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diff --git a/old/51293-0.txt b/old/51293-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c7b4302..0000000 --- a/old/51293-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9252 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Law and Medical Men, by Robert Vashon Rogers - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Law and Medical Men - -Author: Robert Vashon Rogers - -Release Date: February 24, 2016 [EBook #51293] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAW AND MEDICAL MEN *** - - - - -Produced by Bryan Ness, RichardW, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - - - THE LAW AND MEDICAL MEN - - - BY - R. VASHON ROGERS, JR., - _Of Osgoode Hall, Barrister-at-Law_. - - - TORONTO, CANADA, - AND - EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: - - CARSWELL & CO., LAW BOOK PUBLISHERS. - 1884. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The idea that in the library of nearly every practitioner in the -professions of both Physic and Law there has been for some time a -small gap among the books, which could be filled by a little work like -this now submitted, has induced the author to prepare and publish the -following pages. - -While it is hoped that this little work will prove of use to the -members of the Legal and Medical Professions, it is intended to be -suggestive rather than exhaustive—a primer not an encyclopædia; and -it is not expected that it will obviate the necessity for frequent -conferences between physicians and lawyers whenever, in the practice of -either, questions arise requiring the experience of the other. - -In most cases the very words of the judges and reporters have been -used, and if any expressions are noticed that may be deemed over strong -it will be found that they are the words of others: the author’s aim -has been rather to act as an humble compiler and citer of cases, than -to obtrude opinions or theories of his own. - -Brief chapters on Dentists and Druggists have been given because of -the intimate connection between these gentlemen and the members of the -medical profession. - -With great diffidence this book is committed to the tender mercies -of the critics of these two learned professions—to those who can so -effectually wield the pen, the tongue and the scalpel. - -R. V. B., JR. - -Kingston, Ont., November, 1884. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PREFACE . . . iii - - TABLE OF CASES CITED . . . vii–xiii - - CHAPTER I. - - EARLY PRACTITIONERS AND LAWS . . . 1–14 - - CHAPTER II. - - FEES . . . 15–31 - - CHAPTER III. - - WHO SHOULD PAY THE DOCTOR . . . 32–41 - - CHAPTER IV. - - WHO MAY PRACTISE . . . 42–54 - - CHAPTER V. - - NEGLIGENCE AND MALPRACTICE . . . 55–81 - - CHAPTER VI. - - CRIMINAL MALPRACTICE . . . 82–92 - - CHAPTER VII. - - PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE . . . 93–107 - - CHAPTER VIII. - - MEDICAL EXPERTS . . . 108–120 - - CHAPTER IX. - - EXPERTS IN INSANITY CASES . . . 121–128 - - CHAPTER X. - - DEFAMATION . . . 129–137 - - CHAPTER XI. - - RELATIONS WITH PATIENTS . . . 138–148 - - CHAPTER XII. - - DISSECTION AND RESURRECTION . . . 149–159 - - CHAPTER XIII. - - DENTISTS . . . 160–173 - - CHAPTER XIV. - - DRUGGISTS . . . 174–188 - - CHAPTER XV. - - PARTNERS, GOODWILL, ASSISTANTS . . . 189–195 - - INDEX . . . 197–214 - - - - -TABLE OF CASES CITED. - - - A. - - Abernethy v. Hutchinson, 195 - - Adams v. Stevens, 17, 18 - - Adler v. Buckley, 20, 21 - - Ahearne v. Hogan, 141 - - Allen v. Davis, 140, 172 - - ″ v. Eaton, 132 - - Allison v. Hayden, 16 - - Alpen v. Morton, 137 - - Anderson v. Burrows, 146 - - Andeureid’s Appeal, 138 - - Anon, 134, 190 - - Anthony v. Smith, 106 - - Apothecaries Company v. Lotinga, 12, 16 - - Ashworth v. Kittridge, 102 - - Askin & Charteris, _re_, 27 - - Aswell v. Lomi, 142 - - Austen v. Boys, 191 - - Aveson v. Lord Kinnaird, 96 - - Ayre v. Craven, 132, 134, 135. - - - B. - - Bacon v. Charlton, 96 - - Baker v. London & S. W. Railway, 96 - - Ballon v. Prescott, 73 - - Barber v. Merriam, 96, 97, 117. - - Barnes v. Means, 58 - - Barnstable v. Thatcher, 157 - - Basten v. Butler, 20 - - Bassett v. Spofford, 24 - - Battersby v. Lawrence, 16 - - Baxter v. Gray, 18, 19 - - Beekman v. Planter, 18 - - Bell v. Parke, 136 - - Bellinger v. Craigue, 21. - - Bells v. Clifford, 28 - - Bergold v. Puckta, 131 - - Berier v. Galloway, 36 - - Bibber v. Simpson, 52 - - Billage v. Southbee, 140 - - Bill v. Neal, 130 - - Blackburn v. Great Western Railway, 81 - - Blake v. Midland Railway, 81. - - Blackburn v. Mackey, 37, 39 - - Blogg v. Parkers, 20 - - Boardman v. Woodman, 113 - - Bogert v. Indianapolis, 153 - - Boone v. State, 188 - - Bowman v. Woods, 51, 53, 64, 100 - - Boyd v. Lappington, 33 - - Boynton v. Somersworth, 67, 148 - - Boyle v. Winslow, 166 - - Bracegirdle v. Orford, 157 - - Bradbury v. Bardin, 51, 120 - - Bradley v. Dodge, 33 - - Bradford v. People, 147 - - Brewer v. Dero, 157 - - Broad v. Pitt, 93 - - Brown v. N. Y. C., 97 - - ″ v. Marshall, 179 - - ″ v. Sheppard, 99, 101 - - ″ v. State, 143 - - Buchanan v. State, 29 - - Buell v. N. Y. C., 117 - - Burton v. Scott, 128 - - - C. - - Cadwallader v. West, 139, 140 - - Cairo, etc., Railway v. Mahoney, 41 - - Caldwell v. Murphy, 97 - - Camp v. Martin, 133 - - Campan v. North, 94 - - Campbell v. Richards, 119 - - Carpenter v. Blake, 57, 58, 63, 64, 72, 73 - - Carnes v. Nesbitt, 193 - - Carson v. State, 148 - - Carter v. Baker, 114 - - ″ v. State, 103 - - Castner v. Sliker, 112 - - Cawdry v. Highley, 130 - - Chamberland v. Morgan, 70 - - Chapen v. Marlborough, 96, 97 - - Chicago. etc., Railway v. McKean, 68 - - Chicago, etc., Railway v. McGiven, 108 - - Chorley v. Bolcot, 16 - - Clark v. Gill, 26 - - Clarke v. Freeman, 132 - - ″ v. Hawke, 138, 139 - - Clark v. Kerwin, 69, 163 - - ″ v. State, 116, 124 - - Clay v. Roberts, 134 - - Cleveland, etc., Railway v. Ferry, 68 - - Cohen v. Continental Insurance Company, 95 - - Collier v. Simpson, 99, 103 - - Collins v. Grady, 19 - - ″ v. Carnegie, 134, 135 - - ″ v. Graves, 23 - - Colton v. Thomas, 172 - - Commonwealth v. Butterick, 187 - - ″ v. Cooley, 155 - - ″ v. Hackett, 91 - - ″ v. Hallett, 187 - - ″ v. Loring, 155 - - ″ v. Marshall, 155 - - ″ v. McPike, 91 - - ″ v. Ramsdell, 187 - - ″ v. Rich, 128 - - ″ v. Rodgers, 109, 124, 127 - - ″ v. Sturtevant, 100, 117 - - ″ v. Thompson, 84, 89 - - Connecticut Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Ellis, 100 - - Cooper v. Lloyd, 35 - - ″ v. Phillips, 38, 40 - - ″ v. N. Y. C., 41 - - Corsi v. Maretzek, 43, 51, 64, 115 - - Cossey v. L. B, and S. C., 96 - - Cox v. Midland Counties Ry., 41 - - Craig v. Chambers, 76 - - Craine v. Bandoine, 33 - - Crantz v. Gill, 37 - - Curtis v. Rochester, etc. Ry., 79 - - - D. - - Davidson v. Nicholls, 183 - - Davis v. Mason, 193 - - ″ v. Ockham, 131 - - ″ v. State, 113, 117, 124, 126 - - Deane v. Annis, 38 - - Delafield v. Parish, 124 - - Demay v. Roberts, 145 - - Dement, _Ex parte_, 30 - - Denison v. Denison, 138 - - Dent v. Bennett, 139, 140, 172 - - Denton v. State, 97, 98 - - Dickenson v. Barber, 124 - - Dingnan v. Walker, 192 - - Dixon v. Smith, 134 - - Doggett v. Lane, 141 - - Duclos’ Succession, 24 - - Duffit v. James, 21 - - Durnell v. Corfield, 142 - - - E. - - Eakin v. Brown, 68, 163 - - Edington v. Ætna Life Ins. Co., 96 - - Edsall V. Russell, 131, 133 - - Ellis v. Kelly, 16 - - Emerson v. Lowell Gas L. Co., 112 - - - F. - - Fairchild v. Bascomb, 112, 113, 125, 126 - - Farnsworth v. Garrard, 20 - - Farlar v. Lane, 141 - - Farr v. Pearce, 191 - - Fawcett v. Mothersell, 77 - - Fenwick v. Bell, 119 - - Fields v. Rutherford, 76 - - Fisk v. Wait, 69 - - Fletcher v. Fletcher, 146 - - Flint v. Bodenhamer, 124 - - Flower’s Case, 130 - - Fox v. Glastonbury, 20 - - Forgery v. First Nat. Bank, 114 - - Foster v. Small, 134 - - Fraser v. Jennison, 94, 103, 106 - - - G. - - Gale v. Rector, 103 - - Gallagher v. Thompson, 20 - - Gardiner v. Heartt, 56 - - Gardner v. People, 117 - - Geiselman v. Scott, 68 - - Genshaw v. Germain, 17 - - Getchell v. Hill, 114 - - George v. Skivington, 183 - - Gibson v. Russell, 140 - - ″ v. Williams, 119 - - Gilman v. Andrews, 171 - - Gladwell v. Steggall, 75 - - Gramm v. Boener, 69 - - Goddart v. Haselfoot, 132 - - Granger Ins. Co. v. Brown, 159 - - Grattan v. Metropolitan L. I. Co., 95 - - Gray v. McLaughlin, 97 - - Greenough v. Gaskill, 93 - - Greonvelt’s Case, 55 - - Greville v. Lylee, 142 - - Guthrie v. Weaver, 153 - - - H. - - Haguenin v. Baseley, 138 - - Hains’ Case, 152 - - Hall v. Semple, 146 - - Hammond v. Stewart, 26 - - Hancke v. Hooper, 58, 167, 194 - - Handey v. Henson, 17 - - Haniline v. Commonwealth, 174 - - Hansford v. Payne, 182 - - Harbottle and Wilson _re_, 27 - - Harris v. Panama Railway Co., 103, 113 - - Harris v. Russell, 94 - - Harrison v. Bush, 136 - - ″ v. Grady, 33, 35, 36 - - Hartman v. Tegart, 36 - - Hartford Pro. Ins. Co. v. Harmer, 108 - - Harvey v. State, 104 - - Hastings v. Rider, 128 - - ″ v. Whitley, 193 - - Hathaway v. Nat. Life Ins. Co., 112 - - Haynard v. Young, 193 - - Hathorn v. Richmond, 61 - - Heald v. Wing, 113, 128 - - Heath v. Gibson, 59 - - Hegerick v. French, 80 - - Heinemann’s Appeal, _re_, 48 - - Hewitt v. Prime, 95 - - ″ Wilcox, 18 - - Hibbard v. Thompson, 68, 69 - - Hides v. Hides, 140 - - Higham v. Ridgway, 106 - - Hill v. Featherstonhaugh, 21 - - Hills v. Home Insurance Co., 113 - - Hitchcock v. Burgett, 148 - - Hoard v. Peck, 187 - - Hoener v. Koch, 118 - - Hoghton v. Hoghton, 138, 139 - - Hollenback v. Fleet, 177 - - Holmes v. Halde, 80 - - Hood v. Grimes, 65 - - Horner v. Graves, 193 - - Horton v. Green, 54, 112 - - Howe v. Young, 179 - - Hoyt v. Casey, 39 - - Hughes v. Hampton, 23 - - Huffman v. Click, 103 - - Humphreys v. Stilwell, 137 - - Hunn v. Hunn, 95 - - Hunter v. Blount, 64 - - ″ v. Ogden, 73 - - ″ v. Sharpe, 133 - - Hunt v. Lowell Gas Light Co., 126 - - Hupe v. Phelps, 21 - - - I. - - Illinois Cen. Railway v. Sutton, 97 - - Indianapolis, etc., Railway v. Gaston, 79 - - Indian. and Cin. Railway v. Caldwell, 69 - - - J. - - Jackson v. Hyde, 77 - - Jarrett v. Jarrett, 124 - - Jauncey v. Knowles, 190 - - Jenkins v. French, 80 - - Johnson v. Robertson, 131 - - ″ v. Wills, 79 - - Jones v. Diver, 133 - - ″ v. Fay, 184 - - ″ v. Goodrich, 141 - - ″ v. George, 178 - - ″ v. Murray, 179 - - ″ v. Northmore, 78 - - ″ v. White, 108 - - - K. - - Kannen v. McMullen, 21 - - Keily v. Colton, 164 - - Keith v. Lothrop, 116 - - Kennard v. Burton, 97 - - Kennedy v. People, 108, 119 - - Kerwhaker v. Cleveland, etc., Railway, 69 - - Kilborne v. Jennings, 114 - - Kingston’s Case, Duchess of, 93 - - Kinney v. Nash, 135 - - Klock v. Burger, 174 - - - L. - - Lamphier v. Philpot, 84 - - Landon v. Humphrey, 22 - - Langdon v. Mutual Life Insurance Co., 54 - - Lee v. Hamerton, 96 - - ″ v. Griffin, 169 - - Leighton v. Sargent, 58, 64, 67, 79, 118 - - Lett v. St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway, 81 - - Lester v. Pittsford, 113 - - Linn v. Sigsbee, 120 - - Livingstone’s Case, 113 - - Long v. Chubb, 132 - - ″ v. Morrison, 21, 57 - - Longmeid v. Holliday, 74 - - Lorg v. First German Cong. 113 - - Lovatt v. Tribe, 125 - - Luning v. State, 100, 105 - - Lush v. McDaniel, 97 - - Lynn’s Case, 154, 158 - - - M - - Mackenna v. Parkes, 190 - - Mahoney v. Nat. Widow’s Life Ass. 96 - - Major v. Knight, 142 - - Mallan v. May, 193 - - Malton v. Nesbitt, 125 - - Marshall v. Brown, 101 - - ″ v. Peck, 179 - - Masons v. Fuller, 111 - - Matteson v. N. Y. C. Railway, 97, 117 - - Maxon v. Perrott, 170 - - May v. Thompson, 192 - - Meagher v. Driscoll, 157 - - Mendum v. Commonwealth, 113 - - Mertz v. Detweiler, 64, 118 - - Metropolitan Railway v. Jackson, 76 - - Michigan Cen. Railway v. Hasseneyer, 61 - - Middleton v. Sherbourne, 141, 143 - - Miller v. Beal, 23 - - Mills v. Perkins, 174 - - Mitchell v. Homfray, 141 - - ″ v. State, 119 - - ″ v. Connor, 147 - - Mock v. Kelly, 18, 25 - - Moises v. Thornton, 135 - - Morgan v. Hallen, 17 - - ″ v. Schuyler, 173 - - Morrison v. Harmer, 133 - - Morse v. Auburn, etc., Railway, 81 - - Morse v. State, 119 - - Murphy v. Kellett, 137 - - - Mc. - - McAllister v. State, 124, 126 - - McCandless v. McWha, 58, 59, 61, 67 - - McClallen v. Adams, 26 - - McClurg’s Appeal, 193 - - McEwan v. Bigelow, 114 - - ″ v. Milne, 138 - - McIntyre v. Belcher, 191 - - McLeod v. Wakley, 133 - - McPherson v. Chedell, 18 - - - N. - - Newell v. Doty, 117 - - New England Glass Co. v. Lovell, 119 - - New Orleans, etc., Railway v. Allbritton, 111 - - Newton v. Ker, 23 - - Nickson v. Brohan, 194 - - Nicols v. Pitman, 195 - - Norton v. Sewall, 182 - - - O. - - Ordway v. Haynes, 103 - - - P. - - Page v. Barker, 118 - - ″ v. State, 126 - - Parker v. Adams, 68, 69, 163 - - Parkinson v. Atkinson, 26 - - Parnell v. Commonwealth, 114, 124 - - Patten v. Wiggin, 52, 57, 58, 62 - - Peacock v. Kesnot, 140 - - Pennell v. Cummings, 145 - - People v. Anderson, 103 - - ″ v. Hall, 99 - - ″ v. Monroe, 20 - - People v. Montgomery, 30 - - ″ v. McCann, 125 - - ″ v. N. Y. Hospital, 69 - - ″ v. Wheeler, 103 - - Perionowsky v. Freeman, 66, 70 - - Phillips v. S. W. Railway, 79 - - Pierson v. People, 95 - - Pinney v. Cohill, 101 - - Piper v. Manifee, 22, 167 - - Pippin v. Shepherd, 65, 74 - - Poe v. Mondford, 131 - - Polk v. State, 112 - - Popham v. Brooke, 140 - - Potter v. Warner, 63, 71 - - ″ v. Virgil, 36 - - Poucher v. Norman, 16 - - Pratt v. Barker, 140 - - Puryear v. Reese, 124 - - - Q. - - Quafe v. C. & N. W. Railway, 98 - - - R. - - Ramadge v. Ryan, 118, 119, 132 - - ″ v. Wakley, 132 - - Ray v. Burbank, 186 - - Reynolds v. Graves, 54 - - ″ v. Robinson, 120 - - Rhodes v. Bates, 138 - - Rice v. State, 84, 87, 89 - - Rich v. Pierpont, 59, 62, 117 - - Ripon v. Bittel, 100, 101 - - Ritchey v. West, 65 - - Roberts v. Johnson, 112 - - ″ v. Kerfoot, 24 - - Robinson v. N. Y. C. Railway, 103 - - Rodgers v. Cline, 133 - - Roelker, _re_, 29 - - Rogers v. Cain, 97 - - ″ v. Turner, 38 - - Roosa v. Boston Loan Co., 98 - - Rose v. College of Physicians, 12 - - Rowell v. Lowell, 98 - - Ruddock v. Lowe, 65 - - Russell v. State, 128 - - Rutherford v. Evans, 135 - - ″ v. Norris, 110 - - R. v. Bennett, 194 - - ″ v. Burnett, 147 - - ″ v. Campbell, 46 - - ″ v. Case, 144 - - ″ v. Chamberlaine, 85 - - ″ v. Coll. Phy. & Sur., 45, 47 - - ″ v. Coll. Phy. & Sur., Ont., 148 - - ″ v. Coney, 144 - - ″ v. Crouch, 103 - - ″ v. Cuddy, 144 - - ″ v. Downes, 39 - - ″ v. Frances, 144 - - ″ v. Fraser, 147 - - ″ v. Gibbons, 93 - - ″ v. Gilles, 154 - - ″ v. Hannah, 147 - - ″ v. Hessel, 46 - - ″ v. Higginson, 125 - - ″ v. Hines, 39 - - ″ v. Lee, 91 - - ″ v. Long, 83, 86, 87 - - ″ v. Lynn, 154, 159 - - ″ v. Macleod, 66 - - ″ v. Markuss, 88 - - ″ v. Morby, 39 - - ″ v. Noakes, 56, 183 - - ″ v. Offord, 124 - - ″ v. Price, 154 - - ″ v. Richards, 125 - - ″ v. Rosinski, 144 - - ″ v. Searle, 120, 124, 125 - - ″ v. Sharpe, 153, 154 - - ″ v. Stanton, 144 - - ″ v. Simpson, 65, 84, 87 - - ″ v. Smith, 40 - - ″ v. Spiller, 84 - - ″ v. Spilling, 85 - - ″ v. Stitt, 117 - - ″ v. Sutton, 147 - - ″ v. Tefft, 46, 190 - - ″ v. Tessymond, 194 - - ″ v. Thomas, 99 - - ″ v. Trick, 83 - - ″ v. Van Butchell, 84 - - ″ v. Vantandillo, 147 - - ″ v. Wagstaffe, 39 - - ″ v. Webb, 84, 90 - - ″ v. West, 147 - - ″ v. Whitehead, 117 - - ″ v. Williamson, 85 - - ″ v. Wright, 125 - - - S. - - Sainter v. Ferguson, 193 - - Scott v. Wakem, 146 - - Seare v. Prentice, 21, 64 - - Seavey v. Preble, 143 - - Secord v. Harris, 131 - - Sellen v. Norman, 40 - - Shafer v. Dean’s ad’mor, 120 - - Shearwood v. Hay, 44 - - Sheldon v. Johnston, 24 - - Shields v. Blackburne, 65, 66 - - Simmons v. Means, 18 - - Simonds v. Henry, 58, 162, 168 - - Simpson v. Dismore, 18 - - Sinclair v. Rourk, 113 - - Sizer v. Burt, 106 - - Skinner v. G. N. Ry., 96 - - Skirving v. Ross, 134 - - Slater v. Baker, 59, 71, 168 - - Small v. Howard, 61 - - Smith v. Lane, 51 - - ″ v. Hyde, 25 - - ″ v. Watson, 18, 34 - - Southey v. Denny, 130, 132 - - Spaun v. Mercer, 33 - - Stackman v. Vivian, 38 - - Staunton v. Parker, 94 - - State v. Bowman, 117 - - ″ v. Clark, 118 - - ″ v. Cook, 112 - - ″ v. Dickinson, 147 - - ″ v. Fitzgerald, 147 - - ″ v. Gedicke, 147 - - ″ v. Hardister, 88 - - ″ v. Henkle, 112 - - ″ v. Hoyt, 104, 105 - - ″ v. Holmes, 174 - - ″ v. Knowles, 188 - - ″ v. Laffer, 187 - - ″ v. Jones, 117 - - ″ v. Powell, 117 - - ″ v. Reddick, 112 - - ″ v. Shultz, 85, 89 - - ″ v. Slagh, 117 - - ″ v. Slagle, 147 - - ″ v. Smith, 116, 117 - - ″ v. Sturtevant, 117 - - ″ v. Watson, 110 - - ″ v. West, 104 - - ″ v. Windsor, 126 - - ″ v. Wood, 111, 117 - - ″ v. Wray, 188 - - Stephenson v. N. Y. and H. R. Ry., 41 - - Stirling v. Thorp, 100 - - Street v. Blackburn, 166 - - St. Louis Mut. Ins. Co. v. Graves, 115 - - Suegoe’s Case, 133 - - Summer v. State, 31 - - Sutton v. Tracy, 48, 54 - - Swain v. Tyler, 38 - - - T. - - Tate v. State, 155, 156 - - Tatum v. Mohr, 114 - - Tingley v. Congill, 125 - - Thistleton v. Frewer, 52 - - Thomas v. Winchester, 180 - - Thorpe v. Shapleigh, 36 - - Todd v. Myers, 23 - - Toomes, _re_, 111, 113 - - Towne v. Gresley, 17 - - Tracy Peerage, 110 - - Tullis v. Kidd, 113 - - Tulty v. Alewin, 131 - - Turner v. Reynall, 44, 190 - - ″ v. Turner, 26 - - Tuson v. Batting, 19, 23 - - Twombly v. Leach, 117 - - - U. - - U. S. v. McGlue, 126, 127 - - Utley v. Burns, 58 - - - V. - - Van Bracken v. Fondar, 179 - - Van Tassel v. Capson, 135 - - Veitch v. Russell, 16 - - Villalobas v. Mooney, 23 - - - W. - - Wade v. DeWitt, 104, 105 - - Wagstaffe v. Sharpe, 44 - - Walker v. G. W. Railway, 41 - - Wakley v. Healey, 135 - - Washburn v. Cuddihy, 103 - - Watling v. Walters, 33 - - Watson v. Vanderlash, 131 - - Webb v. Paige, 26, 28 - - Webber v. Shampake, 36 - - Wennall v. Adney, 40 - - Whetherbee v. Whetherbee, 128 - - Whalen v. St. Louis, etc., Railway, 79 - - Wharton v. Brook, 130 - - Wheeler v. Sims, 23 - - Whitcomb v. Reid, 171 - - Whittaker v. Parker, 110 - - White v. Bailey, 124, 125 - - ″ v. Carroll, 132 - - Williams v. Poppleton, 118 - - ″ v. Williams, 153 - - Wilmot v. Howard, 57, 70 - - ″ v. Shaw, 47 - - Wilson v. Brett, 65, 166 - - ″ v. Granby, 97 - - ″ v. People, 117 - - ″ v. Rastall, 93 - - Winans v. N. Y. & E. Railway, 113, 121 - - Wise v. Wilson, 194 - - Witt v. Witt, 97 - - Wohlfarht v. Beckert, 185 - - Woods v. Kelly, 37 - - Woods v. State, 188 - - Wright v. Proud, 140 - - Wynkoop v. Wynkoop, 153 - - - Y. - - Yertore v. Wiswall, 80 - - Yoe v. State, 105 - - Young v. Makepeace, 116 - - - - -CORRIGENDA. - - - Page 5, line 23, _for_ ousted _read_ ousting. - ″ 8, line 3, _for_ was _read_ were. - ″ 12, line 17, _for_ his _read_ its. - ″ 24, line 19, _for_ friend _read_ friends. - ″ 43, line 18, _read_ Hahnemann _for_ Hahnneman. - ″ 55, line 6, _for_ misdemeanour _read_ misdemeanor. - ″ 85, last line but one, transpose the , and the ;. - ″ 96, line 7, _read_ witnesses, can be excluded the - ″ 103, line 15, _for_ Brown’s _read_ Browne’s. - ″ 105, line 10, _for_ words _read_ works. - ″ 115, line 5, _for_ opinion _read_ opinions. - ″ 119, last line but one, _read_ opinion of another etc. - ″ 138, line 1, _read_ occupies _for_ occupying. - ″ 173, line 12, _read_ within. - ″ 175, line 4, _read_ chemical. - ″ 177, last line, _read_ venditor. - - - - -THE LAW AND MEDICAL MEN. - -CHAPTER I. - -EARLY PRACTITIONERS AND LAWS. - - -The first medical practitioners in England, of whom we have any record, -were the Druids: these philosophers, theologians and soothsayers, -also practised medicine and surgery, and were skilled in anatomy and -physic. To add to the veneration in which they were held, to impress -the ignorant masses with the idea that they had power with the gods and -could prevail, and perhaps to cultivate a belief in the efficacy of -the remedies provided, they mingled incantations and charms with their -medicaments and nostrums. Their panacea was the mistletoe, cut from -the sacred oak, with a consecrated hook of gold held in holy hands, on -a mysterious night when the propitious beams of the waxing moon fell -upon it; wrapped for a while in a sanctified cloth and treasured up in -the holy of holies of the woodland god, this strange parasitic growth -was deemed possessed of many virtues and was named All-heal. Two other -herbs, the selago and samolus were also in those days highly valued for -their medicinal efficacy. - -To every healing herb a divinity was assigned by the Druids, and the -good gods were ever ready to help suffering |2| humanity against the -evil genii who presided over the poisonous and unwholesome. - -These priests also considered the creeping through _tolmens_ (or -perforated stones) good for many diseases. Their best charm, however, -was the anguineum, or snake’s egg, produced (’tis said) from the saliva -and frothy sweat of a cluster of snakes writhing in a tangled mass, -tossed in the air by the fierce hissings of the serpents, and caught -ere it fell to the ground in a clean white cloth. A genuine egg, though -encased in gold, would float against a running stream and do many -another marvel. The Druid seems to have been a herbalist, a believer -in the faith or prayer cure, as well as a homœopathist, for in taking -the diseased plant, the mistletoe, to cure diseases he anticipated the -doctrine of _similia similibus curantur_. - -Even in those old days, according to Tacitus, there were female -physicians who competed with the practitioners of the other sex. The -wives of the Druids exercised the calling of sorceresses, causing -considerable evil by their witchcrafts, but caring for warriors -wounded in battle. Later on women seem to have enjoyed a pre-eminence -as physicians and surgeons in England. Thus are we told that a “Mayd” -treated a wounded “Squyre,” - - Meekely shee bowed downe, to weete if life - Yett in his frosen members did remaine; - And, feeling by his pulses beating rife - That the weake sowle her seat did yett retaine, - Shee cast to comfort him with busy paine. - - * * * * * - - Into the woods thenceforth in haste shee went, - To seeke for herbes that mote him remedy; - For she of herbes had great intendiment. - - * * * * * - - There, whether yt divine tobacco were, - Or panachæa, or polygony, - Shee fownd, and brought it to her patient deare, - Who al this while lay bleding out his hart blood neare. |3| - The soveraine weede betwixt two marbles plaine - Shee pownded small, and did in peeces bruze; - And then atweene her lilly handes twaine - Into his wound the juice thereof did scruze; - And round about, as she could well it uze, - The flesh therewith she suppled, and did steepe - T’abate all spasme and soke the swelling bruze; - And, after having searcht the intuse deepe, - She with her scarf did bind the wound from cold to keep [1]. - -Of fair Nicolette we read— - - Her strength alone - Thrust deftly back the dislocated bone; - Then culling various herbs of virtue tried, - While her white smock the needful bands supplied, - With many a coil the limb she swathed around, - And nature’s strength returned. - -Chirurgery, or surgery—that is manual application—appears to have been -the earliest branch of the healing art. We are told of a wonderful cure -effected upon Queen Elgiva, whose beauteous face had been mutilated -by the brutal clergy. Many superstitious practices were in the early -days mingled with the operations of the surgeons, as well as of the -physicians. History speaks of a man the muscles of whose legs were -drawn up and contracted so as to defy all the skill of the surgeons, -until an angel advised wheat flour to be boiled in milk, and the limb -to be poulticed with it while warm; then all was well. - -From the tenth to the twelfth century the practice of medicine and -surgery, in England, was almost exclusively in the hands of the monks -and clergy. So lucrative did they find it that many of the monks -devoted themselves entirely to it, to the utter neglect of their -religious duties. This the authorities of the church disapproved of, -and made many attempts to restrain. At last, in 1163, it was enacted -by the Council of Tours that no clergyman or monk should undertake any -bloody operation. From that time |4| the clerics confined themselves -to prescribing medicines, and the practice of surgery naturally fell -into the hands of the barbers and smiths, who had previously been -employed as assistants and dressers to the ecclesiastical operators. - -The smiths soon found that most of the business was absorbed by the -barbers: the latter kept little shops for cutting hair, shaving, -bathing and curing the wounded, especially about the royal palaces and -the houses of the great: the shops were marked by a striped pole and a -basin, symbols that all the king’s subjects might know where to apply -in time of need; (the fillet around the pole indicating the ribbon for -bandaging the arm in bleeding, and the basin the vessel to receive -the blood). The barbers became so important that in 1461 the freemen -of “The Mystery of Barbers, using the mystery or faculty of Surgery,” -obtained a charter from Edward IV., and were incorporated under the -name of “The Company of Barbers in London,” and none were allowed to -practise save those admitted by the company. Although this charter was -several times confirmed by subsequent kings, yet side by side with -the regular barber-surgeons there grew up a body of men who practised -pure surgery, and who actually formed a company, called “The Surgeons -of London.” In 1540, by Act of Parliament, these rival companies -were united and named “The Masters, or Governors, of the Mystery and -Commonalty of the Barbers and Surgeons of London.” - -The third section of this Act, after reciting that persons using the -mystery of surgery oftentimes meddled and took into their cure and -houses people infected with pestilence, great pox, and other contagious -infirmities, and also used or exercised barbery, as washing, or -shaving, or other feats thereto belonging, “which was very perilous for -infecting the King’s liege people resorting to their shops and houses -and there being washed and shaven,” enacted “that no |5| manner of -person within the City of London, suburbs of the same and one mile -compass of said City of London, after the feast of the Nativity of Our -Lord God then next coming, using barbery or shaving, or that hereafter -shall use barbery or shaving within the said city, etc., he nor they, -nor none of them, to his, her, or their use, shall occupy any surgery, -letting of blood, or any other thing belonging to surgery, drawing of -teeth only excepted; and furthermore, in like manner, whosoever that -useth the mystery or craft of surgery within the circuit aforesaid, as -long as he shall fortune to use the said mystery or craft of surgery, -shall in nowise occupy nor exercise the feat or craft of barbery or -shaving, neither by himself, nor by one other for him, to his or their -use; and moreover, that all manner of persons using surgery for the -time being, as well freemen as foreigners, aliens and strangers within -the circuit aforesaid, before the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, -next coming, shall have an open sign on the street side where they -shall fortune to dwell, that all the King’s liege people there passing -by may know at all times whither to resort for remedies in time of -necessity [2].” - -In 1745 this union of barbers and surgeons was dissolved; or, -apparently, the surgeons ousting the barbers, received a new name -and all the privileges of the old company, with the exclusive right -to practise within London and for seven miles around. In 1800 the -Surgeons’ Company was called “The Royal College of Surgeons, in -London;” and this, in 1843, was changed to that of “The Royal College -of Surgeons of England.” - -In Scotland, at a very early day, the chirurgeons and barbers were -united, and enjoyed many rights and privileges. In 1505 the “craftes -of Surregeury and Barbouris” were |6| formed into a college or -corporation, by the town council of Edinburgh, and became one of the -fourteen incorporated trades of the city. George the Third erected this -corporation into a Royal College, and now it is known as “The Royal -College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.” In 1599, James VI., “to avoid the -inconvenience caused by ignorant, unskilled, and unlearned persons, -who, under the colour of chirurgeons, are in the habit of abusing the -people to their pleasure, and of destroying thereby infinite numbers -of his Majesty’s subjects,” incorporated the faculty of Physicians -and Surgeons of Glasgow; and gave them jurisdiction over the City of -Glasgow and the adjoining counties. A recent Act of Parliament has very -much shorn the privileges of this faculty [3]. - -In Ireland, the “Fraternity of Barbers and Chirurgeons of the Guild -of S. Mary Magdalene” was incorporated by Henry II. The apothecaries -belonged to this body until 1745, when, with the aid of a statute, they -set up for themselves, as “The Guild of S. Luke,” or “The worshipful -Company of Apothecaries.” In 1784 the regularly educated surgeons of -Dublin became incorporated under the name of “The Royal College of -Surgeons in Ireland.” - -In the twelfth century medicine seems to have been first studied -as a science in England. The Universities enacted that none should -practise physic without passing through a certain course of study. In -the fourteenth century the degree of Doctor of Physic was by no means -uncommon. For many years physicians were greatly aided in chemistry and -medical science by the discoveries of alchemists, and the search after -the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life gave many useful hints -to practitioners. Chaucer well describes a “Doctour of Phisike,” in the -Prologue to the |7| Canterbury Tales, and gives an insight into the -state of medical knowledge in the fourteenth century. - - ——He was grounded in astronomie. - He kept his patient a ful gret del - In houres by his magike naturel. - - He knew the cause of every maladie, - Were it of cold, or hote, or moist, or drie, - And when engendred, and of what humour. - He was a veray parfite practisour. - The cause yknowe, and of his harm the rote, - Anon he gave to the sike man his bote. - Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries - To send him dragges, and his lettuaries, - For eche of hem made other for to winne: - His frendship n' as not newe to beginne. - Wel knew he the old Esculapius, - And Dioscorides, and eke Rufus; - Old Hippocras, Hali, and Gallien; - Serapion, Rasis and Avicen; - Averrois, Damascene and Constantin, - Bernard, and Gatisden and Gilbertin. - Of his diete mesurable was he, - For it was of no superfluitee, - But of gret nourishing and digestible. - His studie was but litel on the Bible. - -In 1421, under Henry V., an Act was prepared, providing that “no one -shall use the mysterie of fysyk, unless he hath studied it at some -university, and is at least a bachelor in that science. And saying, the -sheriff shall inquire whether any one practises in his county contrary -to this regulation; and if any one so practise fysyk he shall forfeit -£40 and be imprisoned: and any woman who shall practise fysyk shall -incur the same penalty.” But this appears never to have become law. - -It was not, however, until the beginning of the sixteenth century that -modern British medical practice may be said to have commenced. And -in 1511 was passed the first |8| statute for regulating the medical -profession [4]. From the preamble of this Act we learn that physic and -surgery were then practised by “ignorant persons, who could tell no -letters on the book, and by common artificers, smiths, weavers, and -women, who took upon themselves great cures, partly using sorcery and -witchcraft, partly applying very noxious medicines to the disease.” - -Many years after this, however, were to be found those who though -not “ignorant persons” approved of what would now be called sorcery, -witchcraft and noxious medicines. Bacon gives the following as -infallible cures for the whooping-cough: let a pie-bald horse breathe -on the patient: give him fried mice, three a day for three days in -succession: pass the sick person nine times under the belly and over -the back of a donkey: feed the patient on currant cake made by a woman -who did not change her name when she was married: or, hold