A handy-book of forensic medicine and toxicology / by W. Bathurst Woodman and Charles Meymott Tidy.

Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handy-book of forensic medicine and toxicology / by W. Bathurst Woodman and Charles Meymott Tidy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    1214/1268 (page 1178)
    Had lie really used it to stab, the clothes, and flesh too, would have rubbed off some of the blood in withdrawing it, and what remained would be in longitudinal strisc. Dr. Marc deemed the whole case pretended, the effect not corresponding with the force of the ascribed cause. As Napoleon was one evening in the Park of St. Cloud, a young man rushed towards him, with the ciy of “Assassins ! Save the First Con- sul!” He fell near the group which surrounded Buonaparte, and, on examination, he was found to have two wounds, from which blood flowed. He ascribed these to conspirators, but none could be found, though the gates were closed almost instantly. Fifteen years after- wards he confessed that the wounds were self-inflicted ! [Beck, p. 33 ; “Ann. d’Hygiene,” vol. xi., p. 188.]* It is not only possible, but probable, that in many cases of maiming, deformity, &c., produced by accident, your opinion may be sought as to the amount of compensation to be awarded for such and such injuries. Railway companies often request medical men to fix the compensation in cases not going to trial. And employers of labour-, and others, often beg the friendly aid of the surgeon to say what sum of money should be given to workmen, or others, who have been accidentally injured in their employ, or by their means, or by their servants.! Although the School Board of London lately gave £200 in trust, absolutely, for the benefit of a child whose eye had been accidentally put out by a pen in the hand of a pupil teacher, we do not think that there are materials for a tariff of such compensations which would meet with general approval. Each case must be studied on its own merits, and compensation given accordingly. In estimating damages of this land, you must regard and allow for :— ' 1. Necessary expenses and loss of time whilst the wound or injury is healing. Medical or surgical care ought, of course, to be paid for in this way, and all reasonable items for apparatus for crippled limbs, &c. 2. The station in life, mental characteristics, general intelligence and acquirements, and the occupation (if any) of the injured person, must all be carefully considered. In the case of a child, the rank or station must be fixed by that of the parents and guardians. To an artist, or first-class mechanic, a slight damage to one eye or a finger may be of far more consequence than the loss of a whole left limb might be to a labouring man. 3. The previous “ earnings,” or at all events, previous condition of the injured person, must be taken into account, along with the matters mentioned under No. 2. A prima clonna, a first-class actor, a fashion- able physician, or a successful author, may be earning their £10,000 a year before the accident. Therefore, do not look only to the name of the profession or trade. 4. In the case of females of almost all ages and ranks, and in many men, we must not forget that deformity is a serious detriment to suc- cess in life. It may, in the former case, either prevent marriage, or cause this to be less fortunate ; and it may, in both sexes, be a bar to employment or to success in business. Even such a skin disease as * Castration is frequently a self-inflicted mutilation. Generally the penis is amputated simultaneously with the testicles. f The driver of a cab or carriage is the servant of the owner. The latter is responsible for his servant’s carelessness.