In a few minutes he stood in the court room just before the Coroner adjourned the Court for the day. The attending physician was on the witness stand completing his recital of the patient’s treatment.
“Now, Dr. Lawson,” asked Mr. Bailey, a lawyer representing an insurance company in which Craighead held a large policy, “how did you treat your patient? I understand that amputation was necessary as soon as Mr. Craighead reached the hospital.”
“That is correct,” replied the doctor.
“Were all the usual precautions taken?”
“Oh, yes,” said Doctor Lawson, “I attended to that myself. The wound was perfectly sterilized. Then I attached the haemostats.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Mr. Bailey.
“Little clips are used to fasten the ends of the severed blood vessels. Afterward, they are replaced by gut which is tied around the blood vessel, gradually being absorbed as healing progresses,” replied the doctor.
“And with all these precautions, the shock of the operation killed Mr. Craighead?”
“That is true,” assented Dr. Lawson.
“That will be all for today,” said Mr. Bailey. “Tomorrow, I will want to ask you a few questions.”