a toad in -the mouth that it may catch the disease. Burton, the Anatomist, says -that an amulet consisting of a spider in a nut-shell, lapped with silk, -is a cure for ague. Graham, in his “Domestic Medicine,” prescribes -spider’s webs for ague and intermittent fevers. - -By the statute of Henry the profession was for the first time divided -into physicians, surgeons and apothecaries: a division still kept up -in England. It also enacts, under a penalty, that “no physician or -surgeon shall practise in London, or within seven miles of it, without -examination by the Bishop of London, or the Dean of St. Paul’s, and -four doctors of physic; nor out of the city, or precinct, but if he -be first examined and approved by the bishop of the diocese, or his -vicar-general, calling to them such expert persons in the same faculty -as their discretion shall think convenient.” Fancy a D.D. sitting in -judgment on an |9| M.D. How orthodox and regular in his attendance at -church would the latter have to be! However, 14 & 15 Henry VIII. cap. -5, vests this power of examination in the President and Elects of the -College of Physicians of London. This Royal College was founded in 1518 -by letters patent from the king. Power was given to it to make laws -for the government of all men of the faculty of physic in London and -within seven miles, and for the correction of the physicians within -those limits and their medicines: and none could practise within those -limits without a license. Shortly after an Act of Parliament confirmed -this patent so that none could practise in England without the license -of the college, save graduates of Oxford and Cambridge. Subsequently -Fellows of the college were given power, together with the warden of -the Apothecaries’ Society, to enter the houses of apothecaries in -London, to examine their wares, drugs and stuffs, and to burn and -destroy those that were defective. - -In 1560, by 32 Henry VIII. cap. 40, surgery was declared a part of -physic, and the practice thereof was thrown open to all of the company -or fellowship of physicians throughout the realm. Not long afterwards -the Parliament of this reforming king seems to have changed its mind -and made a move in the direction of free-trade in physic, and by 34 & -35 Henry VIII. cap. 8, any man or woman was permitted to practise to -a limited extent. We fancy we can trace the influence of the sturdy -king in the provisions of this Act, which was entitled, “An Act that -persons being no common surgeons may administer outward medicines -notwithstanding the statute;” the statute after referring to the Act -passed in the third year of the king’s reign (which imposed penalties -upon those who should practise as physicians or surgeons without being -examined and admitted) goes on to say, “Sithence the making of which -said Act (that of 3 Henry VIII.) the |10| company and fellowships of -surgeons of London, minding only their own lucres, and nothing the -profit or ease of the diseased or patient, have sued, troubled and -vexed divers honest persons, as well men as women, whom God hath endued -with the knowledge of the nature, kind and operation of certain herbs, -roots and waters, and the using and ministering of them to such as be -pained with customable diseases, as women’s breasts being sore, a pin -and the web in the eye, uncomes of hands, burnings, scaldings, sore -mouths, the stone, strangury, saucelin, and morphers, and such other -like diseases; and yet the said persons have not taken anything for -their pains or cunning, but have ministered the same to poor people -only, for neighbourhood and God’s sake, and of pity and charity. And -it is now well-known that the surgeons admitted will do no cure to any -person, but where they shall know to be rewarded with a greater sum or -reward than the cure extendeth unto: for in case they would minister -their cunning unto sore people unrewarded there should not so many rot -and perish to death, for lack of help of surgery, as daily do; but the -greatest part of surgeons admitted have been much more to be blamed -than those persons that they trouble.” It further states that “although -the most part of the persons of the said craft of surgery have small -cunning, yet they will take great sums of money and do little therefor, -and by reason thereof they do oftentimes impair and hurt their patients -rather than do them good.” In consideration whereof and for the ease -and health of the king’s poor subjects, it was enacted that it should -be lawful to every person having knowledge and experience of the nature -of herbs, etc., to practise and minister them without suit or vexation. -(Here is evidence of the existence of herb doctors, hydropaths and lady -physicians in those days.) - -Numerous Acts of Parliament have been passed touching the medical -profession since the days of “Bluff King Hal,” |11| one under -James I. to prevent popish recusants practising physic, or using or -exercising the trade or art of an apothecary; another under William -and Mary for exempting apothecaries from serving as constables or -scavengers; another for exempting spirits and spirituous liquours used -by physicians, &c., in the preparation of medicine from duty, and -others for purposes too numerous to mention. But it is the Medical -Act of 1858, as amended by 22 Vict. cap. 21, that now governs the -practitioners. - -In 1681, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, was incorporated -and power was given of licensing practitioners and of preventing others -practising. In Ireland, although the idea had been conceived many years -before, it was not until 1654 that a body called “The President and -Fraternity of Physicians” was founded; subsequently this company was -incorporated and powers given to it very similar to those enjoyed by -the London College. Under the Medical Act, Her Majesty was empowered to -change the name of this institution (which had already enjoyed several -aliases), to that of “The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.” - -In England and Ireland a third class of medical practitioners exists, -namely, the apothecaries. Prior to the days of Henry VIII. an -apothecary seems to have been the common name in England for a general -practitioner in medicine. About that time shops began to be established -for the exclusive sale of drugs and medicinal compounds, and those -who kept these shops often took upon them to doctor their customers. -In 1542 Henry’s parliament permitted any irregular practitioner to -administer outward medicines, and these shopkeepers readily availed -themselves of the permission granted by the Act and pushed the sale of -their drugs and obtained larger prices on account of the advice they -gave with them, and they appropriated exclusively the title of |12| -apothecaries. In 1617 they were incorporated under the name of “The -Master, Wardens and Society of the Art and Mystery of Apothecaries of -the City of London.” About the beginning of the seventeenth century -they began to prescribe as well as supply medicine; and although the -College of Physicians resisted this poaching on what they considered -their preserves, still early in the eighteenth century the matter was -settled in favor of the apothecaries, since which time they have been -legally recognised as a branch of the medical profession [5]. - -An Act of 1815 now regulates the practice of apothecaries throughout -England and Wales, and no one can act as such or recover any charges -for his services unless he has a certificate from the Society of -Apothecaries. An apothecary is bound to make up any prescription -duly signed by a licensed physician [6]. Creswell, J., considered an -apothecary one “who professes to judge of internal disease by its -symptoms, and applies himself to cure that disease by medicine.” And -Glenn says that the practice of an apothecary may now be said to -consist in attending and advising patients afflicted with diseases -requiring medical (as distinguished from surgical) treatment; and -prescribing, compounding and supplying medicines for their cure and -relief [7]. - -The invention of medicine was generally attributed by the ancients -to the gods, and both in Egypt and Greece female divinities were -intimately connected with the healing art. Isis not only caused, but -cured disease; she discovered—so it was said—many remedies and as late -as Galen several compounds in the materia medica bore her name. Hygeia, -the daughter of Æsculapius, was deemed |13| the goddess of health, and -Juno presided at accouchments. These fables show that in the remotest -antiquity woman practised medicine. The laws of Greece, at a later -period, forbad women to practise; thus, also, was it in Rome. However, -300 years before Christ, Agnodice—a young Athenian—dared to attend -in disguise the schools of medicine forbidden to her sex. Preserving -her incognito, when her education was finished she soon acquired a -lucrative practice; and eventually her case caused the law against -women to be revoked. - -In the Middle Ages, among Mohammedans, many women were skilled in -attending to the needs of their own sex; and among the Christians, -nuns as well as monks ministered to bodies as well as souls diseased, -practising both surgery and physic. In Italy, at Salerno, women -prepared drugs and cosmetics, practised among persons of both sexes, -took doctor’s degrees, wrote treatises on medical subjects, obtained -the royal authority to engage in the art, and composed poems in praise -of their science. At the University of Bologna, as late as 1760, -Anna Morandi Manzolini filled the chair of Anatomy; her reputation -was European, and her lecture-room was frequented by students of all -countries—so great was her skill in delicate dissections, and so -clearly did she demonstrate the wonders of the human form divine. Dr. -Maria delle Donne was professor of medicine and obstetrics in the same -college in 1799; and many were the lady graduates of the Universities -of Padua, Pavia and Ferrara, as well as Bologna. - -In France, the earliest official document extant relative to the -profession (dated 1311) forbids the practice of surgeons, or female -surgeons, who have failed to pass the required examinations; and -an edict of 1352 refers to female practitioners. In Spain, the -Universities of Cordova, Salamanca and Alcala bestowed doctor’s -degrees on |14| many women. In Germany, also, a number of the fair -sex successfully cultivated the science of medicine, and practised it, -in the last century and in the early part of this. In England, as has -already been seen, in early days women practised the healing arts. -Henry VIII. checked them for a time, but in his old age, changing his -mind on this, as on almost every other subject, gave them liberty to -minister to the outward and less serious ailments of his people. - -Crossing the Atlantic an entry is found, under the date of March, 1638, -which tells a tale. It is this: “Jane Hawkins, the wife of Richard -Hawkins, had liberty till the beginning of the third month, called May, -and the magistrates (if she did not depart before) to dispose of her: -and in the meantime she is not to meddle in surgery or phisick, drinks, -plaisters or oyles, nor to question matters of religion, except with -the elders for satisfaction [8].” But now woman is no longer regarded -as too good or too stupid to study medicine in America; in nearly -every State in the Union she has free access to Medical Colleges [9]. -The Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario -admit to registration and practice any person who complies with their -requirements, without regard to sex. And the Imperial Parliament, by an -Act passed in 1876, affirmed the principle that women are entitled to -become registered practitioners of medicine. - - - - -|15| - -CHAPTER II. - -FEES. - - -The Roman Law considered the services of an advocate and of a physician -as strictly honorific; and, as in the Roman age, practitioners in law -and medicine, were usually men of leisure and wealthy, who did not -practise for the sake of a livelihood, remuneration for their services -could not be recovered in the ordinary way. Although owing to the -Utopian ideas concerning the honour of a liberal profession then in -vogue it was considered that any mention of a “fee,” or a “salary,” by -that name would soil and disgrace the robe of a practitioner, still -it was an established fiction of the Civil Law that the promise of an -_honorarium_ always accompanied the employment of a professional man, -and that such promise created one of those obligations that might be -enforced by action [10]. The Common Law of England adopted the theory of -the Civil Law as to the high standing of the profession, but afforded -no remedy for the recovery of the charges. Surgeons and apothecaries -were enabled to recover by law remuneration for their services, but -a physician was presumed to attend his patient for an _honorarium_ -(something left to the honour of the patient to pay or not to pay), -and could not maintain an action for his fees until the passing of -the Medical Act, 1858, put an end to his anomalous position in this -money-making age, and gave him as free an entrance into the courts of -law to recover compensation for his work and labour, time and |16| -skill bestowed, as the worker in any other path of life. Before this a -physician could not recover even expenses out of pocket, such as those -incurred in travelling to visit a patient, unless there had been an -agreement specially made to that effect [11]. - -If a physician was a surgeon as well, and attended a case where the -advice of a physician and the aid of a surgeon were necessary, he -could recover the value of his services as a surgeon but not as a -physician [12]. - -In England the question sometimes arises, where the practitioner is -only a surgeon, whether he can charge for attendance as a physician or -as an apothecary. It has been held that typhus fever is not a disease -that belongs to a surgeon’s branch of medicine, and that he cannot -therefore recover for his attendance on a patient suffering under it. -So, too, with regard to consumption and dropsy, though, in the latter -case, he may recover for any work done for the patient specifically -within his practise, such as puncturation, scarification, bandaging and -friction [13]. - -At one time it was considered that an apothecary was not entitled to -charges for his attendances, but only for his medicine: then the law -decided that he might charge for either attendances or medicines, but -not for both. Shortly afterwards Tenterden held that one might recover -for attendance (the charge being reasonable), as well as for medicine. -After that full justice was done to this branch of the profession, and -it was decided that there was no rule of law, and there certainly is -none of morals, to prevent an apothecary from making distinct charges -for |17| attendances and medicines; but if he charges very high for -his drugs the jury may think the attendances ought not to be paid for -as well [14]. - -In Scotland, also, at one time physicians’ fees were regarded as -honoraries, and not recoverable by action except under a special -contract [15]. Neither in the United States nor in the Colonies have -these distinctions been made between the different branches of the -profession, nor has the principle been adopted that the profession of -a physician is a merely honorary one, and that his services cannot be -charged for [16]. - -In England every person registered according to the Medical Act, -1858, and in Ontario those registered under the Provincial Act, can -practise medicine or surgery, or medicine and surgery; and can recover -in any court of law, with full costs of suit, reasonable charges for -professional aid, advice, and visits, and the costs of any medicine -or other medical and surgical appliances rendered or supplied to his -patient; but no person is entitled to recover any such charges in -any court of law unless he can prove upon the trial that he is so -registered. Registration has now become a part of the plaintiff’s -title to recover, which it is imperative upon him to prove. A copy of -the medical register for the time being, purporting to be printed and -published under the direction of the General Council, is evidence in -all courts that the persons therein specified are registered according -to the provisions of the Medical Act; and the absence of the name of -any person is evidence, until the contrary be made to appear, that -such person is not so registered; and the contrary may be shown by a -certified copy, under the hand |18| of the registrar, of the entry -of the name of such person on the register [17]. Similar rules are in -force in the various States where Medical Boards have been constituted -by legislative authorities for the purpose of examining and licensing -practitioners, such as Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, -Maine, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Wisconsin. - -Subject to the various statutory enactments, every physician or -surgeon, or any one who chooses to act as such, is entitled to a -reasonable reward for his services and for his medicines. If there was -no express promise to pay when the services were requested, the law -implies one: the broad principle being, that when a person has bestowed -his skill and labor for the benefit of another, at his request, and -no agreement is made in respect to them, the law raises an implied -promise to pay such compensation as the person performing the service -deserved to have; and when there is no statutory or other restraint -upon the remedy, an action lies on such promise [18]. The amount, unless -settled by law, is a question for the jury, and in settling that, the -eminence of the practitioner, the wealth of the patient, the delicacy -and difficulty of the operation, as well as the time and care expended, -are to be considered [19]. - -The law, as a rule, sets no limitation to fees, provided they be -reasonable. Within this rule a practitioner is allowed discretionary -powers and may charge more or less according to his own estimate of -the value of his services. No one will pretend to assert that all -services are of equal value, and no one will claim that those who -can |19| render them the most skilfully should receive only the -same reward as those who can render them the least so. A medical man -of great eminence may be considered reasonably entitled to a larger -recompense than one who has not equal practice, after it has become -publicly understood that he expects a larger fee, inasmuch as the party -applying to him must be taken to have employed him with a knowledge -of this circumstance [20]. But doctors must not be unreasonable in -their charges; as Lord Kenyon remarked, “Though professional men are -entitled to a fair and liberal compensation for their assistance, there -are certain claims which they affect to set up, which if unreasonable -or improper, it is for the jury to control” [21]. That a patient is a -millionaire does not justify an extortionate charge. The French rule -is to consider the gravity of the disease as well as the fortune and -position of the patient in settling the remuneration of a physician [22]. - -The existence of an epidemic does not authorise the charging of -exorbitant fees [23]. - -In some ages and countries the fees payable to medical practitioners -have been fixed by law. In Persia, for instance, in ancient times the -law said that “a physician shall treat a priest for a pious blessing, -or a spell; the master of a house for a small draught animal; the lord -of a district for a team of four oxen; and if he cure the mistress of -a house a female ass shall be his fee.” (Vendidad Farg. VII.) To take -another instance, the medical men in attendance upon the old princes -of Wales had their fees settled; for curing a slight wound, a surgeon -received for payment the clothes of the injured person which had been -stained with blood; |20| and for curing a dangerous wound he had, in -addition to the bloody clothing, board and lodging while in attendance, -and 180 pence. In Egypt, according to Herodotus, practitioners were -paid out of the public treasury, although they might also receive fees -from their patients. - -A medical man can also recover for the services rendered by his -assistants or students; and that even though the assistant is -unregistered [24]. It is not necessary that there should be any agreed -specified price, he will be allowed what is usual and reasonable [25]. - -The right of a medical man to recover his charges for professional -services does not depend upon his effecting a cure, or on his services -being successful, unless there is a special agreement to that effect. -It does not depend upon the fortune of the case whether it be good -or bad, but upon the skill, diligence and attention bestowed. For, -as a general rule, a physician does not guarantee the success of his -treatment; he knows that that depends upon a higher power. Still, some -good must have resulted from his efforts. The rule appears to be that -if there has been no beneficial service there shall be no pay; but if -some benefit has been derived, though not to the extent expected, this -shall go to the amount of the plaintiff’s demand, leaving the defendant -to his action for negligence [26]. The practitioner must be prepared to -show that his work was properly done, if that be disputed, in order -to prove that he is entitled to his reward [27]. Where the surgical -implements employed in amputating an arm were a large butcher knife and -a carpenter’s sash-saw, it was held that the Court rightly charged the -jury, that if the |21| operation was of service, and the patient did -well and recovered, the surgeon was entitled to compensation, though it -was not performed with the highest degree of skill, or might have been -performed more skilfully by others [28]. - -If a surgeon has performed an operation which might have been useful -but has merely failed in the event, he is nevertheless, entitled -to charge; but, if it could not have been useful in any event, he -will have no claim on the patient [29]. A medical man who has made a -patient undergo a course of treatment which plainly could be of no -service, cannot make it a subject of charge; but an apothecary who has -simply administered medicines under the direction of a physician may -recover for the same, however improper they may have been [30]. If the -physician has employed the ordinary degree of skill required of one in -his profession, and has applied remedies fitted to the complaint and -calculated to do good in general, he is entitled to his fees, although -he may have failed in this particular instance, such failure being then -attributable to some vice or peculiarity in the constitution of the -patient, for which the medical man is not responsible [31]. - -It is the duty of a physician who is attending a patient infected -with a contagious disease, when called upon to attend others not so -infected, to take all such precautionary means experience has proved to -be necessary to prevent its communication to them. When a physician who -was told by a patient not to attend any infected with small-pox or his -services would be dispensed with, failed to say that he was attending -such a patient, and |22| promised not to do so, but continued to -attend, and did by want of proper care communicate small-pox to the -plaintiff and his family, it was held that these facts were proper -evidence to go to the jury in reduction of damages in an action for -his account, and that the physician was responsible in damages for the -suffering, loss of time and damage to which the plaintiff may have been -subjected. If a physician by communicating an infectious disease has -rendered a prolonged attendance necessary, thereby increasing his bill, -he cannot recover for such additional services necessitated by his own -want of care [32]. This rule will apply with equal force to puerperal -fever [33]. - -In the case of vaccination, the physician, while he does not guarantee -the specific value of the vaccine virus, yet guarantees its freshness; -so that if he inoculate a patient with virus in an altered state, -constituting as it then would mere putrid animal matter, and erysipelas -or any injury to any limb necessitating amputation should arise, he -will undoubtedly be held responsible for the suffering, loss of time, -and permanent injury to the patient [34]. Long since Lord Kenyon was of -the opinion that if a surgeon was sent for to extract a thorn, which -might be pulled out with a pair of nippers, and through his misconduct -it became necessary to amputate the limb, the surgeon could not come -into a court of justice to recover fees for the cure of the wound which -he himself had caused [35]. - -The physician when sending in his bill should be specific in his -charges and not general; he should give the number of visits and dates. -In one case a lump charge of “$13 for medicine and attendance on one -of the general’s daughters |23| in curing the whooping cough,” being -objected to by the valiant officer, was held by the Court to be too -loose to sustain an action [36]. Where a practitioner brought an action -for a bill consisting of a great number of items, and gave evidence as -to some of them only, and the jury gave a verdict for the whole amount -of the bill, the Court refused to interfere and grant a new trial -because every item was not proved [37]. Where a medical man delivered -his bill to a patient without a specific charge, leaving a blank for -his attendance, the Court inferred that he considered his demand in -the light of a “_quiddam honorarium_,” (this was before the Medical -Act), and intended to leave it to the generosity of the patient, and -the latter having paid into court a certain amount, the Court held -the surgeon was bound by the amount so paid and could not recover any -more [38]. As a rule, however, if a doctor’s bill is not paid when -presented he is not limited by it to the amount of his claim, if he -can show that his services were of greater value [39]. When witnesses -are called to speak as to the value of the practitioner’s services the -Courts generally incline towards the lowest estimate [40]. - -The number of visits required must depend on each particular case, and -the physician is deemed the best and proper judge of the necessity -of frequent visits; and in the absence of proof to the contrary, the -Court will presume that all the professional visits made were deemed -necessary and were properly made [41]. There must not be too many -_consultations_; and the physician called in for consultation or to -perform an operation may recover his fees from the |24| patient, -notwithstanding that the attending practitioner summoned him for his -own benefit and had arranged with the patient that he himself would -pay [42]. - -Where a medical man has attended as a friend, he cannot charge for -his visits. This was held in one case where it was proved that -the practitioner had attended the patient as a friend, upon the -understanding that he was to have refreshments and dinners free -of charge; and in another case, where a medical man had attended -professionally, for several years, a lady with whom he was on terms of -intimacy (but received no fees, except once, when he had prescribed -for her servant). The day before her death this lady had written to -her executors, asking them to remunerate the doctor in a handsome -manner, and moreover in her will she gave him a legacy of £3,000 and a -reversionary interest in £6000 more. It was proved that he had attended -others without having taken fees or sent in bills. It was held that -his services had been tendered as for a friend, and accepted as a -friends, and his demand as a debt against the assets of the lady was -rejected [43]. One would have thought that the physician in this latter -case should have been satisfied. - -Where a tariff of fees has been prepared, and agreed to by the -physicians in any locality, they are bound by it legally as far -as the public is concerned, morally as far as they themselves are -concerned [44]. It is no part of the physicians business to supply the -patient with drugs; if he does so he has a right to be reimbursed -therefor [45]. |25| - -If a physician enters into a special contract to perform a cure he -will be held strictly to its terms, nor will he be allowed to plead -circumstances, which, under the general law of professional obligation, -might fairly exonerate him from blame, for failing of success in the -treatment of his patient. To promise an absolute cure is to assume -arrogantly the possession of powers never delegated to man; only a weak -and vapid intellect will commit so egregious a blunder. Yet, if a man -choose to do it he may, and having entered into an _express_ contract -he will be held liable for its fulfilment. For it is his own fault if -he undertake a thing above his strength. If the agreement is, no cure, -no pay: he cannot even recover for medicines supplied if the cure is -not effected. At least, so it was held at Vermont. Contracts to receive -a certain sum contingent upon the performance of a cure have always -been considered as professionally immoral, and in the civil law were -repudiated as against public policy [46]. - -The physician is always allowed discretionary powers over the patient -entrusted to his care in modes of treatment, so as to be able to alter -them according to the varying necessities of the case. Unless such -change of treatment involves a risk of life or consequences of which he -is unwilling to assume the responsibility, he is not under obligation -to give notice or obtain permission before making it. Particularly is -this the case where the patient is not at home or among friends or -relatives, but is in some degree in his custody and under his exclusive -supervision, as well as care. In such circumstances he is authorised -to perform operations, or change his treatment, or enforce discipline -essential to its fulfilment, without first consulting or obtaining -permission from friends or guardians at a distance, since delay might -involve a greater risk to the health |26| and possibly the life of -the patient than would a necessitated operation; and of such things he -alone is the proper, as he alone can be the best, judge. He may recover -his fees for such operation or change of treatment without proving -that it was necessary or proper, or that before he performed it he -gave notice to the party who had to pay, or that it would have been -dangerous to have waited until such notice had been given. The burden -of proving unskilfulness or carelessness in the operation lies upon the -party objecting to it [47]. - -When a medical man is called as a witness before a court, to testify as -to facts within his knowledge, he must attend and give evidence upon -payment of the same fees as other witnesses are entitled to; unless it -is otherwise provided by statute. - -Where a statute provides that a medical man should be paid a certain -witness fee, he is entitled to that fee although he be not called to -give professional evidence, and it is not necessary to prove that -he is in practice [48]. A witness should be paid his fees when he is -subpœnaed; but even if he attends he can refuse to give evidence until -he is paid, unless he takes the oath before making the objection [49]. A -subpœna should be served a reasonable time before the trial, to enable -a witness to put his affairs in such order that his attendance on the -court may be as little detrimental as possible to his interests [50]. - -Where a medical man is summoned to attend a coroner’s inquest, unless -the statute law is clearly to the contrary, |27| he is only entitled -to be paid for each days attendance, not for each body on which the -inquest was held [51]. - -Under the Ontario Act, R. S. cap. 79, a coroner, if he finds that the -deceased was attended during his last illness, or at his death, by a -duly qualified medical man, may summon that medical man to attend the -inquest; if he finds that he