We are talking of excitement—of epilepsy with tetanic complications; I want to know on what you can put your hand in the way of excitement or depression which will account for the remarkable symptoms?—I have told you that almost any one of them is sufficient.
W. M‘Donnell
Where is there one which you say might have occasioned death?—These white spots in the stomach might have caused death by an inflammatory condition of the stomach.
But there was no inflammation of the stomach, was there?—I have given you my opinion.
If there had been any, would not the gentlemen who examined it have seen it?—If those white spots were present you would have had inflammation.
They say there was none?—I do not believe them.
Sensual excitement is a cause of epilepsy with tetanic complications; is that what you say?—Yes, it might be.
Do you find a tittle of evidence of any such excitement?—I think so—the syphilitic spots. There was no doubt about it.
Do you mean to say that you attribute this to some excitement at some anterior period long before?—I am not called upon to say that. I take my opinion from what was seen.
Supposing the man had any such excitement a week before, do you mean that is sufficient?—Yes; we have instances on record of convulsions in the very act you allude to.