Answer.—“No instance of the kind has come under my observation.”[38]
Question.—“Do you agree with this opinion of Dr. Copland, expressed in his Dictionary of Practical Medicine, under the head of ‘General Convulsions,’ ‘The abnormal contraction of the muscles is in some cases of the most violent and spastic nature, and frequently of some continuance, the relaxations being of brief duration or scarcely observable, and in others nearly or altogether approaching to tetanic?’”
Answer.—“I would rather speak from my own observation. I have not observed anything of the kind.”
Question.—“Does it not happen that a patient dies of convulsions, spasmodic in the sense of their being tumultuous and alternating, and chronic in the sense of exhibiting continuous rigidity, yet after death no disease is found?”
Answer.—“It does not often happen to adults.”
Question.—“Does it sometimes?”
Answer.—“I do not know, nor have I read of such a case. I have no hesitation in saying that people may die from tetanus and other diseases without the appearance of morbid symptoms after death.”
Question.—“Are not convulsions, not, strictly speaking, tetanic, constantly preceded by retching, distention of the stomach, flatulence of the stomach and bowels, and other dyspeptic symptoms?”
Answer.—“Such cases do not come under my observation as a hospital surgeon. I think it is very probable that general convulsions are accompanied by yelling. I don’t know that they frequently terminate fatally, and that the proximate cause of death is spasm of the respiratory muscles, inducing asphyxia.”
Re-examined by the Attorney-General.—“These convulsions are easily distinguished from tetanus, because in them there is an entire loss of consciousness.”