was not so attended, he may summons any -legally qualified neighbouring practitioner, and may direct him to -hold a post-mortem examination; but a second practitioner will not be -entitled to any fees, unless a majority of the jury have, in writing, -asked him to be called [52]. The fees are, for attendance without -_post-mortem_ $5, if with _post-mortem_, without an analysis of the -contents of the stomach or intestines, $10; if with such analysis, $20; -together with a mileage each way of twenty cents. If the practitioner -when duly summoned fails to attend, without sufficient reason, he is -liable to a penalty of $40 [53]. - -Is an expert witness entitled to receive greater compensation than -an ordinary witness? or can he be compelled to give a professional -opinion without being paid for it? The States of Iowa, North Carolina -and Rhode Island have answered these questions by statutes which say -such witnesses shall be entitled to extra compensation to be fixed -by the court, in its discretion: while Indiana says experts may be -compelled to appear and testify to opinions without payment or tender -of compensation other than the _per diem_ and mileage allowed by law to -other witnesses [54]. - -The subject does not appear to have been very much considered in -England. In a case, at _Nisi Prius_, Lord |28| Campbell declared that -an expert was not bound to attend upon being served with a subpœna, -and that he ought not to be subpœnaed; that he could not be compelled -to attend to speak merely to matters of opinion [55]. And Mr. Justice -Maule, where an expert demanded additional compensation, said there -was a distinction between a witness to facts and a witness selected by -a party to give his opinion on a subject with which he is peculiarly -conversant from his employment in life. The former is bound as a matter -of public duty to testify as to all facts within his knowledge, the -latter is under no such obligation, and the party who selects him must -pay him for his time before he will be compelled to give evidence [56]. - -Worden, J., of the Supreme Court of Indiana, in considering the -question, in a case that came up prior to the statute above referred -to, reviewed most of the American decisions and the opinions of -the text writers, and concluded “that physicians and surgeons, -whose opinions are valuable to them as a source of their income and -livelihood, cannot be compelled to perform service by giving such -opinions in a court of justice without payment.” The Court further -said, “It would seem, on general principles, that the knowledge and -learning of a physician should be regarded as his property, which -ought not to be extorted from him in the form of opinions without just -compensation.” “If the professional services of a lawyer cannot be -required in a civil or criminal case without compensation, how can -the professional services of a physician be thus required? Is not his -medical knowledge his capital stock? Are his professional services -more at the mercy of the public than the services of a lawyer? When -a physician testifies as an expert by giving his opinion, he is -performing a strictly |29| professional service. * * * The position -of a medical witness testifying as an expert is much more like that -of a lawyer than that of an ordinary witness testifying to facts. The -purpose of this service is not to prove facts in the cause, but to -aid the Court or Jury in arriving at a proper conclusion from facts -otherwise proved” [57]. In an earlier case (in 1854), in Massachusetts, -the Court said, “to compel a person to attend because he is -accomplished in a particular science, art or profession, would subject -the same individual to be called upon in every case in which any -question in his department of knowledge is to be solved. Thus, the most -eminent physician might be compelled, merely for the ordinary witness -fees, to attend from the remotest part of the district, and give his -opinion in every trial in which a medical question should arise. This -is so unreasonable that nothing but necessity can justify it” [58]. - -On a trial for murder the prosecution had procured the attendance of -Dr. Hammond to testify professionally, and had agreed to give him -$500 as his fee. This fee was complained of as an irregularity, but -the Court in delivering judgment remarked, “The district attorney, -it is true, might have required the attendance of Dr. H. on subpœna, -but that would not have sufficed to qualify him as an expert with -clearness and certainty upon the questions involved. He would have met -the requirements of the subpœna if he had appeared in court when he -was required to testify and given impromptu answers to such questions -as might have been put to him. He could not have been required, under -process of subpœna, to examine the case, and to have used his skill -and knowledge to enable him to give an opinion upon any points of the -case, nor to have attended during the whole trial and attentively -considered and carefully |30| heard all the testimony given on both -sides, in order to qualify him to give a deliberate opinion upon such -testimony, as an expert, in respect to the question of the sanity of -the prisoner;” and held “that there was no irregularity in the payment -of such a fee” [59]. - -Such text writers of high repute as Taylor, Phillips, Redfield and -Ordronaux, all agree that an expert cannot be compelled to give -professional opinions without proper remuneration. The last named -writer says, “Where a subpœna is served upon an expert he must obey it, -if within the range of physical possibility. But once on the stand as a -skilled witness his obligation to the public ceases, and he stands in -the position of any professional man consulted in relation to a subject -upon which his opinion is sought. He cannot be compelled to bestow -his skill and professional experience gratuitously; whoever calls for -an opinion from him in chief must pay him, and the expert may decline -to answer until the party calling him has paid. When he has given his -evidence he cannot decline repeating it, or explaining it. A similar -rule will, by parity of reasoning, apply to personal services demanded -from the expert, as well as to opinions asked” [60]. - -On the other hand, the Supreme Court of Alabama, in 1875 [61], confirmed -a fine imposed upon a physician for refusing to state the nature and -character of a wound received by a man and its probable effect, upon -the ground that he had not been remunerated for his professional -opinion, nor had compensation for it been promised or secured. And -the Court of Appeals in Texas, in 1879, held, that the court could -compel a physician to testify as to the |31| result of a post-mortem -examination; adding, that a medical expert could not be compelled to -make a post-mortem examination unless paid for it, but an examination -having already been made by him he could be obliged to disclose the -results thereof [62]. - -The result of the authorities seems to be that, without the aid of -a statute, an expert cannot be compelled to bestow his skill and -professional experience gratuitously upon any party, for his skill and -experience are his individual capital and property. - - - - -|32| - -CHAPTER III. - -WHO SHOULD PAY THE DOCTOR. - - -If Smith says to Brown, a medical man, “Attend upon Robinson, and if -he does not pay you I will;” that being a promise to answer for a debt -of Robinson’s, for which he is also liable, the guarantee is only a -collateral undertaking, and, under the Statute of Frauds, must be in -writing and signed by Smith, or some other person thereunto by him -lawfully authorised, in order to be binding upon him. But if Smith says -to Dr. Brown, absolutely and unqualifiedly, “Attend upon Robinson, -and charge your bill to me,” or “I will pay you for your attendance -upon Robinson;” then the whole credit being given to Smith, no written -agreement is necessary to enable the doctor to recover the amount of -his account from him, since it is absolutely the debt of Smith [63]. - -Where a person calls at the office of a physician, and, he being -absent, the visitor leaves his business card with these words written -on it, “Call on Mrs. Jones, at No. 769 High Street,” handing it to the -clerk in attendance, with the request that he would give it to the -doctor and tell him to go as soon as possible; this caller becomes -liable to pay the doctor’s bill for attendance upon Mrs. Jones in -pursuance of such message. Yet Mrs. Jones, if a widow, may also be -liable; for one who acquiesces in the employment of a physician, and -implies, by his or her conduct, that the doctor is attending at his or -her request, is responsible for |33| the value of his services. If -Mrs. Jones is living with her husband, or, without her fault, away from -him, the doctor has still another string to his bow, and may recover -the amount of his bill from Mr. Jones; for the rule is, that a husband -must pay his wife’s doctor’s bills. Of course the doctor cannot make -all three pay [64]. - -Long since, Park, J., was clearly of the opinion that if a mere -stranger directed a surgeon to attend a poor man, such person was -clearly liable to pay the surgeon [65]. Yet, in some cases in the United -States, it has been held that the man who merely calls the doctor is -not bound to pay him. When, for instance, in Pennsylvania, a son of -full age, when living with his father, fell sick, and the father went -for the doctor, urging him to visit his son. Afterwards the physician -sued the parent. The Court said this was wrong, that he should have -sued the son, as the father went as a messenger only, that the son, -who had the benefit of the services, was the responsible person; and -remarked that it was clear that had the defendant been a stranger, -however urgent he may have been and whatever opinions the physician -may have formed as to his liability, he would not have been chargeable -without an express promise to pay, as, for instance, in the case of an -inn-keeper or any other individual whose guest may receive the aid of -medical service. A different principle, the Court considered, would be -very pernicious, as but very few would be willing to run the risk of -calling in the aid of a physician where the patient was a stranger or -of doubtful ability to pay. This was in 1835 [66]. And, in Vermont, one -brother took another, who was insane, to a private lunatic asylum and -asked that he (the insane one), might be taken in and |34| cared for. -This was done. In course of time the doctor sued the sane one for his -bill, but the Court would not aid him in the matter, saying, “He is not -liable unless he promised to pay” [67]. - -In the case of Mr. Dodge, above referred to, the Court said, “He might -very readily have screened himself from all liability, by simply -writing the memorandum on a blank card, or by adding to that which he -wrote on his own card something that would have apprised the doctor of -the fact that he acted in the matter for Mrs. Jones, as her agent.” - -The reporter did not approve of this decision, and so appended the -following graphic note: “Let us see how this thing works. We will -take as an illustration an almost every-day occurrence arising in the -country. A. B. is taken suddenly and seriously ill in the night time, -and sends to his neighbour, C. D. living in the next house to his, to -have him go after the doctor as soon as he can, for he is in great -pain and distress. C. D. jumps out of bed without hesitation, and -hastily dresses himself, and goes out to his barn and takes a horse -from the stable, and not waiting to put on a saddle or bridle, jumps -on to the horse with the halter only, puts him at full speed for the -doctor’s office, some two or three miles distant. On arriving there -he finds the doctor absent from home, but his clerk is there, and C. -D. at once says, ‘Tell the doctor to call on A. B. who has been taken -suddenly sick; tell him to come as soon as possible.’ In accordance -with this message the doctor calls upon A. B., and prescribes for and -attends him professionally for several days. After a reasonable time -the doctor sends in his bill to A. B. and it not being paid as soon -as the doctor desires, he calls on C. D. and requests him to pay the -bill. C. D. with perfect astonishment, asks why he is to pay. |35| The -doctor informs him that he made himself liable to pay the bill because, -when he delivered the message, he did not tell the clerk that he came -for the doctor by the request of A. B. nor that he acted as agent of -A. B. in delivering his message. Well, says C. D. the fact was I did -go at the request of A. B. and merely acted as his agent in delivering -the message, and I will swear to these facts if necessary. The doctor -insists that it will do him no good if he should give such testimony, -for the law is settled on that point, as just such a case has recently -been decided in New York under just such a state of facts, where the -jury, in the justice court, found a verdict for the doctor for the -amount of his bill, and, on appeal by the defendant to the general -term of the New York Common Pleas, that court unanimously sustained -the verdict of the jury, and affirmed the judgment of the court below. -Well, says C. D. ‘If that is the law I think I will wait awhile before -I go after a doctor again as an act of neighbourly kindness.’” This -case was decided as late as March, 1873. - -A wife has implied authority to bind her husband for reasonable expense -incurred in obtaining medicines and medical attendance during illness; -but this implied authority is put an end to if she commits adultery -while living apart from her husband, and there has been no subsequent -condonation; or, if she leaves her husband’s home of her own accord -and without sufficient reason, and the fact has become notorious, or -the husband has given sufficient notice that he will no longer be -responsible for any debts that she may incur [68]. If a husband turn an -innocent wife out of doors without the means of obtaining necessaries, -it is a presumption of law, which cannot be rebutted by evidence, that -she was turned out with the authority of her husband to pledge his -credit for necessaries, and in such a case |36| medical attendance -will be considered as one of the primary necessaries [69]. A married -woman’s misconduct does not exonerate the husband from paying a doctor -whom he requests to attend her [70]. - -Although the law requires the husband to furnish the wife with all -necessaries suitable to his condition in life, including medical -attendance in case of sickness, still it gives him the right to procure -these necessaries himself and to decide from whom and from what place -they are to come. If a physician attends a wife whom he knows to be -living separate and apart from her husband, he ought to enquire whether -she has good cause for so doing; for if she has not he cannot make -the husband pay the bill; and it has been held that it devolves upon -the doctor to show that there was sufficient cause for the wife’s -separation [71]. The employment of a physician by a husband to attend -his sick wife, presumably continues throughout the illness; and the -mere fact that the wife is removed, with the husband’s consent, from -his home to her father’s, will not enable him to resist payment of the -doctor’s bill for visits paid to her at the father’s [72]. - -Notwithstanding the law’s desire not to favour any particular school, -a quack’s bill was thrown out where the services were rendered without -the husband’s assent. This was done in a case where a doctor was in the -habit of putting a woman into a mesmeric sleep, she thereupon became a -clairvoyant and prescribed the medicines which the doctor furnished, -and for these he sued. The Judge said:—“The law does not recognize -the dreams, visions or revelations of a woman in mesmeric sleep as -necessaries for |37| a wife for which the husband, without his consent, -can be made to pay. These are fancy articles which those who have money -of their own to dispose of may purchase if they think proper, but they -are not necessaries known to the law for which the wife can pledge the -credit of the absent husband” [73]. - -In England, it was, until 1869, considered that a parent’s duty to -furnish necessaries for an infant child was a moral and not a legal -one, so that he was not liable to pay for medicines or medical aid -furnished to his child without some proof of a contract on his part -either expressed or implied. And this still is the view where the child -is over fourteen. The rule of law varies in the different States of -the Union. In most of those in which the question has come before the -courts the legal liability of the parent for necessaries furnished -to the infant is asserted, unless they are otherwise supplied by the -father; and it is put upon the ground that the moral obligation is a -legal one, and some of the courts have declared this quite strongly. -In other States the old English rule has been held to be law, and -agency and authority have been declared to be the only ground of such -liability. The authority of the infant to bind the parent for medical -aid supplied him will be inferred from very slight evidence [74]. But a -contract to pay will not be implied when the infant has been allowed a -sufficiently reasonable sum for his expenses [75]. Where the services -have been rendered with the parent’s knowledge and consent, he will -generally have to pay for them. A boy left home against his father’s -will, and refused to return at his parent’s command. Being seized with -a mortal illness he did at last come back. His father went with him to -a |38| physician to obtain medical advice, and the doctor afterwards -visited him professionally at his father’s house. No express promise -to pay was proved, nor had the father said he would not pay. The Court -held the father liable to pay the doctor’s bill [76]. And in an English -case, where a father had several of his children living at a distance -from his own house under the protection of servants, it was held that -if an accident happened to one of the children he was liable to pay for -the medical attendance on such child, although he might not know the -surgeon called in, and although the accident might have been received -through the carelessness of a servant [77]. - -By a recent English statute [78], when any parent shall wilfully neglect -to provide adequate food, clothing, medical aid, or lodging for his -child, in his custody, under the age of fourteen, whereby the child’s -health shall have been, or shall be likely to be, seriously injured, he -shall be guilty of an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment. -Charles Downes was the two-year-old child of a member of the sect -of Peculiar People. These people never call in medical aid or give -medicines: to do so would be contrary to their religious opinions; but -if any is sick they call in the elders of the church, who pray over -him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; then they hope -for a cure, as they have thus literally complied with the directions -in the 14th and 15th verses of the 5th chapter of the Epistle of St. -James. This child was ill for months; the usual course was pursued by -his father; no medical aid was obtained, although easily obtainable. -The illness was misunderstood, and, although he was taken care of and -well supplied with food, the child died. The father was indicted for -manslaughter, and the |39| jury found that the death was caused by -the neglect to obtain medical assistance, that the father _bona fide_ -(though erroneously) believed that medical aid was not required, and -that it was wrong to use it. The Judge entered a verdict of guilty, and -the Court held—under this statute—that a positive duty was imposed upon -the father to provide adequate medical aid when necessary, whatever -his conscientious scruples might be, and that that duty having been -wilfully neglected by the prisoner, and death having ensued from that -neglect, he was properly convicted of manslaughter [79]. - -It had been held by Pigott, B., in a case against these same Peculiar -People, and also by Willis, J., that, at common law, there was no legal -duty upon a father to employ a physician for his sick child [80]. - -It is not enough to shew neglect of reasonable means for preserving -or prolonging the child’s life, to convict of manslaughter, it must -be shewn that the neglect had the effect of shortening life. It will -not do merely to prove that proper medical aid might have saved or -prolonged life and would have increased the chance of recovery, but -that it might have been of no avail [81]. In this case the father, -perhaps, might have been convicted of neglect of duty as a parent, -under the statute (per Stephen, J.). - -Medicines and medical aid are necessaries for which an infant may -legally contract, and for which he can render himself liable. In -Massachusetts, it was held that he would not be liable merely because -his father was poor and unable to pay [82]. |40| - -A master is not bound to provide medical assistance for his servant, -but the obligation, if it exists at all, must arise from contract; nor -will such a contract be implied simply because the servant is living -under the master’s roof, nor because the illness of the servant has -arisen from an accident met with in the master’s service [83]. But -where a servant left in charge of her master’s children was made ill -by suckling one of the children, and called in a medical man to attend -her, with the knowledge and without the disapprobation of her mistress, -it was decided that the doctor could make the father and master -pay [84]. And a master is bound to provide an apprentice with proper -medicines and medical attendance [85]. - -In England, when a pauper meets with an accident, the parish where -it occurs is usually liable for the surgeon’s bill. If, however, the -illness of the pauper arises from any other cause than accident or -sudden calamity, the parish in which he is settled is under legal -liability to supply him with medical aid, although he may be residing -in another parish. But all these questions with regard to paupers are -determined according to the poor laws of the different countries [86]. - -It has frequently happened that when a railway passenger or employee -has been injured by a collision or accident, and some railway official -has called in a doctor, the company has afterwards refused to pay -the bill; and the courts have declined to make them do so, unless it -be shown that the agent or servant who summoned the medical man had -authority to do so. It has been held that neither a guard, nor the -superintendent of a station, nor the engineer of the train in which -the accident happened, had any implied authority, as incidental |41| -to their positions, to render their companies liable for medical -services so rendered [87]. The Court of Exchequer said, “It is not to -be supposed that the result of their decision will be prejudicial -to railway travellers who may happen to be injured. It will rarely -occur that the surgeon will not have a remedy against his patient, -who, if he be rich, must at all events pay; and if poor, the sufferer -will be entitled to a compensation from the company, if they by their -servants have been guilty of a breach of duty, out of which he will be -able to pay, for the surgeon’s bill is always allowed for in damages. -There will, therefore, be little mischief to the interests of the -passengers, little to the benevolent surgeons who give their services.” -But, in England, it has been decided that the general manager of a -railway company has, as incidental to his employment, authority to -bind his company for medical services bestowed upon one injured on his -railway. In Illinois, a similar decision was given as to a general -superintendent, although in New York judgment was given the other -way [88]. - -If an accident happen to a stage coach by which a passenger’s leg is -broken, or his human form divine is otherwise injured, the coachman has -no authority to bind his master by a contract with a surgeon to attend -to the injury; nor if a lamp-lighter, by neglect, burn any person, has -he, or any officers of the gas company, power to bind the company by a -contract for the cure of the injured person [89]. If ordinary employees -had such authority, then every servant who, by his negligence or -misconduct, had caused injury to an individual, would have an implied -authority to employ, on behalf and at the expense of his employer, any -person he thought fit to remedy the mischief. - - - - -|42| - -CHAPTER IV. - -WHO MAY PRACTISE. - - -The law has nothing to do with the merits of particular systems or -schools of medicine. Their relative merits may become the subject of -inquiry when the skill or ability of a practitioner, in any given -case, is to be passed upon as a matter of fact. But the law does not -and cannot supply any positive rules for the interpretation of medical -science. It is not one of those certain or exact sciences in which -truths become established and fixed, but it is essentially progressive -in its nature. No one system of practice has been uniformly followed, -but physicians, from the days of Hippocrates, have been divided into -opposing sects and schools. The sects of the dogmatists and the -empirics divided the ancient world for centuries until the rise of the -methodics, who in their turn gave way to innumerable sects. Theories -of practice believed to be infallible in one age have been utterly -rejected in another. For thirteen centuries Europe yielded to the -authority of Galen. He was implicitly followed, his practice strictly -pursued. Everything that seemed to conflict with his precepts was -rejected; and yet, in the revolutions of medical opinion, the works of -this undoubtedly great man were publicly burned by Paracelsus and his -disciples; and for centuries following the medical world was divided -between the Galenists and the chemists, until a complete ascendancy -over both was obtained by the vitalists. This state of things has been -occasioned by the circumstance that medical practitioners have often -been more given to the formation of theories upon the nature of |43| -disease and the mode of its treatment, than to that careful observation -and patient accumulation of facts by which, in other sciences, the -phenomena of nature have been unravelled. * * * It is not to be -overlooked that as an art it has been characterised in a greater degree -by fluctuations of opinion as to its principles and the mode of its -practice than perhaps any other pursuit. That it has been distinguished -by the constant promulgation and explosion of theories. That it has -alternated between the advancement of new doctrines and the revival -of old ones; and that its professors in every age have been noted for -the tenacity with which they have clung to opinions, and the unanimity -with which they have resisted the introduction of valuable discoveries. -They still continue to disagree in respect to the treatment of diseases -as old as the human race; and at the present day * * * a radical and -fundamental difference divides the allopathists from the followers -of Hahnemann, to say nothing of those who believe in the sovereign -instrumentality. * * * The axiom that doctors differ is as true now as -ever it was [90]. Thus spake Daly, J.; the reporter observes in a note: -“It may, perhaps, be safely questioned whether the sister sciences of -law and theology present any such unity or certainty of opinion as -might enable them to arraign the medical profession.” - -In Great Britain and Ireland, since the passing of the Medical Act -of 1858, every one registered under the provisions of that Act is -entitled, according to his qualification, to practise medicine or -surgery, or both (as the case may be), in any part of Her Majesty’s -Dominions, and to recover on any court of law (should any patient -neglect to pay) his reasonable charges for professional aid, advice and -visits, and the costs of any medicine, or other medical or surgical -appliances rendered or supplied by |44| him to his patient; but any -one not so registered cannot recover any such charges in any court of -law. Proof of registration is absolutely necessary for a recovery; -but it will suffice if the registration has taken place before the -trial [91]. - -And as to who may be registered; the Act says any one may be who is a -fellow, member, licentiate, or extra licentiate, of the Royal College -of Physicians of London, or of the Royal College of Physicians of -Edinburgh, or of the King and Queen’s College of Ireland; or fellow, -member, or licentiate in midwifery, of the Royal College of Surgeons -of England, or fellow or licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons -of Edinburgh, or of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, -or of the Society of Apothecaries, London, or of the Apothecaries -Hall, Dublin; or doctor, bachelor, or licentiate of medicine, of any -university of the United Kingdom, or licentiate in surgery of any -university in Ireland; or doctor of medicine by doctorate granted prior -to August, 1858, by the Archbishop of Canterbury; or doctor of medicine -of any foreign or colonial college, after examination, or who satisfies -the Council of Education and Registration that there is sufficient -reason for admitting him to be registered [92]. - -In France, the medical profession is divided into two grades; in the -higher grade are all doctors of medicine of the universities; those -in the lower grade are _officiers de santé_. In Germany, the right -to practise is conferred by a state licence granted on passing the -_staats-examen_: the degree of doctor of medicine is almost always -taken at some university after obtaining the state license. In Austria, -the |45| right to practise is carried by the degree of doctor of -medicine obtained from a university [93]. - -The legislature of every colony of Great Britain has full power to -make laws for the purpose of enforcing the registration within its -jurisdiction of medical practitioners, including those registered under -the Imperial Act. - -In Ontario, the medical profession is incorporated under the name and -style of “The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario,” and -every person registered under the provisions of the Ontario Medical -Act [94] is a member of the college. There is a “Council,” in part -appointed by certain educational institutions, in part elected by -practitioners. This council fixes the curriculum of studies, appoints -examiners, and arranges the examinations of those desirous of admission -to practise; it also arranges for the registration of those who pass -the examinations, or had certain qualifications before July, 1870. -Every one who passes the examinations and has complied with the rules -and regulations of the council, and paid his fees, is entitled to -registration, and by virtue thereof to practise medicine, surgery and -midwifery in the Province. If registration is not granted to one he may -compel it by a writ of mandamus [95]. - -Registration is essential to entitle a practitioner to recover -any charges for medical or surgical advice, or for attendance, or -for performance of any operation, or for any medicine he may have -prescribed or supplied. (This last clause does not apply to any -licensed chemist or druggist.) And if any one unregistered, for hire, -gain or hope of reward, practises or professes to practise medicine, -surgery or midwifery, or advertises to give advice therein, he is -liable |46| to a fine of from $25 to $100. And any one not registered -who takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying -or calculated to lead people to infer that he is registered, or that -he is recognized by law as a physician, surgeon, accoucheur, or a -licentiate in medicine, surgery or midwifery, is liable to the same -penalty. Any person who wilfully or falsely pretends to be a physician, -doctor of medicine, surgeon, or general practitioner, or