When the convulsions are so violent that opisthotonos is produced, have you ever known patients conscious?—Partly conscious. If they were asked subsequently they would recollect what had occurred. I have seen cases of traumatic tetanus. As far as I have observed the patient always retains his consciousness. I have frequently known epilepsy end in death, and also hysteria with tetanic complications end in death.
Because you tell me you have known of hysteria ending in death, I wish you to inform me what in your opinion is the distinction between them?—The less consciousness more especially found in epilepsy, and the sudden falling down.
Did you ever know a case of death in epilepsy where consciousness was not destroyed before death?—No, I do not know one.
Mr. Serjeant Shee—I think it is an assumption that Mr. Cook was conscious between the last shriek and his death.
E. A. Steady
Mr. Edward Austin Steady, examined by Mr. Gray—I am a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and am in practice as a surgeon at Chatham. In June, 1854, I attended a person for trismus and pleurosthotonos, the head depending on one side, and not backwards as is the case in opisthotonos. Convulsions came on in paroxysms. The first attack continued for a fortnight. She had trismus all the time. For twelve months there were remissions of the pleurosthotonos. She appeared to get better to a certain extent, and walked about, but the tendons of one knee were contracted. About twelve months after she was again seized. The seizure continued about a week.
Did you ascertain the cause which had brought about this disease?—It was detailed to me as excitement. A passion, I believe, brought it on. I believe she had had some quarrel with her husband. I discovered no other cause.
E. A. Steady
Cross-examined by Mr. James—I do not know how long before I was called in she had this quarrel. I learned that during the quarrel she had had a blow given her on her side by her husband. I observed the setting in of the lockjaw at that time. I saw her in March, 1855, when she was under my care for about a week. The locking of the jaw continued the whole week. She has never got thoroughly well. She has tetanic extensions of the limbs in any case of excitement. In my opinion the disease is in action in her system at the present time.
G. Robinson