Do you believe that this man died of apoplexy?—I do not. You must bear in mind he had taken doses of morphia.
Do you ascribe his death to morphia?—No, except that it would assist in the convulsive attack, and it would affect the spinal marrow.
Brought about by the morphia?—No.
In your opinion was morphia right treatment or wrong?—I should think not very good in the state of excitement he was in then.
Do you mean that there has been anything to show any excitement at Rugeley?—You will not allow me to furnish an answer. There was no excitement at Rugeley, but morphia, when there is sickness, will sometimes disagree with a patient when there is an irritable state of the brain.
The stomach was irritated, I will allow, but where is the evidence that there was any excitement at Rugeley?—There is none.
Then why was morphia a wrong treatment?—Because it is after sickness, and there is evidence of there being an irritable state of the brain. From what he said himself, he must either have been delirious on the Sunday night, or he must have had some attack similar to what he had on the Monday night.
Do you mean the attack of the Sunday night was similar to that on the Monday night?—Less intensity, but I think very probably of the same character.
You do believe there were convulsions on the Sunday night, then?—No, I do not.
He died of convulsions?—Yes, but I say of the same character.