connected with the teeth being ordered were somewhat peculiar. The first question asked by Dr. Parkman, when the teeth were ordered, was, “‘ How long will it take to make them ?” I took the liberty to ask why he was so particular to know. He told me that the Medical College was to be opened, and that it was neces- sary for him to be there, and perhaps to speak; and he wanted them by that time, or else he did not want them at all. That time was a very short one ; the peculiarity of the mouth made it a case requiring as much skill as could be used. I began to do it as soon as possible; gave a large part of my attention to it, from day to day. In conse- quence of these circumstances, and the shortness of the time, and the close application I gave to it, | remember very distinctly what was done, more than in ordinary cases. JI proceeded, in my usual mode, to take the impression. The first step was, to take an exact fac simile of each jaw, with wax, metal, liquid plaster, &c. A plate was made from that; and the next step was, of course, to ascertain the relation between the upper and the lower jaw. A model of the lower jaw was made from an impression taken with wax, while in a plastic state, and by means of this the lower plate was fitted. The upper plate was fitted in the same manner. [Dr. Keep exhibited the origi- nal plates, which fitted to the models.] These plates were made before the gold plates, to ascertain if there were any defect in the models. When the plates were fitted to his mouth, [ requested him to close it until I satisfied myself as to the suitable distance. A great irregularity on the left side of the lower jaw of Dr. Park- man gave me great trouble in getting this up. Each set of teeth were made in three blocks, and then joined to the gold plate. There were spiral springs that connected the two sets of teeth, to enable the patient to open his mouth and close it with less danger of the teeth being displaced, as they would have been without the springs. There was dn accident which injured one of the teeth in the front block, and delayed the finishing of them until near the end of the night before the opening of the Medical College. They were finally finished, by setting my assistant at work on them with all the assiduity he could, at just thirty minutes before the opening of the Medical College. My assist- ant was Dr. Noble. When I next saw Dr. Parkman, he said that he did not feel that he had room for his tongue. In order to obviate that difficulty, I ground the block of the lower jaw on the inside, to make it lighter, and furnish more room for the tongue. This grinding, at that time, was not accomplished with so much ease. The teeth being on the plate, we could not grind on a large wheel. We had to grind on avery small wheel. This grinding removed the pink color that repre- sented the gums, and also the enamel from the inside of the lower teeth. The beauty of it was defaced by this grinding. The shape left by the grinding was very peculiar, because of its being ground on a small wheel, smaller than itself. _ I saw Dr. Parkman frequently. The last time I saw him was, as near as I can remember, about two weeks previous to his disappear- ance. He called late in the evening, about ten o’clock. It so hap- pened that, not being very well, I had retired for the night. The e