assumes any -title, addition or description, other than he actually possesses and -is legally entitled to, is liable to a fine of from $10 to $50. But it -is not punishable to practise for love or charity, and any one who has -the degree of doctor of medicine may place the letters “M.D.” after his -name, even though he is not a registered practitioner, if he do not act -as such for hire or gain [96]. - -Where one partner was registered and the other was not, and there was -painted on the sign after the name of the first “M.D., M. C. P. & -S., Ont.,” and after the name of the other only “M.D.,” it was held -that the use of the simple letters “M.D.,” in contradistinction to -the full titles of the partner on the same sign was not the use of a -title “calculated to lead people to infer registration,” and that the -unregistered partner was not guilty of an offence under the act [97]. - -In Ontario, provision is made for the registration of Homœopathists -as well as of regular practitioners, and for the Eclectics who were -practising in the Province for six years before 1874. - -A physician practising in another country, and performing medical -services for a patient then residing there, may recover his fees in -this Province notwithstanding he is not |47| registered [98]. A medical -practitioner duly registered in England, under the Imperial Act, is -entitled in Ontario to registration upon payment of fees without -examination [99]. - -In the United States, the common law doctrine, which favours the right -of every man to practise in any profession or business in which he is -competent, prevails to a great extent; and medicine being regarded by -it as an honorific profession, no apprenticeship was required, but -the practitioner always prescribed at his peril. This was also the -doctrine of the civil law, which drew no barriers around either law or -medicine. Any one who pleased might practise them without any previous -qualification; subject always to responsibility for injury inflicted -upon others. - -In the absence of any statutes, therefore, limiting the common law -right to practise medicine inherent in every person, the term physician -may there be applied to any one who publicly announces himself to be -a practitioner of the art and undertakes to treat the sick, either -for or without reward. The common law knows nothing of systems or -schools of medicine. In its eyes, Eclectic, Botanic, Physio-Medical, -Electrical, Thompsonian, Homœopath, Reformed, Indian Doctor, Cancer -Doctor, Indianopathist, Clairvoyant Doctor and regular physician are -alike. The scales of justice are no more affected by the large doses of -the allopathist than by the infinitesimal supplies of the homœopathist. -But the law will sometimes interfere where one not pretending to be -a practising physician uses a peculiar system in his own family. A -father, during the sickness of his children and wife, refused to -provide any medical treatment, except that applied by himself, called -the Baunscheidt system, which consists in pricking the skin of the -patient in different parts of the body with an instrument armed with -|48| a number of needles and operated by a spring, and then rubbing -the parts affected with an irritating oil. The wife and three children -had died within a month. The man practised the exanthematic treatment -upon them, but did not even call in physicians who used that mode. -The Superior Court of Pennsylvania deprived this believer in the -Baunscheidt panacea of the custody of his surviving children [100]. - -Before the common law every one undertaking to treat the sick -professionally, and as the exercise of his vocation, is legally a -physician. He has the rights of one, and when he assumes those rights -the law lays upon him the heavy burdens and responsibilities of the -profession. It is, of course, far otherwise if any statute prescribes -particular qualifications for the practice of the profession and one -undertakes to discharge its duties without such qualifications. Then -he is doubly a wrong-doer; first, as against the statute; and, second, -as against the public, who have a right to demand in him the ordinary -proficiency of his profession [101]. - -In Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, -Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and -Vermont, there appear to be no statutory requirements regulating the -practice of physicians or surgeons. In Virginia, the practitioner -only needs a license. In Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, -Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, a practitioner must either have a -license from a medical board or society, constituted according to -the law of the respective States, or else be a graduate of a medical -college. In South Carolina and the District of Columbia, he must be -licensed by the medical board; so, too, in Delaware. But this rule -in Delaware does not apply to those who practise exclusively the -|49| Thompsonian or botanic, or homœopathic systems; or practise -gratuitously or for what is willingly given them. - -In New York State, early in the century, it was enacted that no one -practising physic or surgery, without a license, could collect any -debts incurred by such practice, and it was a penal offence so to -practise. In 1830, the unauthorized practice of physic or surgery -was made a misdemeanor punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both. -Shortly afterwards the offence was made penal instead of criminal, -and it was declared the provisions should not extend to any one using -or applying for the benefit of any sick person any roots, barks, or -herbs, the growth or produce of the United States. In 1844, all laws -limiting the right to practise medicine or surgery were repealed; free -trade in physic prevailed; all examinations, certificates and licenses -were declared unnecessary; the repealing Act expressly permitted any -person to practise physic subject to punishment, as for a misdemeanor, -if he should be convicted of gross ignorance, malpractice, or immoral -conduct. However, a change came, and, in 1874, the legislature declared -that it was “a misdemeanor for any person to practise medicine or -surgery in the State of New York, unless authorized so to do by a -license or diploma from some chartered school, State board of medical -examiners, or medical society,” or to practise under cover of a medical -diploma illegally obtained. The penalty for the first offence is a fine -of not more than $200; for a subsequent offence a fine of from $100 to -$500, or imprisonment for not less than thirty days, or both [102]. In -1880, it was further enacted that no person shall “practise physic -or surgery within the State unless he is twenty-one years of age, and -has been heretofore authorized so to do pursuant to the laws in force -at the time of his authorization, or is hereafter authorized so to do, -either by license from the regents of the University of the State |50| -of New York, a diploma of an incorporated medical college within the -State, or of one without the State approved of by some proper medical -faculty within the State.” Every physician or surgeon, except those who -had been practising ten years before 1880 (and a few others), had to -register with the clerk of the county, where he practised, his name, -residence, place of birth, together with his authority to practise. - -After the repeal of the old Medical Acts, and before the enactment -of the law of 1874, the New York Court of Common Pleas had to define -who was a physician or doctor, and it said the words simply meant, -“a person who made it his business to practise physic; and it was -wholly immaterial to what school of medicine he belonged, or whether -he belonged to any. The legal signification of the term doctor means -simply a practitioner of physic. The system pursued is immaterial. -The law has nothing to do with the merits of particular systems.” The -point came up in considering a case where an agreement of employment -between an opera director and a vocalist provided for the forfeiture of -a month’s salary in case the latter should fail to attend at any stated -performance, except in the case of sickness, certified to by a doctor -to be appointed by the director. The director appointed Dr. Quin, an -homœopathist. Signor Corsi, the baritone, had a bad cold and a sore -throat, but would not consult Dr. Quin, and proffered a certificate of -an allopathist of his own choosing. This Max Maretzek would not take, -and he refused to pay Corsi his salary. The singer sued, but the Court -held that the provision was binding upon the artist, although the -director had appointed a person in the practice of what is known as the -homœopathic system of medicine. * * * The Court considered it was error -to attempt in the then present state of medical science to recognize as -a matter of law any one system of practice, or to declare that the |51| -practitioner who follows a particular system is a doctor, and that one -who pursues a different method is not [103]. - -It has been held, however, that where a “regular physician” is spoken -of, an allopathic is meant [104]. - -In Iowa, the Court said, “As yet there is no particular system of -medicine established or favoured by the laws of Iowa, and as no -system is upheld none is prohibited. The regular, the botanic, the -homœopathic, the hydropathic and other modes are alike unprohibited. -Though the regular system has been advancing as a science for -centuries, aided by research and experiment, by experience and skill, -still the law regards it with no partiality or distinguishing favour, -nor is it recognized as the exclusive standard or test by which the -other systems are to be adjudged” [105]. - -Notwithstanding the New York law of 1874, one can undertake to effect -cures by manipulation without possessing a diploma. He may even -maintain an action for the compensation agreed upon, although not a -graduate and having no license to practise. A man professed to cure -by rubbing, kneading and pressing the body. The court considered his -system was rather one of nursing than of either medicine or surgery, -and that it could not result in any injury to the person practised -upon than that of possible financial loss [106]. Yet, in Maine, where -a license is required, even a “medical clairvoyant” was held to come -within the statute, and it was decided that he could not render his -professional services without having the legal permission. In England, -an unregistered person sued to recover his charges for galvanic -operations, and for materials and electric fluid used therein. The jury -decided in favour of the galvanizer, and the court |52| would not -disturb the verdict, as the work was done before the Act of 1858 came -into operation, but expressed a strong opinion that if the work had not -been done when it was, it would have been impossible to hold that the -case did not fall within the statute [107]. - -A physician must practise according to the principles of his school. -There are distinct and different schools of practice; allopathic or old -school, homœopathic, Thompsonian, hydropathic or water cure; and if a -physician of one of those schools is called in, his treatment is to be -tested by the general doctrines of his school, not by those of other -schools. It is presumed that patient and physician both understand -this [108]. - -A person professing to follow one system of medical treatment cannot -be expected by his employer to practise another. While the regular -physician is expected to follow the rules of the old school in the art -of curing, the botanic physician must be equally expected to adhere to -his adopted method. While on the part of every medical practitioner the -law implies an undertaking that he will use an ordinary degree of care -and skill in medical operations, and he is unquestionably liable for -gross carelessness or unskilfulness in the management of his patients, -still the person who employs a botanic practitioner has no right to -expect the same kind of treatment or the same kind of medicine that -a regular physician would administer. The law does not require a man -to accomplish more than he undertakes, nor in a different manner from -what he professes. So, if one is employed as a botanic physician, and -performs his services with ordinary care and skill, in accordance -with the system he professes to follow, that will be regarded as a -legal defence to a suit for malpractice. It would show a full |53| -compliance with his profession and undertaking, and if injury resulted -to the plaintiff he could blame no one but himself [109]. - -If a patient has not been deluded by any but himself, and voluntarily -employs in one art a man who openly exercises another, his folly has no -claim to indulgence. The old Mahomedan case, cited by Puffendorf with -approbation, is very much to the point. A man who had a disorder in his -eyes called on a farrier for a remedy. This worthy gave him a remedy -commonly used by his quadrupedal patients. The man lost his sight, and -brought an action against the farrier for damages; but the Judge said -that no action would lie, for, if the complainant had not himself been -an ass, he would never have employed a horse doctor. But when a case, -the converse of this, came up, the Court remarked that, “stock and the -human family are animals with many similitudes and some variances; -so that, although it be admitted that one acquainted with the mode -of treating diseases of the human family should not be relied on to -select from the materia medica substances apt for the treatment of -stock, still we think it clear that one having a scientific knowledge -of the diseases of men must be presumed to have so much knowledge of -the diseases of a mule as to enable him to determine whether a disease -with which the animal is afflicted be of recent or long standing. An -expert in the diseases of man is necessarily an expert in the diseases -of animals, so as to make his opinion competent evidence upon a matter -in reference to which he will swear that his scientific knowledge has -enabled him to form an opinion.” And so a physician was allowed to give -his opinion as to whether the disease with which a mule was afflicted -was, or was not, of long standing, as he considered himself competent -so to do from his knowledge |54| of the diseases to which human flesh -is heir, although he knew nothing in particular about the diseases of -stock [110]. - -As one who employs a homœopathic or botanic physician knowingly cannot -object to his bill because he was not treated in the way usual among -orthodox practitioners; so, on the other hand, if a physician of one -school is employed by one who has a _penchant_ for that particular -system, and treats his patient according to a different system, he -cannot recover for his services if he fail to benefit the patient [111]. - -Proof that one practises physic is _prima facie_ evidence of his -professional character; and if one holds himself out as a physician and -surgeon, and acts as such, the law will hold him liable as such [112]. - -A physician who merely casually makes up a prescription for a friend -when meeting him upon the street, cannot be called his medical -attendant; that term means one to whose care a sick person has been -confided [113]. - - - - -|55| - -CHAPTER V. - -NEGLIGENCE AND MALPRACTICE. - - -Malpractice, or _mala praxis_, may be defined to be an improper -discharge of professional duties, either through want of skill or -negligence. It is now more particularly applied to torts—when committed -by a physician, surgeon, or apothecary. - -It is a great misdemeanor and offence at common law, whether it arise -from curiosity and experiment, or from neglect; because it breaks the -trust which the party has placed in the physician, tending directly to -his destruction [114]. A medical man who is guilty of gross negligence, -or evinces a gross ignorance of his profession, is criminally -responsible for the consequences. And one who, by a culpable want of -care and attention, or by the absence of a competent degree of skill -and knowledge, causes injury to a patient, is liable to a civil action -for damages; unless, indeed, such injury be the immediate result of -intervening negligence on the part of the patient himself; or unless -such patient has by his own carelessness directly conduced to such -injury [115]. - -It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between civil and criminal -malpractice, or to say when one is criminally, and when only civilly -responsible. But it may be said generally, that to constitute criminal -liability there must be such a |56| degree of complete negligence in -the practice as the law means by the word felonious [116]. - -There may be malpractice by commission, _i. e._, from the want of -ordinary skill in the discharge of professional duties; or malpractice -by omission, _i. e._, from negligence in the discharge of such duties. - -The question, “Was there negligence?” will be answered from the stand -point of the law, not from that of medicine, when a matter comes to be -judicially investigated. The law as applicable to other professions -and occupations will be applied to the medical or surgical case under -consideration. - -Strictly speaking, the term _negligence_ is limited in its application -to carelessness in the performance of professional duty; _carelessness_ -is its proper synonyme. Duties performed without care, caution, -attention, diligence, skill, prudence, or judgment, are negligently -performed. Acts are so designated which are performed by one -heedlessly, even when there is no purpose to omit the performance of -duty. It is _non-feasance_, not malfeasance. It is the omitting to do, -and not the ill-doing—it is the leaving undone what one ought to have -done—not the doing what one ought not to have done—this last being a -want of skill. In its various degrees it ranges between simple accident -and actual fraud, the latter beginning where negligence ends [117]. - -Wharton, after criticising various definitions, proposes this, -“Negligence, in its civil relations, is such an inadvertent -imperfection, by a responsible human agent, in the discharge of a legal -duty, as immediately produces, in an ordinary and natural sequence, -a damage to another” [118]. |57| Negligence, in medical practice, is -a violation of the obligation that medical men impliedly enter into -when they accept the charge of a patient; such obligation enjoins care -and caution in what they do, and in what they omit to do. A medical -man is liable as well for want of skill, as for negligence, and an -injured party may bring his action to recover for damage resulting from -ignorance and carelessness, and recover on proving that he sustained -damage from either [119]. - -Physicians and surgeons have specified duties imposed upon them when -they undertake the charge of a patient. Refusing to perform their part -of the implied contract will constitute negligence, and for all injury -resulting therefrom they will be held accountable. It will constitute -a tort for which the law gives damages [120]. Of course a medical man, -unless he be an officer of the Government, charged with specific duties -which he thereby violates, has a legal right to decline to take charge -of a particular case. When in charge, however, he is liable for any -negligence, whether of omission or commission, which may produce injury -to his patient. _Voluntatis est suscipere mandatum, necessitas est -consummare_ [121]. - -There is an implied obligation on a man holding himself out to the -community as a physician and surgeon, and practising his profession, -that he should possess the ordinary skill requisite for reasonable -success, and that he should attend to the case with due care [122]. -If the patient knows of the practitioner’s want of skill, he cannot -complain of the lack of that which he knew did not exist. |58| - -A surgeon does not become an actual insurer [123]; the implied contract -is not to cure, but to possess and employ in the treatment of the -case such reasonable skill and diligence as are ordinarily exercised -by thoroughly educated surgeons; and in judging of the degree of -skill and attention required, regard is to be had to the time and -place. The law implies that in the treatment of all cases which they -undertake medical men will exercise reasonable and ordinary care and -diligence; they are bound always to use their best skill and judgment -in determining the nature of the malady and the best mode of treatment, -and in all respects to do their best to secure a perfect restoration -of their patients to health and soundness. But they do not impliedly -warrant the recovery of their patients, and are not liable on account -of any failure in that respect, unless it is through some default of -their own [124]. Tindal, C.J., in summing up to the jury in an action -for improper treatment to a hand and wrist, whereby the plaintiff -lost the use of her hand, well said, “Every person who enters into -a learned profession undertakes to bring to the exercise of it a -reasonable degree of care and skill. He does not undertake, if he is a -surgeon, that he will perform a cure, nor does he undertake to use the -highest possible degree of skill. There may be persons who have higher -education and greater advantages than he has, but he undertakes to -bring a fair, reasonable and competent degree of skill.” - -Wharton and Stillé thus state the law: “A physician and surgeon is -only responsible for ordinary skill, etc., and for the exercise of his -best judgment in matters of doubt. He is not accountable for a want of -the highest degree of skill [125], nor for an erroneous, though honest -conclusion, |59| according to his best light [126]. The law has no -allowance for quackery. It demands qualification in the profession -practised, not extraordinary skill such as belongs to few men of rare -genius and endowment, but that degree which ordinarily characterizes -the profession. And in determining whether the practitioner possesses -ordinary skill, regard must be had to the advanced state of the -profession at the time [127]. - -As to what is ordinary or reasonable skill or care, the rule has -sometimes been laid down thus favourably, “The least amount of skill -with which a fair proportion of the practitioners of a given locality -are endowed, is to be taken as the criterion by which to judge the -physician’s skill or ability” [128]. Or, as another writer puts it, -“It has been finally determined to consider the least amount of skill -compatible with a scientific knowledge of the healing art as sufficient -to predicate the existence of ordinary skill” [129]. To render a medical -man liable even civilly for negligence, or want of due care or skill, -it is not enough that there has been a less degree of skill than some -other medical man may have shown, or a less degree of care than even -he himself might have bestowed, nor is it enough that he himself -acknowledges some degree of want of care; there must have been a want -of competent and ordinary care and skill, and to such a degree as to -have led to a bad result [130]. - -In a city there are many means of professional culture which are -inaccessible in the country. Hospitals can be walked, libraries -visited, new books and appliances bought, |60| constant intercourse -had with the greater lights of the profession. What is due diligence, -therefore, in the city, is not due diligence in the country; and what -is due diligence in the country is not due diligence in the city. -Hence, the question, in each particular case, is to be determined, -not by enquiring what would be the average diligence or skill of the -profession (which would be a thing very difficult to reach), but -what would be the diligence or skill of an honest, intelligent and -responsible practitioner in the position in which the one in question -was placed [131]. - -The skill required is not an _absolute_ but a _relative_ qualification; -and as such, therefore, always subordinated to whatever conventional -standard of professional proficiency we may choose to adopt. Like -morals, it may vary with times and places, or, if based upon -representative intellects, it is clear that the ideal type selected -must be one to which the majority, rather than the minority, of minds -approximate [132]. A physician, when called upon to manage a case, is -not required to apply the skill and care which could be applied by the -perfect ideal physician, for the reason that from the limitation of the -human intellect no perfect ideal physician exists in practice, and, -from the limitation of human endurance, no perfect ideal physician, -even if he existed, could watch a patient unintermittingly. But a -physician, when called upon to manage a case, is bound to exercise -the skill and vigilance which good and faithful physicians, under the -circumstances in which he is placed, would exercise. If called upon in -a country town, remote from the great centres of scientific activity, -to attend to an exceptional case which requires immediate action, he -is not liable if he does not employ those mechanisms which only a -residence in such a centre of scientific activity would enable him to -procure. On the other hand, a physician living in such a |61| centre -is liable for negligence, if, when called upon in such a case, he does -not use such mechanism, supposing its application to be advisable [133]. - -A physician and surgeon is bound to possess the ordinary skill, -learning and experience of his profession generally at the time in -similar localities, and with similar opportunities for experience [134]. - -A patient is entitled to the benefit of the increased knowledge of -the day. The physician or surgeon who assumes to exercise the healing -art is bound to be up to the improvements of the day. The standard of -ordinary skill is on the advance; and he who would not be found wanting -must apply himself with all diligence to the most accredited sources of -knowledge [135]. - -Sex is no excuse for negligence; there is no rule of law to the effect -that less care is required of a woman than a man. A lady physician -cannot as such claim any privilege of exemption from the care and -caution required of men, any more than a woman acting as a locomotive -engineer could be allowed to use less diligence to avoid mischief to -others than men must use. Male and female are governed by the same rule -in this respect: the rule of prudent regard for the rights of others -knows nothing of sex [136]. Inasmuch as gratuitous services are more -generally rendered by young and inexperienced physicians than by those -who are well established in their business, a presumption naturally -arises that one who renders such services is not possessed of great -skill, and was not supposed to be by the patient. This presumption may -be overcome by proof to the contrary; and the physician must be judged -by the |62| standard to which he led the patient to believe he had -attained; or, if he has done nothing to mislead his patient upon this -point, his responsibility will be measured by the degree of skill which -he is proved actually to possess [137]. - -It has been laid down in Maine, that physicians and surgeons who offer -themselves to the public as practitioners impliedly promise thereby -that they possess the requisite skill and knowledge to enable them to -heal such cases as they undertake with reasonable success; and that -this rule does not require the possession of the highest, or even the -average skill, knowledge and experience, but only such as will enable -them to treat the case understandingly and safely [138]. - -Considering how much the treatment of a case depends upon its varying -phases, which change as quickly as the shifting hues of the heavens, it -is hard for one medical man to come forward and condemn the treatment -of a brother in the profession, and to say he would have done this or -that, when probably, had he been in a position to judge of the case -from the first, he would have done no better [139]. - -If a physician does not bring to the treatment of an injury or of -a disease the ordinary amount of skill possessed by those in his -profession, it is immaterial how high his standing may be; if he has -skill and does not apply it he is guilty of negligence, and if he -does not have it then he is liable for the want of it. When a case of -alleged malpractice is before the court, the questions to be considered -are: Did the defendant possess the ordinary skill of persons acting as -medical men? If he did, was he chargeable in not applying it in the -treatment of the patient? Whether |63| he possessed greater skill, -or had been successful in the treatment of other patients, is wholly -immaterial. Where the point in issue is whether skill was applied in a -given case, the possession of skill without proof that it was applied -will be no defence [140]. - -The law punishes negligence no less than want of skill. It is -undoubtedly true that the physician is the best judge of the degree -of attention which any case requires. Nor is it in the omission to -make a given number of visits that negligence resides, but whenever -any important step in the treatment of disease is neglected, or any -important stage of it overlooked, which might have been used for the -benefit of the patient, then it may be averred that the physician has -been guilty of negligence, however assiduous he may otherwise have -been at different periods of his treatment. Skill and diligence may be -considered, therefore, as indissolubly associated, since skill judges -of the measure of diligence required and also furnishes the latter with -the eyes of observation and the hands of execution; while diligence on -her part gives cumulative power to skill, and leaves no link wanting -in the continuous train of treatment [141]. The measure of skill which -a physician is bound to exercise is not affected by his refusal of the -proffer of assistance from other medical men [142]. The Court said that -such a refusal is no more than an implied declaration of ability to -treat the case properly. By assuming and continuing the charge of the -patient, the physician is under an obligation to exercise a degree of -skill which is neither increased or diminished by such refusal. - -In considering the skill and knowledge of a practitioner regard must -be had to the school to which he professes to |64| belong; and where -there is no particular system established or favoured by law, and no -system is prohibited, every physician is expected to practise according -to his professed and avowed system. A botanic physician is to be gauged -according to the botanic system, and a homœopathic physician by the -homœopathic system: so if a botanic doctor, or a homœopathist, is sued -for malpractice he may free himself from blame by showing that his -practice was according to the rules of the school which he professed -and was known to follow, and a departure from the received canons of -his system will be taken as a want of ordinary skill. But the jury is -not to judge by determining which school in their own view is best [143]. - -A sign or other proof that one actually practises physic or surgery -is _prima facie_ evidence of his professional character [144]. And -when a physician’s skill is at issue he may adduce evidence to prove -the existence of such general skill on his part, irrespective of the -particular case as to which the question arises; and he may show this -by the testimony of those in his profession who can speak from personal -knowledge of his practice [145]. - -The possession of a medical diploma is _prima facie_ of ordinary skill. -But of course it must be shown that the college from which it emanated -had authority to grant degrees in medicine [146]. - -If, in the absence of a medical man, a non-professional person is -called in to assist a person taken suddenly sick, such amateur is not -liable for special or slight negligence, |65| that is for the lack of -that diligence and skill belonging to a professed physician; but he -is liable