The Attorney-General—I have one question which I would put (this gentleman spoke as to vomiting), whether, if the stomach had been brought by any other cause into a state of irritation, would he think those causes inconsistent?
Lord Campbell—I intended to put the question myself.
Witness—I should think it not inconsistent.
John Gay
Mr. John Gay, examined by Mr. Gray—I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and have been for eighteen years a surgeon of the Royal Free Hospital. In the year 1843 I had under my care in the hospital a case of tetanus in a boy eight years old. He was brought in on the 28th of July. The accident occurred a week before. I saw him on the 28th of July. He could not open his mouth at that time. He complained of great pain and stiffness about the neck. During the first three days I saw him he had unusually severe paroxysms.
By Lord Campbell—During the first night of his admission he started up convulsed, and spasmodically closed his jaw. During the following night he was a good deal convulsed at times. The abdominal muscles, as well as the muscles of the neck and back, had become rigid during the night. The muscles of the face were also in a state of great contraction. On the following day I found the muscles remained in the same state. In the morning of that day, at two o’clock, on visiting him I found there was much rigidity of the muscles, especially those of the abdomen and back. The following morning the muscular rigidity had gone. He opened his mouth as usual, and was able to talk. The lad appeared to be thoroughly relieved. He had no return of the spasms till the following day. At that time he asked the nurse to change his linen, and she was lifting him up in bed to do so when violent convulsions of the arms and face came on, and he died in a few minutes.
Examination resumed—About thirty hours elapsed from the time the convulsions of which he died came on and the last preceding convulsions. The last paroxysm before he died lasted a few minutes. Before it came on the rigidity which I have described had been completely relieved. At the time he was convulsed the nurse was lifting him up to put on his linen.
By Lord Campbell—The second day I gave him small doses of tartar emetic to produce vomiting, but without effect. I repeated them in larger doses of 2 grains, but without effect. I did not repeat the dose after the third day.
Cross-examined by the Attorney-General—What was the accident?—A large stone had fallen on the middle of the left foot and had completely smashed it. The wound had become very unhealthy. When I first saw it it had portions of bone and cartilage adhering to the surface. I amputated the toe. When the boy was brought in his mother said he could not open his mouth so wide as usual. When I saw him his mouth was almost closed up.
On 29th July he slept but little during the night, and during sleep started up convulsed and spasmodically closed the jaw. The jaw remained closed until the 1st of August. It was closed when I administered tartar emetic to him. In all these cases so trifling a remedy as the tarter emetic is easily given.