Answer.—“It was. I judge that he died from convulsions, by the combination of symptoms.”
Question.—“What evidence have you to suppose that he was liable to excitement and depression of spirits?”
Answer.—“The fact that after winning the race he could not speak for three minutes.”
Question.—“Anything else?”
Answer.—“Mr. Jones stated that he was subject to mental depression. Excitement will produce a state of brain which will be followed, at some distance, by convulsions. I think Dr. Bamford made a mistake when he said the brain was perfectly healthy.”
Question.—“Do you mean to set up that opinion against that of Dr. Devonshire and Dr. Harland, who were present at the post-mortem?”
Answer.—“My opinion is founded in part on the evidence taken at the inquest, in part on the depositions. With the brain and the system in the condition in which Cook’s were, I believe it is quite possible for convulsions to come on and destroy a person. I do not believe that he died from apoplexy. He was under the influence of morphia. I don’t ascribe his death to morphia, except that it might assist in producing a convulsive attack. I should think morphia was not very good treatment, considering the state of excitement he was in.”
Question.—“Do you mean to say, on your oath, that you think he was in a state of excitement at Rugeley?”
Answer.—“I wish to give my evidence honestly. Morphia, when given in an injured state of the brain, often disagrees with the patient.”
Question.—“But what evidence have you as to the injured state of the brain?”