for gross negligence (the _culpa lata_ of the Latinists), -that is, the lack of the diligence and skill belonging to ordinary -unprofessional persons of common sense; while, as we have seen, the -physician is liable for slight negligence (_culpa levis_), if he either -undertakes the case without the ordinary qualifications of a physician -under such circumstances, or manages it without the ordinary skill of -such a physician [147]. - -If a physician treats a patient without being requested so to do, -he is held to a more strict account than in ordinary cases. In one -instance, a medical man administered physic to a slave without the -owner’s consent, and the court held him responsible for all the evil -consequences which resulted [148]; and this rule is still more rigidly -enforced when the volunteer by his officiousness excludes a competent -practitioner who would have been otherwise obtainable. If one who is -not a regular medical practitioner professes to deal with the life and -health of others, he is bound to have and employ competent skill [149]. - -The mere fact that he renders his services gratuitously, or out of -charity, does not free the practitioner from all liability. But, -according to some authorities, the attendant in such cases is held to -a less strict accountability than when his services are based upon -an implied contract, and is liable only for gross negligence [150]. -Amos, in his “Science of Law,” says, “The less the payment made in -return for diligence, the less the diligence that is expected; and if -no payment at all is made, as little diligence as possible is |66| -usually expected, though it may be that some is.” Wharton cannot accept -this doctrine from humane and other considerations [151]. And Ordronaux -says that it may be considered as a received principle of law that, a -physician, though rendering his services gratuitously, as in hospitals -or among the out-door poor, is bound to exhibit the same degree of -ordinary skill and diligence in the treatment of a patient as if he -were acting under the incentive of a consideration or prospective -reward. If he undertakes to execute the trust reposed in him, he is -bound to do it well, or else he may be compelled to respond in damages -to the party injured by his misfeasance. It is not the consideration -which constitutes the foundation of his responsibility, but the fact -that in voluntarily accepting the mandate, _spondet peritiam artis_, -indiscriminately to all. He cannot apportion medical skill or his -diligence to meet the prospective emoluments flowing out of any given -case [152]. - -In a criminal case, Denman, J., told the jury that it made no -difference whether a medical man was dealing with a patient or acting -as a volunteer, and dealing with a friend or with his own wife [153]. -But Cockburn, C.J., in a case where a patient in a hospital sued two -surgeons for injury received from being scalded in a bath, in which -he had been placed by the nurses on the orders of the surgeons, said, -no doubt persons who went as patients into hospitals were not to be -treated with negligence; but, on the other hand, medical gentlemen -who gave their services gratuitously were not to be made liable for -negligence for which they were not personally responsible. The jury -gave a verdict in favour of the doctors [154]. - -If a sick man applies to one, not a physician, for |67| gratuitous -medical assistance, and this one either does not exert all his skill, -or administers improper medicine to the best of his ability, he is not -liable for damage [155]. - -The amount of prudence which a man must exercise in selecting a -physician, and the means to be cured, is the same that any prudent and -reasonable man would do in any other matter [156]. - -It is the duty of a patient to co-operate with his medical adviser, and -to conform to the necessary prescriptions; and if, under the pressure -of pain, he does not, or, if by refusing to adopt the remedies of the -physician, he frustrates the latter’s endeavours, or, if he aggravates -the case by his own misconduct, he cannot charge against the physician -the consequences due distinctively to himself; for no one can take -advantage of his own wrong. In such a case, even if the physician’s -treatment was objectionable, he can only recover nominal damages; and -if the injury was due to the patient’s fractiousness and disregard of -the doctor’s orders (the latter being judicious), no action at all will -lie [157]. - -In Ohio, it was held that, in an action for malpractice in the -treatment of a swollen ankle and diseased foot, the Judge had not erred -in saying to the jury, “If you find that the defendant directed the -plaintiff to observe absolute rest as a part of the treatment to his -foot, and that direction was such as a surgeon or physician of ordinary -skill would adopt or sanction, and the patient negligently failed to -observe such direction, or purposely disobeyed the same, and that such -negligence or disobedience approximately |68| contributed to the injury -of which he complains, he cannot recover in this action; although -he may prove that the defendant’s negligence and want of skill also -contributed to the injury. The injured party must not have contributed -at all.” The information given by a surgeon to his patient concerning -the nature of his malady is a circumstance that should be considered in -determining whether the patient, in disobeying the instructions of the -surgeon, was guilty of negligence or not [158]. - -The general doctrine of contributory negligence is this, that although -there may have been negligence on the part of the plaintiff, yet, -unless he might, by the exercise of ordinary care, have avoided the -consequence of the defendant’s negligence, he is entitled to recover; -if, by ordinary care, he might have avoided it, then he is the author -of his own wrong [159]. The rule is laid down in another case as -follows: If it be impossible to separate the injury occasioned by the -plaintiff from that occasioned by the neglect of the defendant, the -plaintiff cannot recover; if, however, they can be separated, for such -injury as the plaintiff may show thus preceded solely from the want of -ordinary skill or ordinary care of the defendant, he may recover [160]. - -The patient must exercise ordinary care and prudence; he is not bound -to observe the utmost possible caution. And the ordinary care required -has been defined to be that degree of care which persons of ordinary -care and prudence are accustomed to use and employ under similar -circumstances [161]. In fact the plaintiff must use his own senses [162]. -Still, if he is rash and negligent, and yet the |69| physician has -been so very neglectful that ordinary care on the part of the patient -would not have prevented the unfortunate result, the plaintiff will be -entitled to recover damages [163]. So, where the doctor’s negligence is -the proximate cause of the injury, and that of the patient only the -remote cause [164]. And proximate does not mean the first or nearest in -order of time, but the first or nearest in order of cause [165]. - -It is to be remembered that a physician may be called to prescribe for -cases which originated in the carelessness of the patient; and though -such carelessness would remotely contribute to the injury sued for, -it would not relieve the physician from liability for his distinct -negligence and the separate injury occasioned thereby. The patient -may also, while he is under treatment, injure himself by his own -carelessness; yet he may recover of the physician, if he carelessly -or unskilfully treats him afterwards, and thus does him a distinct -injury [166]. The burden of proving that the plaintiff’s own negligence -contributed to the injury rests upon the defendant [167]. Evidence that -the patient requested the defendant to perform an operation, or do -an act, which caused the injury, does not tend to prove contributory -negligence, if the injury was not the natural result of such act -carefully performed [168]. - -If the patient is insane, and so incapable of co-operating with the -physician, contributory negligence is not imputable. And this inability -the physician is bound to take into account [169]. |70| - -If the physician has injured the patient by his negligence, the -refusal of the patient, or his custodian, to allow an experiment, -by another physician, to repair the injury is not contributory -negligence, unless he had reasonable assurance of the success of the -experiment [170]. - -The practitioner is liable where a patient suffers from his want of -ordinary skill and diligence, even though the carelessness of those -nursing the patient may have aggravated the case and rendered the -ultimate condition of the patient worse than it otherwise would have -been. Although this carelessness in nursing may be proved in mitigation -of the damages sought against the physician, it will not serve to -bar the right of action [171]. And where two surgeons, who gave their -services gratuitously to the sick in a hospital, were sued by one -Perionowsky, for maltreatment there by causing him to be placed in a -bath so hot that he was scalded and injured, and it was proved that -the bath, though ordered by the defendants, was actually administered -by the nurses, and that the defendants were not present when it was -given, and that it was no part of their duty personally to superintend -such things. Cockburn, C.J., in summing up, told the jury that the -surgeons would not be liable for the neglect of the nurses unless near -enough to be aware of it and to prevent it [172]. And, in another case, -the court held that if a jury were to find that the parents of the -patient (a boy) were in charge of and nursed him during his sickness, -and that they did not obey the directions of the physician in regard to -the treatment and care of their son during such time, but disregarded -the same, and thereby contributed to the several injuries of which he -complains, he could not recover. If the injuries were |71| the result -of mutual and concurring neglect of the parties no action to recover -damages therefor will lie [173]. - -The medical man has ofttimes to sail between Scylla and Charybdis. -While, on the one hand, he is bound to consult the attainable -literature in his profession, and to diligently gather in, for every -case he undertakes to treat, the experience of his confreres—for in -determining what is negligence, the improvements that are constantly -taking place are always considered—at the same time he must not try new -modes or methods too readily, lest a Judge say of him, as one said in -a surgery case, “It appears from the evidence of the surgeons that it -was improper to disunite the callus without consent. This is the usage -and law of surgeons. Then it was ignorance and unskilfulness, in that -very particular, to do contrary to the rule of the profession what no -surgeon ought to have done. For anything that appears to the court, -this was the first experiment made with this new instrument; and, if -it was, it was a rash action, and he who acts rashly acts ignorantly; -and although the defendants (a surgeon and an apothecary), in general, -may be as skilful in their respective professions as any two gentlemen -in England, yet the court cannot help saying that, in this particular -case, they acted ignorantly and unskilfully, contrary to the known rule -and usage of surgeons;” (and they had to pay the plaintiff £500 for the -damage to his leg) [174]. Success is the only thing that justifies an -innovation either in politics or physic. - -When it is proved that the physician has omitted altogether the -established mode of treatment, and has adopted one that has proved to -be injurious, evidence of skill, or of reputation for skill, is wholly -immaterial, except to show (what the law presumes) that he possesses -the ordinary |72| degree of skill of persons engaged in the same -profession. In such a case, it is of no consequence how much skill he -may have; he has demonstrated a want of it in the treatment of the -particular case. - -The failure to use skill, if the surgeon has it, may be negligence; but -when the treatment adopted is not in accordance with the established -practice, but is positively injurious, the case is not one of -negligence, but of want of skill. If the case is a new one, the patient -must trust to the skill and experience of the surgeon he calls. So must -he if the injury or disease is attended with injury to other parts, -or other diseases have developed themselves, for which there is no -established mode of treatment. But when the case is one as to which a -system of treatment has been followed for a long time, there should be -no departure from it, unless the surgeon who does it is prepared to -take the risk of establishing by his success the propriety and safety -of his experiment. This rule protects the community against reckless -experiments, while it admits the adoption of new remedies and modes of -treatment only when their benefits have been demonstrated, or where, -from the necessity of the case, the surgeon or physician must be left -to the exercise of his own skill and experience [175]. - -Physicians are not bound to comply with the demands of the public; they -may accept or refuse a call: but having accepted, one must continue in -attendance upon the case until recovery, unless dismissed, or unless -he has withdrawn in a proper way. Even if his services are gratuitous, -he must continue them until reasonable time has been given to procure -other attendance. - -A husband sued a medical man for neglecting to attend |73| his wife, -according to agreement, during childbirth, and the jury gave him a -verdict of $500; the court considered that the physician had broken his -contract and was liable therefor, but reduced the damages to a nominal -sum, as, in an action on contract, the husband could not recover for -the personal injury and sufferings of the wife [176]. - -If a physician at any time desires to withdraw from a case, he must -give such reasonable notice as will enable the patient to obtain -assistance elsewhere. He has a right to withdraw at any time, -especially with his patient’s consent, but if he insists upon that -assent as a shield from liability for any negligence of which he may -have been guilty, or for any malpractice committed, the patient may -show, if he can, that the consent was obtained by representations -that were false; and then the consent will be no protection against -liability for damage that had occurred before the consent was -given [177]. - -While it is quite competent for a physician and his patient to make -any agreement they think fit, limiting the attendance to a longer or -shorter period, or to a single visit; and while, if there is no such -limitation, the physician can discontinue his attendance at his own -pleasure, after giving reasonable notice of his intention to do so; -yet, if he is sent for at the time of an injury by one whose family -physician he has been for years, the effect of his responding to the -call will be an engagement to attend upon the case so long as it -requires attention, unless he gives notice to the contrary, or is -discharged by the patient; and he is bound to use ordinary care and -skill, not only in his attendance but in determining when it may be -safely and properly discontinued [178]. Ordronaux says a physician -cannot |74| abandon a case without due notice. To do so would -constitute negligence of a grave character, and render him answerable -for all injury sustained by the patient in consequence thereof. The -contract is for the performance of a service of indefinite duration, -and usually without stipulation for its continuance during any -particular period. It is plainly a fraud upon the employer to abandon -or neglect discharging the trust after having accepted it, for the -acceptance constitutes a promise, and a promise is a good foundation -upon which to rest a legal obligation. If the physician retires from -it, he can only do so by placing the employer in as good circumstances -as he found him, and by giving due notice of his intention [179]. - -A medical man is liable to a civil action for injury resulting to -a patient from his negligence or unskilful treatment, although the -patient neither employed nor was to pay him. As Baron Parke said: -“If an apothecary administers improper medicines to his patient, or -a surgeon unskilfully treats him, and thereby injures his health, he -will be liable to the patient, even where the father or friend of the -patient may have been the contracting party with the apothecary or -surgeon; for, though no such contract had been made, the apothecary, -if he gave improper medicines, or the surgeon, if he took him as a -patient and unskilfully treated him, would be liable to an action for -a misfeasance” [180]. And as Richards, C.B., said: “From the necessity -of the thing, the only person who can properly sustain an action for -damages for an injury done to the person of a patient, is the patient -himself, for damages could not be given on that account to any other -person, although the surgeon may have been retained and employed by -him to undertake the case” [181]; and in this same case, which was an -|75| action brought by a husband and a wife for an injury done to the -wife, Garrow, B., said; “In the practice of surgery, the public are -exposed to great risks from the number of ignorant persons professing -a knowledge of the art, without the least pretensions to the most -necessary qualifications, and they often inflict very serious injury -on those who are so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. In cases -of the most brutal inattention and neglect, the patients would be -precluded frequently from seeking damages by course of law, if it -were necessary to enable them to recover, that there should have been -a previous retainer, on their part, of the person professing to be -able to cure them. In all cases of surgeons retained by any public -establishments, it would happen that the patient would be without -redress, for it could hardly be expected that the governors of an -infirmary should bring an action against the surgeon employed by them -to attend the child of poor parents, who may have suffered from his -negligence and inattention” [182]. - -As in the case of an attorney, so with a physician, it is not every -mistake or misapprehension that will make him liable to an action for -negligence. There is scarcely a case in which a physician is called in, -in which he may not be charged with _culpa levissima_, or the omission -to ward off every possible casualty; and if _culpa levissima_ makes -him liable, then his liability becomes almost co-extensive with his -practice. He is only responsible for _culpa levis_ [183]. - -It must be remembered that the implied liability of a physician or -surgeon, retained to treat a case professionally, extends no further, -in the absence of a special agreement, than that he will indemnify his -patient against any injurious consequences resulting from his want of -the proper degree of skill, care or diligence, in the execution of his -|76| employment; and in an action against the surgeon for malpractice, -the plaintiff, if he shows no injury resulting from negligence or want -of skill in the defendant, will not be entitled to recover even nominal -damages [184]. - -The question whether the physician possessed adequate skill, and -exercised adequate care, is, in a case of malpractice, for the jury -to decide. Theoretically, and we may add, literally, the jury have -the unquestioned right to decide every controverted fact, even if its -decision may involve the most abstrusively difficult and uncertain -questions in the regions of scientific enquiry. But it is for the -Judge to determine whether there is or not such evidence as ought -reasonably to satisfy the jury that the fact sought to be proved is -established. As Lord Cairns once put it, “The Judge has to say whether -any facts have been established by evidence from which negligence _may -be reasonably inferred_, the jury have to say whether from these facts, -when submitted to them, _negligence ought to be inferred_.” It is for -the Judge to say whether the case should or should not be submitted -to the jury; and the rule is imperative that it should not be, unless -the evidence be such that therefrom the negligence charged may be -reasonably inferred [185]. - -Judges are generally desirous of impressing on juries the necessity of -construing everything in the most favourable way for the defendant, -when such actions are brought against a surgeon. “It is notorious -there are many cases in which jurors are not the most dispassionate or -most competent persons to try the rights of parties, and an action of -this kind (_i. e._, against a surgeon for malpractice) comes within -this class. In such actions the Judge should |77| firmly assume the -responsibility of determining himself whether sufficient evidence has -or has not been given to compel him to leave the case to the jury” [186]. - -Medical writers speak strongly against such actions. One says, “In -the majority of cases these actions are the direct offspring of envy, -hatred, malice and all uncharitableness, and when, rocked in the -cradle of calumny and nursed by the hand of speculation, injury is -often inflicted upon the character of the physician, who is at the -same time left without any proper remedy at law. The effect, also, of -such suits upon the public mind is apt to be pernicious, for success -in obtaining damages often stimulates others into a repetition of -the experiment, and the physician consequently practises his art -in chains, being perpetually exposed to the risk of a suit, which -may ruin his reputation as well as his fortune. It becomes lawyers, -therefore, to consider, when called upon to institute such suits, that -little value can be placed on the _ipse dixit_ of a layman sitting as -critic upon the professional conduct of a physician. And that, aside -from such personal delinquencies as drunkenness, or gross negligence, -cruelty towards, or abandonment of his patient, the field in which the -physician discharges his professional duties is practically _terra -incognita_ to the unlearned, and one where no lay critic can follow -him” [187]. - -The same critic points out that the majority of suits for malpractice -have been brought against surgeons and not against physicians. -“Failure is rarely excused in a surgeon. He is expected to be an -adroit medical carpenter who, with knife and saw and splint, can so -re-construct the fractured or disjointed members of the human body as -to leave no mark or line as evidence of their previous |78| disruption. -On the other hand, the physician, enshrined within the penetralia -of his mystic art, and mounted upon a Delphic tripod, inaccessible -to vulgar criticism, pronounces his diagnosis and formulizes his -prescriptions with unquestioned judgment. His diagnosis may be faulty, -his medicines ill-selected, or ill-timed in their administration, and -still no blame be incurred by him for any evil consequences that may -ensue. For who will presume to say, in case of the patient’s death, -that he had not naturally reached that last illness foreordained to -all men, and of which the physician’s unsuccessful treatment is only -official testimony? Who knows, in fact, when a man has reached his last -illness until he dies? * * * And, as a corollary to this, strange as it -may seem, one might, through unskilfulness, sacrifice a human life with -more impunity than he could mutilate or deform a toe or a finger” [188]. - -The question of the amount of damages for personal injuries arising -from malpractice is one resting a good deal in the discretion of the -jury, and must of necessity be more or less uncertain. The party must -recover all his damages, present and prospective, in one action. -If the damages are so excessive as to strike all mankind, at first -blush, as beyond all measure unreasonable and outrageous, and such as -manifestly show the jury to have been actuated by passion, partiality, -corruption, or prejudice, the court will grant a new trial. Sometimes, -however, courts have granted new trials for excessive damages where the -excessiveness has fallen short of this. - -In considering what should be taken into account by a jury estimating -the amount of damages to be awarded, the American courts have held, -that the loss of time caused by the injury is to be considered [189]. -Also, the age and |79| situation in life of the injured one, -the expenses incurred, the permanent effect upon the plaintiff’s -capacity to pursue his professional calling, or to support himself as -beforetimes, are essential factors [190]. - -Bodily pain, too, is to be considered and compensated for; and so much -of mental suffering as may be indivisibly connected with it; but mental -anguish and agony cannot be measured by money—the courts consider—and -there is no established rule authoritatively commanding such a futile -effort [191]. In fact, the courts say, that one should get compensation -for all the injuries that are the legal, direct, and necessary results -of the malpractice [192]. - -The late case of _Phillips_ v. _The South Western Railway Company_ -fully enunciates what, in the estimation of the English Judges, are -to be considered in fixing the damages. Cockburn, C.J., said, that -the heads of damages were the bodily injuries sustained, the pain -undergone, the effect on the health of the sufferer, according to -its degree and its probable duration as likely to be temporary or -permanent, the expenses incidental to attempts to effect a cure, -and the pecuniary loss sustained through inability to attend to -a profession or business [193]. In the Court of Appeal, Bramwell, -L.J., remarked, “You must give the plaintiff a compensation for -his pecuniary loss, you must give him compensation for his pain and -bodily suffering. Of course, it is almost impossible to give an -injured man what can be strictly called compensation, but you must -take a reasonable view of the case, and must consider, under all the -circumstances, what is a fair amount to be awarded to |80| him” [194]. -Phillips, who was a physician of middle age and robust health, making -£5,000 a year, was so injured by a railway company, that he was totally -unable to attend to his business; his life was a burden and a source of -utmost pain, and the probability was that he would never recover. The -jury gave him £16,000, and the court refused to consider it excessive. - -A physician, who has received personal injuries, may recover damages -for loss of business as a physician, although he has not such a -degree as would entitle him to maintain an action for professional -services [195]. The value of the fees which he would have received -without suit may be estimated. - -An action cannot be maintained against the representatives of a -deceased surgeon to recover damages arising from the unskilful -treatment of a patient. Such actions do not survive [196]. - -A medical practitioner who causes the death of a patient by such -malpractice or negligence as would have entitled the patient (if death -had not ensued) to maintain an action and recover damages against him -in respect of the injury sustained thereby, is liable to an action for -damages, notwithstanding the death of the patient, and although the -circumstances under which the death was caused amount to felony. Such -action may be brought for the benefit of the wife, husband, parent -and child of the deceased, and the jury may give such damages as they -may think proportioned to the injury resulting from such death to the -parties respectively for whom and for whose benefit such |81| action -is brought; but such injury must be a pecuniary loss, and the jury may -not give damages as a _solatium_ [197]. In some of the American cases -the mental anguish caused by the injury has been taken into account in -estimating the damages to be given [198]. - -Not more than one action, however, will lie for and in respect of -the same subject-matter of complaint, and every such action must be -commenced within twelve months after the death of the person injured. - - - - -|82| - -CHAPTER VI. - -CRIMINAL MALPRACTICE. - - -Whenever death ensues as the alleged consequence of malpractice it -becomes necessary to inquire into the conduct of the physician, so as -to determine how far his want of skill, or negligence, has conspired -to produce it. The offence may, under certain circumstances indicating -a wanton and malicious disregard of human life, amount to murder. Of -course, a medical practitioner who should intentionally, and with -malice, cause the death of a patient, would be held guilty of this -crime; but in no case will an indictment for murder lie, unless there -be a felonious destruction of life, with malice either express or -implied. If a patient die from want of competent skill or sufficient -attention the practitioner is guilty of manslaughter [199]. “If one -that is of the mystery of a physician take upon him the cure of a -man, and giveth him such physic so as he dieth thereof, without any -felonious intent and against his will, it is no homicide.” So saith my -Lord Coke. Blackstone says, “This is neither murder nor manslaughter, -but misadventure, and he shall not be punished criminally.” On the -one hand, we must be careful and most anxious to prevent people from -tampering in physic so as to trifle with the life of man; and on the -other hand, we must take care not to charge criminally a person who is -of general skill because he has been unfortunate in a particular case. -It is God who gives, man only administers, medicine; and the medicine -|83| that the most skilful may administer may not be productive of -the expected effect; but it would be a dreadful thing if a man were to -be called in question, criminally, whenever he happened to miscarry in -his practice. It would be most fatal to the efficiency of the medical -profession if no one could administer medicine without a halter round -his neck [200]. - -At one time it was held, that if one, not a regular physician or -surgeon, should administer a medicine or perform an operation with a -fatal effect, it would be manslaughter at the least; but long since, -by Sir Matthew Hale, (one of the greatest Judges that ever adorned the -English Bench), this doctrine was questioned [201]. Now, however, both -in England and America, it is well settled that it makes no difference -whether the party be a regular practitioner or not; if he, _bona fide_ -and honestly exercising his best skill to cure a patient, performs an -operation or administers a medicine which causes the patient’s death -he is not guilty of manslaughter. “God forbid,” saith Lord Hale, “that -any mischance of this kind should make a person not licensed, guilty -of murder or manslaughter. This doctrine, that if any one dies under -the hand of an unlicensed physician, it is felony, is apochryphal and -fitted, I fear, to gratify and flatter doctors and licentiates in -physic; though it may have its use, to make people cautious and wary -how they take upon themselves too much, in this dangerous employment.” -Hullock, B., remarked that it would be most dangerous for it to get -abroad that if an operation should fail the surgeon would be liable to -be prosecuted for manslaughter. And as to making a difference between -regular and irregular practitioners the same learned Judge aptly put -it, “in remote parts of the country many persons would be left to die -if |84| irregular surgeons were not allowed to practise.” Or as another -Judge put it, we should have many of the poorer sort of people die for -want of help, lest their intended helpers might miscarry [202]. - -Lord Lyndhurst agrees with the rule, but makes an exception. He says, -“I agree that in these cases there is no difference between a licensed -physician or surgeon and a person acting as a physician or surgeon -without a license. In either case if a party having a competent degree -of skill and knowledge makes an accidental