The Attorney-General.—But these gentlemen say that there was not inflammation.
Witness.—I do not believe them. (A laugh.) Sensual excitement might cause epileptic convulsions with tetanic complications. The chancre and syphilitic sores were evidence that Cook had undergone such excitement. That might have occurred before he was at Shrewsbury.
Might sexual intercourse produce epilepsy a fortnight after it occurred?—There is an instance on record in which epilepsy supervened upon the very act of intercourse.
Have you any instance in which epilepsy came on a fortnight afterwards? (A laugh.)—It is within the range of possibility.
Do you mean, as a serious man of science, to say that?—The results might.
What results were there in this case?—The chancre and the syphilitic sores.
Did you ever hear of a chancre causing epilepsy?—No.
Did you ever dream of such a thing?—I never heard of it.
Did you ever hear of any other form of syphilitic disease producing epilepsy?—No; but tetanus.
The Attorney-General: But you say this was epilepsy; we are not talking of tetanus?