mistake in the treatment -of a patient, through which mistake death ensues, he is not thereby -guilty of manslaughter; but if, where proper medical assistance can be -had, a person, totally ignorant of the science of medicine, takes on -himself to administer a violent and dangerous remedy to one labouring -under disease, and death ensues in consequence of that dangerous remedy -having been so administered, then he is guilty of manslaughter.” Webb, -a publican, had given large doses of Morrison’s pills to one ill of -small-pox [203]. - -“If any one, whether he be a regular or licensed medical man or not, -professes to deal with the life or health of others, he is bound to -have competent skill to perform the task that he holds himself out to -perform, and he is bound to treat his patient with care, attention -and assiduity;” and if the patient dies for want of either, the -practitioner is guilty of manslaughter. “Every person who enters -into a learned profession undertakes to bring to the exercise of it -a reasonable degree of care and skill” [204]. And if a medical man, -though lawfully qualified to act as such, cause |85| the death of -a person by the grossly unskilful or grossly incautious use of a -dangerous instrument, he is guilty of manslaughter. No one is justified -in making use of an instrument, in itself a dangerous one, unless he -does so with a proper degree of skill and caution [205]. There must be -competent knowledge and care in dealing with a dangerous drug; if a man -is ignorant of the nature of the drug he uses, or is guilty of gross -want of care in its use, it would be criminal culpability [206]. In -Iowa, it was held that one assuming to act as a physician, who treats a -patient in good faith and to the best of his ability, is not criminally -responsible for the death of his patient, caused by the medicine he -administers [207]. - -“To substantiate the charge of manslaughter, the prisoner must have -been guilty of criminal misconduct, arising either from the grossest -ignorance, or the most criminal inattention; one or other of these -is necessary to make him guilty of that criminal negligence and -misconduct which is essential to make out a case of manslaughter.” -Thus Lord Ellenborough laid down the law in the case of a man midwife -who was on his trial for murder by malpractice [208]. Long since in -the _Mirror_ [209] it was said, “If physicians or chirurgeons take -upon them a cure, and have no knowledge or skill therein, or if they -have knowledge, if nevertheless they neglect the cure, or minister -that which is cold for hot, or take little care thereof, or neglect -due diligence therein, and especially in burning and cutting off -members, which they are forbidden to do, but at the peril of their -patient; if their patients die or lose their members, in such cases -they are manslayers or mayhemdors.” Park, J., |86| charged the -jury very similarly in one of St. John Long’s celebrated cases. -“If,” said his Lordship, “you think there was gross ignorance or -scandalous inattention in the conduct of the prisoner, then you will -find him guilty; if you do not think so, then your verdict will be -otherwise” [210]. - -Wharton considers that the position assumed by Lord Ellenborough -depends upon the honesty and _bona fides_ of the practitioner; and -that if he is pursuing a plan of bold imposture the law would be -otherwise [211]. - -In Long’s case, Baron Garrow said, “I make no distinction between the -person who consults the most eminent physician and the cases of those -whose necessities or whose folly may carry them into any other quarter. -It matters not whether the individual consulted be the President of -the College of Surgeons, or the humblest bone-setter of the village; -but, be it one or the other, he ought to bring into the case ordinary -skill and diligence. I am of opinion that if a person who has ever so -much or so little skill sets my leg and does it as well as he can and -does it badly, he is excused; but, suppose the person comes drunk, -and gives me a tumbler full of laudanum, and sends me into the other -world, is it not manslaughter? And why is that? Because I have a right -to have reasonable care and caution.” In a subsequent case against the -same practitioner, Bayley, B., said to the jury, “I have no hesitation -in saying for your guidance, that if a man be guilty of gross neglect -in attending to his patient after he has applied a remedy, or of gross -rashness in the application of it, and death ensues in consequence, he -will be liable to a conviction for manslaughter.” “I consider rashness -will be sufficient to make it manslaughter. As, for instance, if I have -the toothache, and a person undertakes to cure it by |87| administering -laudanum, and says, ‘I have no notion how much will be sufficient,’ but -gives one a cupful, which immediately kills; or if a person prescribing -James’ powder says, ‘I have no notion how much should be taken,’ and -yet gives one a tablespoonful, which has the same effect; such persons, -acting with rashness, will, in my opinion, be guilty of manslaughter. -A prosecution is for the public benefit, and the willingness of the -patient cannot take away the offence against the public” [212]. - -The matter has been well put in a Missouri case. “If,” said the Judge, -“the party prescribing has so much knowledge of the fatal tendency -of the prescription that it may reasonably be presumed that he -administered the medicine from an obstinate and wilful rashness, and -not from an honest intention and expectation of effecting a cure, he -is guilty of manslaughter at least, though he might not have intended -any bodily harm to the patient” [213]. It is the presence of intention -which determines the moral complexion of an action, and whenever this -intention (always presumed to be good) is proved to be bad, then, and -then only, does a physician become criminally responsible for his -wrongdoings. Doubtless, a bad intention may be at times inferred from -the character of the misconduct; and neglect, particularly when gross, -may be classed among those reasons which justify such an inference [214]. - -What the law deems gross negligence has been thus defined in a case -where a “Herbalist” was on trial for manslaughter, for the death of a -patient through an overdose of colchium seeds and brandy for a cold. -“Gross negligence might be of two kinds; in one sense, where a man, for -instance, went hunting, and neglected his patient, |88| who died in -consequence. Another sort of gross negligence consisted in rashness, -where a person was not sufficiently skilled in dealing with dangerous -medicines which should be carefully used, of the properties of which he -was ignorant, or how to administer a proper dose. A person who, with -ignorant rashness, and without skill in his profession, used such a -dangerous medicine, acted with gross negligence. It was not, however, -every slip that a man might make that rendered him liable to a criminal -investigation. It must be a substantial thing. If a man knew that he -was using medicines beyond his knowledge and was meddling with things -above his reach, that was culpable rashness. Negligence might consist -in using medicines in the use of which care was required, and of the -properties of which the person using them was ignorant. A person who so -took a leap in the dark in the administration of medicines, was guilty -of gross negligence. If a man was wounded and another man applied to -his wound sulphuric acid, or something which was of a dangerous nature, -and ought not to be applied, and which led to fatal results, then the -person who applied this remedy would be answerable, and not the person -who inflicted the wound, because a new cause had supervened. But, if -the person who dressed the wound applied a proper remedy, then, if -a fatal result ensued, he who inflicted the wound remained liable.” -In these words Willes, J., charged the jury, and they, after a long -deliberation, brought in a verdict of “not guilty” [215]. And in the -very recent case of _State_ v. _Hardister_ [216], it was held that a -physician is criminally liable for his gross ignorance causing the -death of his patient, but not for a mere mistake of judgment. - -However, in the celebrated case against the father and founder of the -botanic or steam system of medicine, whose |89| favorite remedies -were coffee, “well-my-gristle,” and “ram cats,” it was held, that -if a person assuming to be a physician, through gross ignorance, -but honestly and _bona fide_, administers medicine which causes the -death of the patient, he is not guilty of manslaughter [217]. This was -in the year 1809; and the doctrine laid down was followed in 1844 -in Missouri in an exactly similar case [218]. And quite recently in -Iowa, where one Shulz was tried for manslaughter because his patient -died under the Baunscheidt practice, _i. e._, pricking the body and -rubbing in a certain kind of oil, the Court on review said: “In 2 -Bishop’s Criminal Law, (4th Ed.) sec. 695, the law upon this subject is -declared as follows: ‘From the relationship of physician and patient -the death of the latter not unfrequently arises. On this subject the -doctrine seems to have been held that whenever one undertakes to cure -another of disease or to perform on him a surgical operation, he -renders himself thereby liable to the criminal law, if he does not -carry to his duty some degree of skill, though what degree may not be -clear; consequently, if the patient dies through his ill-treatment, -he is indictable for manslaughter. On the other hand, a more humane -doctrine is laid down, that since it is lawful and commendable for -one to cure another, if he undertakes this office in good faith and -adopts the treatment he deems best, he is not liable to be adjudged -a felon, though the treatment should be erroneous, and in the eyes -of those who assume to know all about this subject, which in truth -is understood by no mortal, grossly wrong, and though he is a person -called, by those who deem themselves wise, grossly ignorant of medicine -and surgery. The former doctrine seems to be the English one, and so -in England a person, whether a licensed medical practitioner or not, -who undertakes to deal with the life or health of |90| people, is bound -to have competent skill or suffer criminally for the defect. Now, if -a man thinks he has competent skill, and makes no misrepresentation -to his patients concerning the amount or kind of medical education -actually received by himself, he seems in reason to stand on exactly -the foundation occupied by every person who honestly undertakes -medical practice after full advantages, so far as concerns his state -of mind, and it is the mind to which we look in questions of legal -guilt. Any person undertaking a cure, but being grossly careless and -thus producing death, is for a different reason liable to a charge of -manslaughter, whether he is a licensed practitioner or not.’ These -cases seem to us to announce a correct rule. The interests of society -will be subserved by holding a physician civilly liable in damages for -the consequences of his ignorance, without imposing upon him criminal -liability when he acts with good motives and honest intentions” [219]. - -If the death of a man has been accelerated by the want of due skill -and competency, or by the carelessness, of his physician, the latter -cannot defend himself by proving that his patient was afflicted with -a mortal disease [220]. If a man who has received a serious wound is -placed under the charge of a surgeon who, in probing the wound or -otherwise operating on the patient, immediately causes his death; -then, if the surgeon has acted negligently, or maliciously, he is -indictable for the homicide, and the original assailant only for an -attempt. But, if the surgeon using due skill and care occasions death -while he is endeavouring to heal the wound, then he who inflicted -the wound is chargeable with the death; for he who does an unlawful -act is responsible for all the consequences that in the ordinary -course of events flow from it. It is an ordinary consequence of a -wound that a surgeon should be called in to attend to it, |91| and -it is a necessary incident of surgery that patients should die under -the knife. It is no defence, where a death is not shewn to have been -produced by the medical attendant’s negligence, that the deceased -might have recovered if a higher degree of professional skill had been -employed [221]. - -If a person is assailed by a fatal disease, and there is no escape -from it, save by a dangerous surgical operation, then, if he gives his -free and intelligent consent to the operation, and it is skilfully -performed, the surgeon cannot be blamed even though the patient perish -under the knife. The German Jurists go still further and say, suppose -a dangerous operation is required as the last hope of resuscitating an -unconscious person; if the operation is performed with the skill usual -to surgeons under such circumstances, and death ensue, the surgeon is -blameless [222]. If a woman is in such a state of labor that her life -can only be preserved by the sacrifice of that of the child, then -it is not only the right but the duty of the attendant to save the -mother at the expense of the babe. Wharton says that this position is -indisputable [223]. - -From the leading cases the following propositions may be extracted, say -Wharton and Stillè, sec. 1063. - -1. If the defendant acted honestly and used his best skill to cure, and -it does not appear that he thrust himself in the place of a competent -person, it makes no difference whether he was at the time a regular -physician or surgeon, or not. - -2. To constitute guilt, gross ignorance or negligence must be proved. -|92| - -3. A defendant who, with competent knowledge, makes a mistake in a -remedy is not answerable, but it is otherwise when a violent remedy, -shewn to have occasioned death, is administered by a person grossly -ignorant but with average capacity, in which case malice is presumed in -the same way that it is presumed when a man _compos mentis_ lets loose -a mad bull into a thoroughfare, or casts down a log of wood on a crowd. - -4. Where competent medical aid can be had, the application of violent -remedies by an ignorant person, though with the best motives, involves -him in criminal responsibility. - -5. Express malice, or an intent to commit a personal or social wrong, -makes the practitioner criminally responsible in all cases of mischief. - -These well known writers say, that according to Caspar and Böcker, in -the treatment of internal diseases, the physician can never be held -guilty of criminal carelessness for failing to use any particular -remedy, since there is never any remedy upon which all authorities are -agreed, and since it is always possible the patient may recover without -the use of such remedy [224]. - - - - -|93| - -CHAPTER VII. - -PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE. - - -It was decided nearly one hundred years ago, in the Duchess of -Kingston’s case, that a medical man has no privilege to avoid giving in -evidence any statement made to him by a patient, but that he is bound -to disclose, when called upon to do so in a court of justice, every -communication, however private and confidential, which has been made to -him by a patient while attending him in a professional capacity [225]. -This has often been deemed a grievance by medical men, and considered -a compulsory breach of professional ethics; for the relations between -patient and physician, being necessarily of a confidential character, -communications made to a physician are looked upon, by the profession, -as confessions which should be kept religiously locked in the brain of -the physician. Lord Mansfield said, “If a medical man was voluntarily -to reveal those secrets, to be sure he would be guilty of a breach of -honour and of great indiscretion, but to give that information which by -the law of the land he is bound to do will never be imputed to him as -any indiscretion whatever” [226]. - -A French writer says, the tribunals neither ought, nor have they the -power, to exact from a physician the revelation of a secret confided to -him because of his office; at all events, he may and ought to refuse -to tell. Religion, |94| probity, nay, the rights of society, make -this the law. Still more are we bound to secrecy when not compelled -to disclose. Upon this point casuists and jurisconsults are of one -opinion [227]. - -These communications between physician and patient, which may relate -to the history of a transaction in which a wound has been received, -or a particular disease communicated, whenever essential to the -treatment of the patient’s case, are in some States of the American -Union considered privileged communications, which the physician is -either expressly forbidden, or not obliged, to reveal. This is the -law in Arkansas, California, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, -Minnesota, Montana, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin he is -not compelled, and in the other States named he is not allowed to make -the disclosure; but in Minnesota the prohibition extends only to civil -cases; and in Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota, the seal can be removed by -the patient himself. In these States the confession, in order to be -protected against disclosure, must relate exclusively to such matters -as are indispensable to the professional treatment of the patient. -Communications made outside of this sphere acquire no immunity from -having been entrusted to physicians, for at common law such are not -deemed privileged, and wherever so recognized they are the creatures of -statutory enactment [228]. - -As stated, in some of the above-mentioned States, the party interested -may waive the privilege, in which case the communication may be -disclosed [229]. But in New York it is expressly enacted that “no -person duly authorized to practise physic, or surgery, shall be allowed -to disclose any information which he may have acquired in attending any -|95| patient in a professional character, and which information was -necessary to enable him to prescribe for such patient as a physician, -or to do any act for him as a surgeon” [230]. - -Yet, even there, the statute will not be construed so as to shield -a person charged with a crime, instead of being a protection to the -victim, the patient [231]. - -The seal upon the physicians lips is not taken away by the patient’s -death [232]. - -Necessarily all communications to be privileged must be of a lawful -character, and not against morality or public policy; hence a -consultation as to the means of procuring an abortion on another is -not privileged; nor, by parity of reason, would any similar conference -which was held for the purpose of devising a crime or evading its -consequences [233]. - -It must appear not only that the information was acquired during -professional attendance, but was such as was necessary to enable the -physician to prescribe. It is for the party objecting to shew that the -information sought to be obtained is within the statutory exclusion. -“It will not do to extend the rule of exclusion so far as to embarrass -the administration of justice. It is not even all information which -comes within the letter of the statute which is to be excluded. The -exclusion is aimed at confidential communications of a patient to -his physician, and also such information as a physician may acquire -of secret ailments by an examination of the person of his patient. -The policy of the statute is to enable a patient, without danger of -exposure, to disclose to his physician all |96| information necessary -for his treatment. Its purpose is to invite confidence and to prevent -a breach thereof. Suppose a patient has a fever, or a fractured leg or -skull, or is a raving maniac, and these ailments are obvious to all -about him, may not the physician who is called to attend him testify -to these matters?” “Before information sought to be obtained from -physicians, witnesses, can be excluded the court must know somewhat of -the circumstances under which it was acquired, and must be able to see -that it is within both the language and the policy of the law” [234]. - -A report of the medical officer of an insurance company on the health -of a party proposing to insure his life is not privileged from -production; nor is the report of a surgeon of a railway company, as to -the injuries sustained by a passenger in an accident, unless such a -report has been obtained with a view to impending litigation [235]. - -Representations made by a sick person of the nature and effects of the -malady under which he is suffering are receivable as original evidence, -whether made to a physician or to any other; though, if made to a -physician, they are entitled to greater weight than if made to a man -incapable of forming a correct judgment respecting the accuracy of the -statements, from unacquaintance with the symptoms of diseases [236]. -When the bodily or mental feelings of a party are to be proved, his -exclamations or expressions indicating present pain or malady are -competent evidence [237]; and |97| the complaints and statements of -the injured party, if made at the very time of the occurrence, are -admissible as _res gestæ_, not only as to the bodily suffering, but -as to the circumstances of the occurrence; and the time in question -is not the time of injury, but the time when it is material to prove -a condition of bodily or mental suffering, and that may be material -for weeks, and perhaps months, after an injury has been inflicted. -The statements are admissible even though made after the commencement -of an action, though this may be a circumstance to detract from the -weight of the evidence of a physician, so far as it was founded on -the statements [238]. But statements or declarations of a sick or -injured person, referring to his state and condition at a time past, -and not furnishing evidence of a present existing malady, are to be -carefully excluded, whether made to an expert or a non-expert [239], -and statements in writing by patients to a medical man, describing -the symptoms of the illness upon which the physician has advised the -patient, are also inadmissible in evidence [240]. It has been said in -Illinois, that as a physician must necessarily, in forming his opinion, -be, to some extent, guided by what the sick person may have told him in -detailing his pains and sufferings, not only the opinion of the expert, -founded in part upon such data, is receivable in evidence, but that he -may state what the patient said in describing his bodily condition, if -said under circumstances which free it from all suspicions of being -spoken with reference to future litigation and give it the character of -_res gestae_ [241]. |98| - -On the other hand, in Massachusetts, in an action for personal -injuries, a surgeon who had attended plaintiff was held competent to -testify as to plaintiff’s condition from what he saw, but not from -anything the patient told him [242]. A physician testified that the -plaintiff stated she had received a blow in the stomach. The Court said -that it would clearly have been competent for the physician, after -having testified to the plaintiff’s condition and to the complaints -and symptoms of pain and sufferings stated by her, to have given his -opinion that they were such as might have been expected to follow -the infliction of a severe blow. But it was not competent for the -physician to testify to her statement that she had received a blow in -her stomach [243]. And in Tennessee, the statement made by a man when -his wounds were being examined, as to who made them, or as to the -instrument with which they were inflicted, was deemed inadmissible [244]. - -Memoranda, although not legal instruments in the proper sense of the -term, have been considered as an inferior class of records, and as -such entitled to some standing in courts. Such minutes of past facts -may be used by experts while under examination, but only to refresh -their memory, and not to take its place. For this purpose they may use -written entries in note books, or even copies of them, provided always -they can swear to the truth of the facts as there stated. Yet, if they -can not from recollection speak to the fact any farther than as finding -it stated in a written entry, their testimony will amount to nothing. -It is not necessary that the writing should have been made by the -expert himself, nor even that it should be an original |99| writing, -provided, after inspecting it, he can testify to the facts from his own -recollection [245]. - -The English and American authorities agree that medical, or other -scientific books, are not competent evidence in courts of law; they -cannot be put in evidence, although the medical witnesses state that -such books are works of authority in medicine. Tindal, C.J., thought -that witnesses might be asked whether in the course of their reading -they had found such-and-such a rule laid down; they might be asked how -far their opinion was founded on books, and might refer to such books; -they might be asked their judgment on the point, and the grounds of -it, which may be in some degree founded on these books, as a part of -their general knowledge, but the book itself could not be read. And -as late as 1875, Mr. Justice Brett refused to allow Taylor’s Medical -Jurisprudence to be read to the jury, saying: “That is no evidence in -a court of justice. It is a mere statement by a medical man of hearsay -facts of cases at which he was, in all probability, not present. I -cannot allow it to be read.” And the refusal seems to be the rule in -England. And Redfield, C.J., says, that when objected to, these books -have not generally been allowed to be read in the United States, either -to the Court or jury. And a very recent writer says, “The result of the -cases on this subject shews clearly that the very decided weight of -authority is against the admissibility in evidence of standard medical -treatises.” Such is the rule in England, Ontario, Indiana, Maine, -Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Rhode Island and -Wisconsin, supported by _dicta_ in California and New Hampshire, and -opposed by decisions in Alabama and Iowa [246]. |100| - -In Iowa and Wisconsin such books have been allowed to be read, the -Court in one case remarking, “The opinion of an author, as contained -in his works, we regard as better evidence than the mere statement of -those opinions by a witness, who testifies as to his recollection of -them from former reading. Is not the latter secondary to the former? -On the whole, we think it the safest rule to admit standard medical -books as evidence of their opinions upon questions of medical skill or -practice involved in the treatment.” In Wisconsin, however, the court -seems now to have overruled its earlier decisions, and to have sided -with the majority [247]. - -In Illinois, a witness may, to test his knowledge, be cross-examined -as to his reading of particular authors upon the subject, and as to -whether reputable writers do not entertain certain views upon the -subject. Paragraphs from standard authors, treating of the disease in -question, may be read to the witness, and he may be asked if he agrees -therewith, as one of the means of testing his knowledge; but care -should be taken by the court to confine such cross-examination within -reasonable limits, and to see that the quotations read are fairly -selected so as to present the author’s views. Mr. Rogers questions the -wisdom of this decision [248]. The witness, however, cannot read from a -scientific work in his examination in chief, though he be an expert and -agree with the views expressed by the author [249]. Nor can a passage -from a book be got before a jury as evidence in an indirect manner, -when it cannot be read to them. So it was decided where a medical man -was asked if he was acquainted with a certain book; he replied, that he -had heard of it, but had not read it. He was then asked |101| whether -it was considered good authority, and he said it was. He was then asked -to read a certain paragraph; this he did, and was re-called. Counsel -then read from the book the same paragraph and asked if such a case as -that stated was reported. Held to be error [250]. And in Ontario it has -been held improper to ask medical witnesses, on cross-examination, what -books they consider best upon the subject in question, and then to read -such books to the jury; but they may be asked whether such books have -influenced their opinion [251]. - -Although, as a rule, scientific books cannot be read to a jury as -evidence, they may be read to discredit the testimony of experts, who -claim to be familiar with them and refer to them as authority. Where -one borrows credit for his accuracy, by referring to books treating of -the subject, and by implying that he echoes the standard authorities, -the book may be resorted to, to disprove the statement of the witness, -and to enable the jury to see that the book does not contain what -he says it does, and thus to disparage the witness, and hinder the -jury from being imposed upon by a false light [252]. It has been held -again and again that scientific books cannot be read by counsel to -the jury as a part of their argument. Shaw, C.J., of Massachusetts, -says, “Facts or opinions cannot be laid before the jury, except by -the testimony under oath of persons skilled in such matters.” Again, -“where books are thus offered (_i. e._, to be read in argument), they -are, in effect, used as evidence, and the substantial objection is, -that they are statements wanting the sanction of an oath; and the -statement thus proposed is made by one not present, and not liable to -cross-examination. If the same author were cross-examined, and |102| -called to state the grounds of his opinions, he might, himself, alter -or modify it, and it would be tested by a comparison with the opinions -of others. Medical authors, like writers in other departments of -science, have their various and conflicting theories, and often defend -and sustain them with ingenuity. But as the whole range of medical -literature is not open to persons of common experience, a passage may -be found in one book favorable to a particular opinion, when, perhaps, -the same opinion may have been vigorously contested, and, perhaps, -triumphantly overthrown, by other medical authors, but authors whose -works would not be likely to be known to counsel or client, or to -Court or jury. Besides, medical science has its own nomenclature, its -technical terms and words of art, and also common words used in a -peculiar manner, distinct from the received meaning in the general use -of the language. From these and other causes, persons not versed in -medical literature, though having a good knowledge of the general use -of the English language, would be in danger, without an interpreter, -of misapprehending the true meaning of the author. Whereas a medical -witness could not only give the fact of his opinion, and the grounds on -which it is formed, with the sanction of his oath, but would also state -and explain it in language intelligible to men of common experience. -If it be said that no books should be read, except works of good -and established authority, the difficulty at once arises as to the -question, what constitutes “good authority?” [253]. - -In an English case, counsel, in addressing the jury, attempted to quote -from a work on surgery; Alderson, B., would not allow him, saying, -“You surely cannot contend that you may give the book in evidence, -and if not, what right have you to quote from it in your address, and -do that indirectly which you would not be permitted to do in |103| -the ordinary course?” In Massachusetts, North Carolina, Michigan, -California and New York, similar decisions have been given [254]; and -in giving the dissenting opinion in _State and Hoyt_ [255], Loomis, J., -said, “Books may be crazy as well as men, and all sorts of theories -relative to responsibility for crime are advocated in books. Courts do -not take judicial notice of standard medical or scientific works, and -the standard works of to-day may not long continue such, owing to new -discoveries and advancing knowledge.” In this case the question was -as to reading medical books on insanity on trials where the question -of insanity arose; the book was Ray’s “Medical Jurisprudence of -Insanity.” In a still later case [256], it was held to have been error -for the attorney, on the argument, to read to the jury extracts from -Browne’s “Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity.” The Court said, that it -is peculiarly important that a defendant charged with a crime should be -confronted by the expert witnesses against him, and that they should be -cross-examined in his presence. But when the opinions of a writer are -permitted to go to the jury, the writer is not sworn or cross-examined. -If held admissible the question (of insanity) may be tried, not by the -testimony, but upon excerpts from works presenting partial views of -variant and perhaps contradictory theories [257]. - -In Connecticut, however, in a murder case the Court (Loomis, J., and -Park, C.J., out of the five Judges dissenting,) held, that standard -medical works on insanity might be read to the jury by the counsel for -the accused, when |104| discussing the question of his insanity. It -was said that “in this jurisdiction (that of Connecticut) for a long -series of years counsel have been permitted to read to the jury, as -a part of their argument upon this part of their case, extracts from -such treatises as by the testimony of experts have been accepted by -the profession as authority upon that subject, such treatises as have -helped to form the opinion expressed by the expert. The practice by -repetition has hardened into a rule” [258]. In Indiana, it was held that -if the extracts were merely argumentative and contained no opinions -that could be regarded as properly matters of evidence, they might be -admitted, subject to the instructions of the Court as to the law of -the case and under the warning that they were not evidence. In Texas -and in Delaware, similar decisions have been given [259]. And in Ohio, -where, at the trial of a cause, counsel was forbidden to read to the -jury Youatt’s work on Veterinary Surgery, the Court, on appeal, said, -“It is not to be denied, but that a pertinent quotation or extract from -a work on science or art, as well as from a classical, historical, or -other publication, may, by way of argument or illustration, be not only -admissible, but sometimes highly proper, and it would seem to make no -difference whether it was repeated by counsel from recollection or -read from a book. It would be an abuse of this privilege, however, -to make it the pretence of getting improper matter before the jury -as evidence in the cause.” As it did not appear that the proposed -quotation was relevant or came within the appropriate and legitimate -scope of the argument, or that the party was injured by its exclusion, -the Court would not reverse on this ground [260]. Where the reading -is allowed, it seems to be considered “a valuable privilege, yet so -susceptible of abuse, that the |105| extent and manner of its exercise -must be entrusted in a great measure to the sound discretion of the -Court;”—“not a practice ever sanctioned directly or indirectly by the -Court, nor one which has generally been considered by the Judges as of -binding force in law, but rather as subject to the discretion which, it -is true, has been usually exercised in favor of the accused in capital -trials” [261]. - -Where the exclusion rule obtains, counsel in addressing the jury has -no right to quote the opinions of medical men as given in their works; -if they do, it is the duty of the Court to instruct the jury that such -books are not in evidence but theories simply of medical men [262]. But -there is no question that, under all circumstances, books of science -may be read in argument to the Court. - -Medical men are often called to give evidence as to dying declarations -where there is a charge of homicide, and where the cause of the death -of the declarant is the subject of the declaration. They should -remember that the declaration will not be admissible unless the -deceased was conscious of approaching death and made it under a sense -of his impending doom; any hope of recovery, however slight, renders -the declaration inadmissible; and the question turns rather upon the -expectation of death at the time of making the declaration than upon -the interval between it and the death [263]. - -An entry made by a medical man, in the course of his profession, is -admissible in evidence after his death, if it be against his interest; -and such an entry will be received as evidence of collateral and -independent matter, etc. When |106| the question was as to the age -of a child, the book of the accoucheur who attended the mother was -produced; it contained an entry as follows, “W. Fowden, Jun.’s, wife; -_Filius circa hor. 3 post merid. nat._ etc. W. Fowden, 1768, April 22. -_Filius natus_ wife, £1 6s. 1d.; Pd. 25 Oct. 1768.” The word “Paid” -was against the pecuniary interest of the accoucheur, so the entry was -admitted to prove the date of the birth [264]. - -In England the rule is thus laid down as to excluding experts from -the room during the examination of witnesses; “medical or other -professional witnesses, who are summoned to give scientific opinions -upon the circumstances of the case as established by other testimony, -will be permitted to remain in court until this particular class of -evidence commences, but then, like ordinary witnesses, they will have -to withdraw, and to come in one by one, so as to undergo a separate -examination.” A similar rule prevails in Scotland and in the United -States [265]. - -It would seem that the court has power to limit the number of experts -in any case [266]. - -Taylor, in his well-known work on “Medical Jurisprudence,” lays down -many valuable suggestions for the guidance of medical witnesses; -among other things, he says, “In reference to _facts_, a medical -witness must bear in mind that he should not allow his testimony to -be influenced by the consequences that may follow from his statement -of them, or there probable effect on any case which is under trial. -In reference to _opinions_, their possible influence on the fate of -a prisoner should inspire caution in |107| forming them; but, when -once formed, they should be honestly and candidly stated, without -reference to consequences.” “The questions put on either side should -receive direct answers from the medical witness, and his manner should -not be perceptibly different whether he is replying to a question -put by the counsel for the prosecution, or for the defence.” “The -replies should be concise, distinct and audible, and except where -explanation may be necessary, they should be confined strictly to -the terms of the question.” “Answers to questions should be neither -ambiguous, undecided, nor evasive.” “The replies should be made in -simple language, free from technicality.” “A medical witness may, -without any imputation upon his _bona fides_, explain medical points to -counsel, and correct him on medical subjects, when wrong in his views -or statements, but he should avoid even the appearance of prompting -counsel in the conduct of the case.” - - - - -|108| - -CHAPTER VIII. - -MEDICAL EXPERTS. - - -Whenever the subject matter of a legal enquiry is such that, from its -partaking of the nature of a science, art or trade, inexperienced -persons are unlikely to prove capable of forming a correct judgment -upon it without assistance, then the opinions of witnesses possessing -peculiar skill and knowledge in the matters in question are admissible -in courts of justice. And it is only when the matter inquired of -lies within the range of the peculiar skill and experience of the -witnesses, and is one of which the ordinary knowledge and experience -of mankind does not enable them to see what inference should be drawn -from the facts, that the skilled witnesses may supply opinions as their -guide [267]. The rule admitting the opinions of experts in such cases -is founded on necessity, for juries are not selected with any view to -their knowledge of a particular science, art or trade, requiring a -course of previous study, experience or preparation [268]. - -The rule of law on which the giving in evidence the opinion of -witnesses, who know nothing of the actual facts of the case, is -founded, is not peculiar to medical testimony, but is as a general -rule applicable to all cases where the question is one depending on -skill and science in any particular department. . . . In general it -is the opinion of the jury which is to govern, and this is to be -formed upon the |109| proof of the facts laid before them. But some -questions lie beyond the scope of the observation and experience of -men in general, yet are quite within the observation and experience -of those whose peculiar pursuits and profession have brought that -class of facts frequently and habitually under their consideration. -When, therefore, a question arises in a court of justice upon any such -subject, and certain facts are proved by other witnesses, one skilled -in such subject may be asked his opinion as to the character of such -facts; or he may be asked his opinions on certain facts observed by -himself. This is true with regard to any question of science, because -persons conversant with such science have peculiar means, from a larger -and more exact observation and long experience in such department of -science, of drawing correct inferences from certain facts observed by -themselves or testified to by other witnesses. The opinion of such -witnesses is designed to aid the judgment of the jury in regard to the -influence and effects of certain facts which lie out of the observation -and experience of persons in general [269]. These witnesses are called -“experts.” This term seems to imply both superior knowledge and -practical experience in the art or profession. But generally nothing -more is required to entitle one to give testimony as an expert, than -that he has been educated in the particular art or profession; for -persons are presumed to understand questions pertaining to their own -profession or business [270]. - -The practice of admitting the evidence of experts is an old one: in the -Roman Law they are frequently alluded to, and in the earliest Common -Law reports they are spoken of as of established usage. Says Saunders, -J., “and first I grant that if matters arise in our law which |110| -concern other sciences or faculties we commonly apply for the aid of -that science or faculty which it concerns. In a case of mayhem the -defendant prayed the court that the wound might be examined, on which -a writ was issued to the sheriff to cause to come “_medicos chirurgos -de melioribus London. ad informandum Dominum regem et curiam de his quæ -eis exparte Domini Regis injungerentur_ [271].” - -Some Judges and writers have very little respect for the evidence and -opinions of experts. An Iowa Judge says, observation and experience -“teach that the evidence of experts is of the very lowest order, and -of the most unsatisfactory kind.” One from Maine, speaks of “the vain -babblings and oppositions of science so called, which swell the record -of the testimony of experts when the hopes of a party depend rather -upon mystification than enlightenment.” An Illinois Judge quotes a -distinguished occupant of the bench as saying, “if there was any -kind of testimony not only of no value, but even worse than that, it -was in his judgment that of medical experts.” Lord Campbell said, -“Hardly any weight is to be given to the evidence of what are called -scientific witnesses: they come with a bias on their minds to support -the cause in which they are embarked” [272]. Taylor says, “Perhaps -the testimony which least deserves credit with a jury is that of -skilled witnesses. . . . Being zealous partisans their belief becomes -synonymous with faith as defined by the apostle, and it too often is -but the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not -seen” [273]. On the other hand, Best says, “It would not be easy to -overrate the value of the evidence given in many difficult and delicate -enquiries, not only by medical men and physiologists, but by learned -|111| and experienced persons in various branches of science, art and -trade” [274]. And many Judges have spoken of the essential aid to courts -and juries rendered by the opinion of the experienced, skilful and -scientific witness who has a competent knowledge of the facts involved. - -When one takes his place as an expert before a court, a legal paradox -is instituted on his behalf, by which he is allowed to testify—not as -to what he knows, but to what he believes or forms an opinion upon, -based necessarily on probabilities of analogy as well as experience. -Nothing is required (in the absence of any statutory provision to the -contrary) to entitle any one to give evidence as a medical witness, -than that he has been educated in the science of medicine; and this he -may be by study without practice, or by practice without study; it is -not necessary that he should be a physician, or have studied for one, -nor be a graduate, nor one licensed to practise, nor need he be or have -been a practitioner [275]. One may be competent to testify as an expert, -although his special knowledge of the particular subject of enquiry -has been derived from the reading and study of standard authorities, -and not from experience or actual observation. But one cannot qualify -himself as an expert in a particular case merely by devoting himself -to the study of authorities for the purposes of that case, when -such reading and study is not in the line of his special calling or -profession and is entered upon to enable him to testify in the case. In -Vermont, however, it has been held that mere education as a physician, -without some practice as such, is insufficient to qualify one as an -expert; and in Arkansas, it is said, that competency must be shewn from -study and experience. In New York, it has been held that one otherwise -qualified, who is |112| a physician and surgeon, may give evidence, -although not in full practice at the time; this fact merely goes to -affect his credit [276]. - -It is not necessary that the physician should have made the particular -disease involved in the enquiry a specialty; medical men of practice -and experience are experts, and their opinions are admissible in -evidence upon questions that are strictly and legitimately embraced in -their profession and practice. If one has made the matter in question a -specialty, doubtless his opinion will be of more value than if he has -not; and it has been said, that one who has devoted himself exclusively -to one branch of his profession cannot give evidence as an expert on -another [277]. For example, one not an oculist may speak as to the cause -of injuries to an eye; one who has not made diseases of the mind a -special study may give his opinion as to the existence of insanity; one -not a practical chemist or analyst, but understanding the practical -details of chemistry and the means of detecting poisons, may testify -as to the tests in the chemical analysis of a stomach, and as to the -tests usually applied to detect poison [278]. The law will even allow a -physician to speak as to the length of time a mule has been suffering -from a disease [279]. But one who has had no experience as to the effect -upon health of illuminating gas cannot testify in relation thereto as -an expert [280]. Nor can one who has for thirty years been exclusively -treating the insane be permitted to testify, as an expert, on |113| -the mental capacity of a person in the last stages of disease, who has -not been previously insane [281]. - -To render the opinion of a witness competent evidence, he must, in -general, be in some way peculiarly qualified to speak on the subject, -and have knowledge not possessed by the mass of persons of ordinary -experience and intelligence [282]. Upon this principle, a priest who had -studied physiology and psychology, in order that he might pass upon -the mental conditions of communicants in his church, and who had so to -decide daily, was permitted to speak as to the mental state of a woman -whom he had attended in her last illness [283]. - -It is a question of fact to be decided at the trial, by the -Court, whether a witness offered as an expert has the necessary -qualification [284]. And the matter cannot be referred to the decision -of the jury. The decision of the Judge at the trial will not be -interfered with by the Court, except in a clear and strong case [285]. - -Any one offered as an expert who cannot establish the fact of special -knowledge or skill, in the particular department which he is called -upon to illuminate, will be rejected. A Court before permitting an -expert to testify may examine him, or hear evidence, to satisfy itself -that the witness is really what he assumes to be [286]. |114| - -“We find no test laid down,” says the Supreme Court of Indiana, “by -which we can determine with mathematical precision just how much -experience a witness must have had, how expert, in short, he must be, -to render him competent to testify as an expert.” But it is for the -Court to decide, within the limits of a fair discretion, whether the -experience of the proposed expert has been such as to make his opinions -of any value; mere opportunities for special observation will not be -deemed sufficient [287]. - -While the Court, or Judge, determines the competency of the witness to -testify as an expert, the weight to be accorded to his testimony is -for the jury to decide. The testimony of an expert is to be weighed -and tested like any other kind of evidence, and is to receive just -such credit as the jury may think it entitled to. It is intended to -enlighten their minds, not control their judgment [288]. The jury are -not bound by the opinions of medical experts: they may weigh their -opinions like any other evidence. They may act against the greater -number of opinions and in favour of the fewer; for the opinion of one -expert may, on account of his greater knowledge and experience on -the subject, or from his giving further details of the case, or more -probable reasons for his opinions, be of greater value to the jury than -the opposite opinions of several [289]. - -Ordronaux holds that a physician, although confessedly possessing the -ordinary experience of his profession, may _quoad_ some particular -problem in medical science not be an expert in the best and most -critical sense of the term. _Non omnes omnia possumus._ Once received -as an expert, |115| the maxim “_Cuilibet in sua arte perito credendum -est_,” must be applied, and he cannot be contradicted by any unskilled -person [290]. - -In 1869, the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeal well -said, that “the opinions of experts not founded on science, but on -a mere theory of morals or ethics, whether given by professional or -unprofessional men, are wholly inadmissible as evidence.” Hence the -opinion of even physicians that no sane man in a Christian country -would commit suicide, not being founded on the science or phenomena -of the mind, but rather a theory of morals, religion and future -responsibility, is not evidence [291]. - -In the matter of expert testimony, as in other matters, the law does -not recognize any particular school of medicine to the exclusion of -others. The popular axiom that doctors differ is as true now as ever -it was, and so long as it continues to be so, it is impossible for the -law to recognize any class of practitioners, or the followers of any -particular system, or method of treatment, as exclusively entitled to -be regarded as “doctors” [292]. - -The physician called to give evidence as an expert should understand -at the outset that he is not called to express any opinion upon the -merits of the case, but only on some questions of science raised by -the facts proved; that he has no concern in the issue of the trial, -and that whichever side calls him he is in no wise the witness—much -less the advocate—of that side. He is truly an adviser of the Court, -an _amicus curiæ_, rather than a party interested in the result of the -trial. Balbus in his commentaries on the code says, “_Medici proprie -non sunt testes, sed est magis judicium quam testimonium_.” Experts, -no matter on what |116| they testify, simply supply data, as to -whose competency, relevancy and weight, the Court is to judge, and -as to which the Court is finally to declare the law. Where the facts -testified to by experts are undisputed, and when they are the results -of a particular science or art, with which such experts are familiar, -then the Court accepts such facts, and declares the law that therefrom -springs; where the facts are disputed then the jury is to determine -where the preponderance of proof lies. But when the testimony of the -expert touches either law or speculation, psychology or ethics, then -such testimony is to be received as mere argument, which if admissible -at all is to be treated simply as if addressed to the judgment of the -Court [293]. - -In his examination in chief an expert may not only give his opinion -itself, but also the grounds and reasons of it; in fact it has been -held that it is his duty to state the reasons of his opinion and the -facts on which it is based, and if it is not sustained by them it is -entitled to little weight [294]. - -The opinion of a medical man is admissible upon, the condition of the -human system at any given time; the nature and symptoms of disease; -the nature and effects of wounds; the cause of death; the cause or -effect of an injury; the character of the instrument with which a -wound was produced; the effect of a particular course of treatment; -the likelihood of recovery; the mental condition of a person; and on -similar subjects. For instance, where one was indicted for endeavouring -to procure abortion, the opinion that the woman was pregnant at the -time is relevant [295]. Where the question was whether a certain |117| -blow was sufficient to cause death; or whether a wound and fracture -on the head was caused by a fall; or whether the fractures of the -skull were caused by a gun; or whether a gun-shot wound caused death; -the opinions of physicians were held admissible [296]. The opinion of -medical experts will be received upon the question as to whether an -abortion has been performed, or whether certain drugs are abortives, or -certain instruments adapted to produce an abortion [297]. Experts may -testify, after having made a chemical analysis of the contents of the -stomach, as to the presence of poison in the body; and, without such -analysis of a mixture, a chemist may speak of its ingredients [298]. -Those accustomed to make chemical and microscopic examinations of -blood and blood stains may speak as to whether certain stains are -made by human or other blood. So, too, they may speak as to the ink -in questions as to handwriting [299]. So, too, they may be asked their -opinions touching the permanency of any injury forming the subject of -an action. Also, in an action for damages against a railway company, a -physician may be asked at what period after the injury the plaintiff -would be most likely to improve, if he were going to recover at -all [300]. Where Barber sued Meriam for injury to his wife, and she had -been treated professionally for some weeks by Dr. H., the opinion of -another physician as to the effect of Dr. H.’s treatment was considered -|118| admissible [301]. And so in a case of malpractice a medical man -may be asked whether the practice pursued was good practice [302]. -He may be asked as to the nature and properties of the medicines -employed by another physician in the case in question; also, as to the -practice with regard to consultations; also, whether, in his opinion, a -patient’s death was or was not the result of neglect or want of skill -on the part of the attending physician [303]. But he cannot be asked -his opinion as to the general skill of the physician on trial; nor the -general reputation of the school which the doctor in trouble attended; -nor can he say whether, from all the evidence in the case, the -defendant was guilty of malpractice, for that is the question for the -jury; nor can he say whether a physician has honorably and faithfully -discharged his duty to his professional brethren [304]. - -It has been held that a medical witness may give his opinion upon new -and hitherto unknown cases whenever he swears that he can form such an -opinion, even though at the same time he should admit that precisely -such a case had never before fallen under his observation, nor under -his notice in the books. The man of science is distinguished from the -empiric in nothing more than in not relying on specifics, and also not -waiting for the exact similitudes in things material and immaterial -before forming a judgment as to their similarity [305]. - -It must always be remembered that medical men, when called as skilled -witnesses, may only say what, in their judgment, would be the result -of certain facts submitted to their consideration, and may not give an -opinion as to |119| the general merits of the case, nor on the very -point which the jury has to determine, nor on things with which a jury -may be supposed to be equally well acquainted [306]. - -As a recent writer puts it, a medical man cannot testify as to matters -not of skill in his profession, nor conclusions, nor inferences which -it is the duty of the jury to draw for themselves. For instance, it -was held that in a trial for murder the opinions of the surgeons as -to the probable position of the deceased, when he received the blows -which caused his death, are incompetent. The Judge said that he was -not aware that surgeons were experts in the manner of giving blows -of the description in question, or determining how the head must be -placed so as most conveniently to receive them [307]. Whenever the -subject matter of the enquiry is of such a character that it may be -presumed to lie within the common experience of all men of common -education, moving in ordinary walks of life, the rule is that the -opinions of experts are inadmissible, as the jury are supposed—in all -such matters—to be entirely competent to draw the necessary inferences -from the facts spoken of by the witnesses [308]. Nor was the opinion of -a medical witness admitted where the question, in an action for libel, -was whether a physician in refusing to consult with the plaintiff -had honorably and faithfully discharged his duty to the medical -profession. The Judge said, the jury having all the facts before them -were as capable of forming a judgment upon that point as the witness -himself. Nor can an expert give an opinion of the opinion of another -expert [309]. A medical man is considered an expert on the subject of -the |120| value of medical services [310]. But he is not so considered -when the question is one as to the amount of damages for a breach of -contract not to practise physic in a certain town [311]. - -The rule as to excluding experts from the court room during the -examination of witnesses has been laid down, in England, thus: “Medical -or other professional witnesses, who are summoned to give scientific -opinions upon the circumstances of the case, as established by other -testimony, will be permitted to remain in court until this particular -class of evidence commences; but then, like ordinary witnesses, they -will have to withdraw, and to come in one by one, so as to undergo -a separate examination.” And in the United States the principle is -similarly stated [312]. - - - - -|121| - -CHAPTER IX. - -EXPERTS IN INSANITY CASES. - - -The opinion evidence of medical men in questions of insanity is not, -as a rule, looked upon with any very great degree of favor by the -courts who have to decide upon the competency, relevancy and weight -of the opinions uttered. Chapman, C.J., of Massachusetts, in charging -a jury said, “While they afford great aid in determining facts, -it often happens that experts can be found to testify to anything -however absurd” [313]. In another insanity case another Judge remarked, -“Experience has shown that opposite opinions of persons professing to -be experts may be obtained to any amount, and it often occurs that -not only many days but many weeks are consumed in cross-examinations -to test the skill and knowledge of such witnesses, and to test the -correctness of their opinions,” (this was the case to a great degree -in the well known Guiteau prosecution,) “thus wasting time and -wearying the patience of both Court and jury, perplexing, instead -of elucidating, the question involved in the issue” [314]. As to the -perplexing instead of elucidating, a writer of the highest authority -gives the following, “In a case of alleged child murder a medical -witness, being asked for a plain opinion of the cause of death, said, -that it was owing to ‘atelectasis and a general engorgement of the -pulmonary tissue’.” And in a trial for an assault a |122| surgeon, -in giving his evidence, informed the Court “that on examining the -prosecutor, he found him suffering from a severe contusion of the -integument under the left orbit, with great extravasation of blood and -ecchymosis in the surrounding cellular tissue, which was in a tumefied -state, and there was also considerable abrasion of the cuticle.” The -Judge said, “You mean, I suppose, that the man had a bad black eye.” -“Yes.” “Then why not say so at once” [315]. - -Redfield, C.J., in his book on Wills, says, “Experience has shown both -here and in England that medical experts differ quite as widely in -their inferences and opinions as do other witnesses. This has become -so uniform a result with the medical experts of late that they are -beginning to be regarded much in the light of hired advocates, and -their testimony as nothing more than a studied argument in favor of -the side for which they have been called. So uniformly has this been -proved in our experience that it would excite scarcely less surprise to -find an expert called on one side testifying in any particular in favor -of the other side, than to find the counsel upon either side arguing -against their clients and in favor of their antagonists” [316]. - -A Lord Chancellor once remarked that his experience taught him that -there were very few cases of insanity in which any good came from the -examination of medical men. Their evidence sometimes adorned a case, -and gave rise to very agreeable and interesting scientific discussions, -but after all they have little or no weight with the jury. And Mr. -Justice Davis, of the Supreme Court of Maine, after stating that he -thought juries far more trust-worthy than experts on the subject of -insanity, said, “if there is any kind of testimony that is not only of -no value but |123| even worse than that, it is in my judgment that of -medical experts. They may be able to state the diagnosis of the disease -more learnedly, but upon the question whether it had, at a given time, -reached such a stage that the subject of it was incapable of making a -contract, or irresponsible for his acts, the opinion of his neighbors, -if men of good common sense, would be worth more than that of all the -experts in the country” [317]. There is scarcely a single hypothesis -as to responsibility (on the part of the insane), no matter how wild, -which, among the large number of experts who have concerned themselves -with this branch of study, has not its advocates. So says Wharton -in his valuable treatise on Mental Unsoundness [318]; or as Cicero -elegantly put it long ago, “_nihil tam absurde dici potest, quod non -dicatur ab aliquo philosophorum_” [319]. - -Considering these things, one is not surprised at Campbell, C.J., in -the Bambridge case, saying to three medical men who had recorded their -opinions in favor of the insanity of the testator: “You may go home to -your patients, and I wish you may be more usefully employed there, than -you have been here;” and to the jury he remarked, “We have had during -the trial the evidence of three medical witnesses, and I think they -might as well have stayed at home and attended to their patients.” - -On the other hand, Shaw, C.J., said, “such opinions (as to sanity, -etc.) when they come from persons of experience, and in whose -correctness and sobriety of judgment just confidence can be had, are -of great weight, and deserve the respectful consideration of a jury. -But the opinion of a medical man of small experience, or of one who -has crude and visionary notions, or who has some favorite theory to -|124| support is entitled to very little consideration. The value of -such testimony will depend mainly upon the experience, fidelity and -impartiality of the witness who gives it” [320]. And Chief Justice -Gibson speaks with just emphasis of the the deference due, in their -own department, to the knowledge obtained by men of a subject with -which they have grappled all their lives [321]. The Supreme Court of -Texas declared, “The opinions of medical men (on questions of insanity) -are received with great respect and consideration, and properly so.” -The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania says, “It is well settled that -the knowledge and experience of medical experts is of great value -in questions of insanity.” Equally strong are the utterances of the -Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the Supreme Court of North -Carolina [322]. - -Where the point in question is the sanity of a person, the opinion -of a medical man on the subject is, of course, admissible when that -opinion is drawn from personal observation. This is the rule both in -England and the United States [323]. But a medical man may also give his -opinion on this subject, even though he has no knowledge of the person -whose sanity is in question [324]. It has been suggested, that when a -physician is asked his opinion on the facts stated by other witnesses, -he should be first examined as to the particular symptoms of insanity; -and as to whether all or any, and which of the circumstances spoken -of by the witnesses upon the trial are to be regarded as |125| such -symptoms; then inquire of him whether any and what combination of these -circumstances would, in his opinion, amount to proof of insanity [325]. - -It has been held to be improper to ask a medical witness whether the -person, whose sanity was in question, possessed sufficient capacity -to make a will, or to transact business, as these are matters of law, -depending on the nature of the business [326]. In England such witnesses -can only speak as to the state of mind, not as to the responsibility -of a prisoner; this latter point is for the jury under the direction -of the Judge [327]. So, on the plea of insanity at the time of making a -contract, the opinion of the medical man who gave the certificate on -which the defendant was confined as insane at or about the time, is -only evidence for the jury, who must judge of the grounds upon which it -was formed [328]. - -In England, an expert cannot be asked, after being present at the whole -trial, whether the defendant was insane, or whether the act complained -of was an insane act, because these are questions for the jury and -the witness must not be placed in the jury’s place; but he may be -asked whether such and such appearances, proved by other witnesses, -are in his judgment symptoms of insanity [329]. The particular facts -proven by other witnesses may be taken and the expert may be asked -“assuming these facts to be true, do they in your judgment indicate -insanity on the part of the defendant at the time the alleged act was -committed?” [330]. |126| - -As a rule the Court should not allow an expert to give his opinion -upon facts proved by a witness unless he has heard all the testimony -of the witness, because the entire testimony may be necessary in order -to enable him to form an opinion in regard to the subject matter of -inquiry [331]. - -Where the facts are disputed, experts can only be questioned as to -their opinion of a party’s sanity on a hypothetical case, or as to -certain designated facts existing in the case supposing them to be -true [332]. - -The mode in which this hypothetical question is to be put has been much -considered. In England, in the celebrated _Macnaghten_ case in answer -to an inquiry of the House of Lords, whether “a medical man conversant -with the disease of insanity, who never saw the prisoner previously -to the trial, but who was present during the whole trial and the -examination of the witnesses, can be asked his opinion as to the state -of the prisoner’s mind at the time of the commission of the alleged -crime; or his opinion whether the prisoner was conscious at the time -of doing the act, that he was acting contrary to the law; or whether -he was labouring under any and what delusion at the time?” The twelve -judges replied, “We think the medical man, under the circumstances -supposed, cannot in strictness be asked his opinion in the terms above -stated, because each of these questions involves the determination -of the facts deposed to, which it is for the jury to decide, and the -questions are not mere questions upon a matter of science in which -case such evidence is admissible. But where the facts are admitted or -not disputed, and the question becomes substantially one of science -only, it may be convenient to |127| allow the question to be put in -that general form, though the same cannot be insisted on as a matter of -right [333].” - -In Massachusetts, Chief Justice Shaw said, “The proper question to be -put to the professional witness is this—If the symptoms and indications -testified to by the other witnesses are proved and if the jury are -satisfied of the truth of them, whether in their opinion the party was -insane, and what was the nature and character of that insanity; what -state of mind did they indicate; and what they would expect would be -the conduct of such person in any supposed circumstances?” [334]. - -In another well known case, the Judge said to the jury, “It is not the -province of the expert to draw inferences of facts from the evidence, -but simply to declare his opinion on a known, or hypothetical state -of facts, and therefore the counsel on each side have put to the -physicians such states of fact as they deem warranted by the evidence, -and have taken their opinions thereon. If you consider any of these -states of facts put to the medical witnesses are proved, then the -opinions thereon are admissible evidence, to be weighed by you, -otherwise their opinions are not applicable to the case” [335]. - -The opinions of both experts and non-experts should have weight -according to their opportunities and qualifications for examination of -the state of mind of the person whose sanity is in question. First of -all will be the family, or the physician who has attended the patient -through the disease which is supposed to have disabled his mind; next -are those who, without special learning on the subject, have had the -best opportunities for judging—the members of his family and those -whose intimacy in the family, have given them opportunities of seeing -the patient at all times and |128| noticing the alienation of his -mind; and last, come those who only occasionally and at intervals have -seen him, and whose chances of studying his moods have been small [336]. - -It has been held, in Massachusetts, that a physician who had not made -insanity a special subject, and who, when consulted in such matters, -always called in a specialist, is not competent to give an opinion on -an hypothetical case put to him, unless he was the person’s attending -physician; then his opinion is received, as it is his duty to make -himself acquainted with the peculiarities, bodily and mental, of a -person who is the subject of his care and advice [337]. And where a -physician had for more than thirty years been exclusively treating the -insane, he was not permitted to testify, as an expert, to the mental -capacity of a person—not previously insane—who was in the last stages -of disease [338]. - -One not an expert may give an opinion, founded on observation, as to -whether a person is sane or insane, notwithstanding the general rule, -that persons not medical men cannot give their opinions as to the -existence, nature or extent of disease in any one. The exception was -first introduced in regard to the subscribing witnesses to a will, who -were permitted to speak as to the testator’s state of mind; it has -now been extended to all cases where the witness’ acquaintance with -the party whose sanity is in dispute, or his means of observation, -are sufficient to enable him to express his opinion as to the mental -condition. The Courts of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and -Texas, however, still adhere to the old rule and admit the evidence of -non-experts only in cases of wills [339]. - - - - -|129| - -CHAPTER X. - -DEFAMATION. - - -No man may disparage the reputation of another. Every one has a right -to have his good name maintained, unimpaired. Words which produce any -perceptible injury to the reputation of another are called defamatory: -and if they are false they are actionable. False and malicious -defamatory words, if in printing, writing, pictures or signs, and -published, constitute a libel; if spoken, a slander. A caricature may -be a libel; so may a chalk-mark on a wall, a statue, hieroglyphics, a -rebus, an anagram or an allegory, or even ironical praise. - -Defamatory matter, whether published in the form of libel or slander, -is actionable when it imputes a criminal offence (or a contagious or -infectious disorder) or affects the plaintiff injuriously in his lawful -profession, trade or business, or in the discharge of a public office, -or generally when it is false and malicious, and its publication -causes damage to the plaintiff either in law or in fact. Defamatory -matter, the publication of which tends to degrade or disparage the -plaintiff, or which renders him ridiculous, or charges him with want of -honesty, humanity or veracity, or is intended to impair his enjoyment -of society, fortune or comfort, is actionable as libel, but not as -slander, unless special damage be proved [340]. |130| - -The person defamed by a libel has not only a civil remedy to recover -damages but he may also, in some cases, proceed criminally by way of -information or indictment and have the defamer punished as an offender -against the state. If he proceeds by information he must in general -waive his right to bring a civil action; but he may sue for damages -after the offender has been convicted upon an indictment. An action -for libel must be brought within six years; and an action for slander -within two years, unless the words spoken are actionable only by reason -of special damage, in which case the action may be brought at any time -within six years. - -Whenever a special kind of knowledge is essential to the proper -conduct of a particular profession, denying that a man possesses such -special knowledge will be actionable if he belongs to that particular -profession, but not otherwise. Thus to say of a physician, “Thou art -a drunken fool and an ass. Thou wert never a scholar, nor even able -to speak like a scholar,” is actionable, because no man can be a good -physician unless he be a scholar [341]. Although one may with impunity -say of a Justice of the Peace, “He is a fool, an ass and a beetle -headed justice” [342]. So to say, of a midwife, “Many have perished -for her want of skill;” or, “She is an ignorant woman, and of small -practice and very unfortunate in her way; there are few she goes to -but lie desperately ill, or die under her hands;” is actionable [343]. -Or of an apothecary, “He is not an apothecary; he has not passed any -examination. Several have died that he had attended, and there have -been inquests held upon them” [344]. Although one may safely say of a -Justice of the Peace, “He is a blood sucker, and sucketh blood.” |131| - -It is actionable to say of a person in his professional character, “He -is no doctor; he bought his diploma for $50” [345]. Any words imputing -to a practising medical man, misconduct or incapacity in the discharge -of his professional duties, are actionable _per se_. Thus, it is -actionable, without proof of special damage, to accuse one of having -caused the death of any patient through his ignorance or culpable -negligence, as to say of a physician, “He killed my child by giving it -too much calomel,” or, “He hath killed J. S. with physic, which physic -was a pill;” or, “He was the death of J. P.; he has killed his patient -with physic; it is a world of blood he has to answer for in this -town through his ignorance; he did kill a woman and two children at -Southampton; he did kill J. P. at Petersfield;” or, as an American did, -“Dr. S. killed my children; he gave them teaspoonful doses of calomel, -and it killed them. They did not live long after they took it. They -died right off the same day” [346]. - -So it is to say of an apothecary, “He poisoned my uncle; I will have -him digged up again, and hang him,” or, “He killed my child; it was -the saline injection that did it;” or, “I was told he had given my -child too much mercury, and poisoned it; otherwise, it would have got -well” [347]. - -So it is actionable to say of a surgeon and accoucheur, “He is a bad -character; none of the medical men here will meet him.” As such words -impart the want of a necessary qualification for a surgeon in the -ordinary discharge of his professional duties; or, “Dr. Tweedie has -honorably and faithfully discharged his duties to his |132| medical -brethren in refusing to act or consult with Ramadge (a physician), -and we hope every one else will do the same” [348]. Or to call a -practising medical man “a quack,” “a quacksalver,” “an empiric,” or “a -mountebank,” or to say of him, “Thou gavest physic which thou knewest -to be contrary to the disease,” or “Thou art no good subject, for thou -poisonedst A. F.’s wound, to get more money of him.” Under the New York -Statutes, a homœopathic physician may maintain an action for being -called a quack [349]. And it seems that an action will lie, without -averment of special damages, for slander imputing to a physician, that -he has taken advantage of his character as a physician to abuse the -confidence reposed in him, and commit acts of criminal conversation -with a patient [350]. - -In the case of libel, any words will be presumed defamatory which -expose the plaintiff to hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy, which -tend to injure him in his professional trade, or cause him to be -shunned or avoided by his neighbours. Thus, to advertise falsely that -certain quack medicines, “consumption pills,” were prepared by a -physician of eminence, is a libel upon such physician [351]. - -Whenever a medical man brings forward some new method of treatment and -advertises it largely as the best, or only cure for some particular -disease, or for all diseases at once, he may be said to invite -public attention, and a newspaper writer is justified in warning the -public against such advertisers, and in exposing the absurdity of -their professions, provided he does so fairly and with reasonable -judgment [352]. |133| A medical man, who had obtained a diploma and the -degree of M.D., from an American College, advertised in England most -extensively a new and infallible cure for consumption. The _Pall Mall -Gazette_ published a leading article on these advertisements, in which -they called the advertiser a quack and an impostor, and compared him to -scoundrels “who pass bad coin.” This was considered as overstepping the -limits of fair criticism, and a verdict was given for the plaintiff, -with damages, one farthing [353]. So where the editor of the _Lancet_ -attacked the editor of a rival paper, _The London Medical and Physical -Journal_, by rancorous aspersions on his private character, not fairly -called for by what the plaintiff had done as an editor, the plaintiff -recovered a verdict of £5 [354]. - -On the other hand, it is not actionable to say of a surgeon, “He -did poison the wound of his patient,” without some averment that -this was improper treatment, for it might be proper for the cure of -it. Nor to say of an apothecary, “He made up the medicine for my -child wrong, through jealousy, because I would not allow him to use -his own judgment” [355]. Nor to charge a physician or surgeon with -“malpractice,” if it appear that the word was not used or understood -in a technical sense; and to charge a physician or surgeon with mere -want of skill, or with ignorance or neglect, is not actionable _per -se_, though untrue, unless the charge be of gross want of skill, or the -like, so as to imply general unfitness [356]. - -Nor is it actionable to call a person who practises medicine or -surgery, without legal qualification, a “quack or an |134| impostor,” -for the law only protects lawful employment [357]. Even though a medical -man be duly registered in Great Britain, still, if he is practising -in a colony which requires registration without complying with the -colonial law, he may safely be called “a quack,” “a charlatan,” “a -scoundrel not to be entrusted with the lives of people” [358]. - -Words imputing immoral conduct, profligacy or adultery, even when -spoken of one holding an office or carrying on a profession or -business, are not actionable unless they “touch him” in that office, -profession or business. Thus, if adultery is alleged of a clergyman, -it will be actionable, because if the charge were true, it would be a -ground for degradation or deprivation, as it would prove him unfit to -hold his benefice, or to continue the active duties of his profession. -But if the same words are spoken of a physician, they will not be -actionable without proof of special damage, as they do not necessarily -affect the plaintiff in relation to his trade or profession [359]. - -Nor unless the words are spoken in connection with the professional -duties of the plaintiff will an action lie for the words, “He is so -steady drunk, he cannot get business any more;” or “He is a twopenny -bleeder” [360]. - -It is no libel to write of a physician that he is in the habit of -meeting homœopathists in consultation [361]. - -Where the plaintiff considers that the words spoken touch him in his -profession or trade, he must always aver in the pleadings that he was -carrying on the profession of a physician or surgeon, or the trade -of a druggist, at the |135| time the words were spoken. Sometimes -this is admitted by the slander itself, and if so, evidence is of -course unnecessary in proof of this averment. But in other cases, -unless it is admitted on the pleadings, evidence must be given at -the trial of the special character in which the plaintiff sues. As a -rule, it is sufficient for the plaintiff to prove that he was engaged -in the profession or trade, without proving any appointment thereto, -or producing a diploma or other formal qualification. For the maxim -_omnia presumuntur rite esse acta_ applies. But if the very slander -complained of imputes to the medical practitioner that he is a quack or -an impostor, not legally qualified for practice; or if the plaintiff -aver that he is a physician and has duly taken his degree, then the -plaintiff at the trial must be prepared to prove his qualification -strictly by producing his diploma or certificate. In some cases the -mere production of the diploma will not be sufficient proof of the -plaintiff’s having the degree, but it may be necessary to prove that -the seal affixed is the seal of a university having power to grant -degrees; or in the case of the production of a copy of the diploma, -that it has been compared with the original [362]. - -Whether or no the words were spoken of the plaintiff in the way of his -business is a question for the jury to determine at the trial. There -should always be an averment in the statement of claim, that the words -were so spoken, and it should also be shewn in what manner the words -were connected by the speaker with the profession [363]. - -Medical practitioners are of course equally liable with other men to -an action for defamation, in respect of any |136| false and malicious -communication, whether oral or written, made by them to the damage of -another, in law or in fact; circumstances, however, frequently arise -where, from the nature of their employment, it becomes their duty or -interest to make some communication prejudicial to the character or -conduct of another, and in such cases, where the occasion on which -the communication was made rebuts the presumption of malice, (which -the law infers from such a statement,) such communication is said -to be privileged, and therefore, in order to sustain an action for -defamation, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was actuated by -express or actual malice—that is, malice independent of the occasion -on which the communication was made. The legal canon is, that a -communication made _bona fide_, upon any subject matter in which the -party communicating has an interest, or in reference to which he has -a duty, is privileged, if made to a person having a corresponding -interest or duty, although it contains criminatory matter, which -(without this privilege) would be slanderous and actionable. This -applies, moreover, though the duty be not a legal one, but only a -moral or social duty of imperfect obligation, and also where the -communication is made to a person not in fact having such interest -or duty, but who might reasonably be, and is supposed by the party -making the communication to have such interest or duty [364]. Even -where the evidence of duty is not present to the mind, but the speaker -is impelled by a sense of propriety, on which he does not pause to -reflect, and which he refers to no special motive, nevertheless, if -his conduct in speaking the words be within the occasion of interest -or of duty which is capable of protecting, the communication will be -considered privileged [365]. - -Words spoken by the medical officer of a college concerning |137| -the meat furnished to the institution; and words used by the medical -attendant of a poor-law union about the wine supplied to the inmates, -are privileged, in the absence of proof of actual malice [366]. A -statement made by a physician that an unmarried woman is pregnant is -not a privileged communication, unless made in good faith to one who is -reasonably entitled to receive the information [367]. - - - - -|138| - -CHAPTER XI. - -RELATIONS WITH PATIENTS. - - -It is a well settled doctrine that where one occupies a position -which naturally gives him the confidence of another, or which in any -way gives him an influence, or an undue advantage over the other, -transactions between them require something more to give them validity -than is necessary in other cases. The mere fact of the existence of -such a relationship as naturally creates influence over the mind will -lead the courts to infer the probability of undue influence having -been exerted. Confidence has been held to imply the opportunity for -influence, and when established, dispenses with any more direct -proof of influence. In such cases the _onus_ is cast upon the person -occupying such a relationship to establish the perfect fairness and -equity of the transaction. He must shew that the other acted after full -and sufficient deliberation and with all the information that it was -material for him to have, in order to guide his conduct, and that he -had either independent and disinterested advice, or as ample protection -as such advice could have given him [368]. _Rhodes_ v. _Bates_ [369] lays -it down that the donor must have had competent and independent advice. - -The relation between a medical man and his patient is one in which -the probability of undue influence is inferred; |139| and so in -dealings with their patients the acts of physicians are watched with -great jealousy; not because the Court blames and discountenances the -influence flowing from such relation, but because it holds that this -influence should be exerted for the benefit of the person subject to -it, and not for the advantage of the person possessing it [370]. The -discontinuance of the relationship is only material if the influence -has ceased with the relation; and the relation does not necessarily -cease because the patient has not medicine actually administered to him -at the time [371]. - -Where a surgeon and apothecary obtained from a patient, eighty-five -years old, an agreement to pay him £25,000, in consideration of past -medical services, duly charged and paid for, and the promise of future -medical and surgical assistance until death without charge, and kept -the matter concealed until after the death of the patient, the Court, -on the prayer of the patient’s executor, ordered the medical man to -give up the agreement to be cancelled. So, when an octogenarian patient -conveyed by deed of gift a property worth £1,000 to his physician, -who was also his intimate friend, and the son of his benefactor, the -Court set aside the deed for fraud. (In this case the consideration -named in this deed was not the true one.) And even where a patient -gave to his surgeon an annuity of £100 for the surgeon’s life, in -consideration that he would live with him and give him the benefit of -his professional assistance during his (the donor’s) life, it being -shown that the surgeon had been told by an eminent physician, just -before the deeds were drawn, that the patient could not recover or -live long, and that the surgeon himself, about the same time, had said -the patient could not live more than a month or so; the Court held -the instruments could not be |140| maintained [372]. A patient, aged, -feeble, deaf and of very weak mind, bestowed all his estate on the -attending physician, who lived with him, and had controlling influence -over him, for an extremely trifling compensation. The transaction was -set aside, the Court saying: “Owing to the relation which the parties -sustained towards each other, the deed was presumptively the result -of undue influence, and therefore _prima facie_ void for that reason. -It has been repeatedly declared by learned chancellors that the mere -relation of patient and medical adviser was sufficient to avoid the -contracts of the former made with the latter during the continuance of -such relation” [373]. - -A security given by an old man for £262 10_s._ to a dentist, in -consideration of his old teeth being kept in order and new ones being -supplied during the remainder of his life, had to be given up [374]. -And if a man pays an exorbitant bill to a doctor, the Court will grant -him relief; and it will be no answer to his asking his money back to -say that he intended to be liberal, unless such intentions can be -clearly shown [375]. Even a sale to a patient by the medical man under -whose care he is will be set aside if at an exorbitant price, and the -purchaser has had no independent advice [376]. - -But where the evidence showed that the patient’s own attorney prepared -the papers, that he had independent advice, and understood what he -was doing, and exercised his free will, and that the medical man had -long attended him, the Court refused to set aside the deed, although -the patient was eighty years of age [377]. And although a |141| gift -made to a physician may be voidable, because of his standing in a -confidential relation to the donor, a patient, yet, if after the -confidential relation has ceased to exist, the donor intentionally -elects to abide by the gift, and does, in fact, abide by it, it cannot -be impeached after his death, even if it is not proved that the patient -was aware that the gift was voidable at his election [378]. - -There is, of course, nothing in the relation of medical attendant and -patient which can prevent the one from entering into a contract with -the other, where the transaction proceeds openly and fairly, and the -relation of physician and patient has, in reality, no bearing upon -it [379]. In the case of a sale by a patient to a physician, where there -was no proof of inadequacy of price, the transaction was sustained [380]. - -A strong case must be made to set aside a will on the ground of undue -influence. Influence is not sufficient: there must be such a degree -of influence as deprives the testator of the proper mastery over -his faculties [381]. To invalidate a will, on the ground of undue -influence, it must be shown that it was practised with respect to the -will itself, or so contemporaneously with the will, or connected with -it, as by almost necessary presumption to affect it; and flattery -and obsequiousness, however degrading, will not constitute such an -undue influence as will affect the acts of a capable testatrix [382]. -Many wills made in favour of medical men by their patients have been -sustained, although disputed, and that even in cases where the patients -have been aged, infirm women, with impaired minds [383]. |142| - -A physician, however, may fail to obtain the benefits which a -grateful patient has wished him to have under a will, if—as was done -in one case—after a long attendance on a patient, he thinks fit, when -she is almost on her deathbed, to prepare and procure the execution -of a will by which he becomes the principal object of her bounty, -to the exclusion of her near relatives; and to do this without the -intervention of any solicitor or other person competent to give her -advice, and to guard her against undue influence; for in such a case -the interests of the public require that his conduct should be regarded -by Courts of Justice with the utmost jealousy [384]. In another case, -it was said that although there is no rule of law which forbids a -man to bequeath his property to his medical attendant, yet it is not -a favourable circumstance for one in such a confidential position, -with respect to a patient labouring under a severe disease, to take a -large benefit under such patient’s will, more particularly, if it be -executed in secrecy and the whole transaction assumes the character -of a clandestine proceeding, and in such a case the _onus_ will lie -very heavily upon the party benefited to maintain the validity of the -will [385]. - -Clairvoyant physicians may also get into trouble. An action was brought -against one to set aside a marriage and a conveyance of property -worth $25,000. The patient was old, feeble, deaf, childish and a firm -spiritualist. The clairvoyant was a woman who pretended to be very -modest and bashful and able to cure the deafness. After a course of -treatment, mainly by manipulation, she told the old man that the -spirits said that they must be married within two weeks, or something -dreadful “would step in between them.” |143| By misrepresentations -concerning her character and her friends she won the old man and his -property. After the honeymoon the patient came to his senses, and -prayed to get back his liberty and possessions, because of the fraud -used. The Court granted his prayer [386]. - -To promise a cure is unprofessional, and to obtain money on the faith -of such a promise is sometimes dangerous. Brown falsely represented -himself to A., an ignorant negro, to be a practising physician, and -that he had restored sight to the blind. He persuaded A. that his -(A.’s) house was infected with poison, and that it was in the bed -occupied by his granddaughter, that she was poisoned, and that he could -remove the poison if he was paid for so doing. A. gave him $22 to -remove it. The Court held that Brown had been guilty of obtaining money -under false pretences [387]. - -A physician should take all possible care to prevent the spread -of smallpox or any other contagious disease, and use all such -precautionary measures as may appear desirable. So, where the paper -upon the walls of a room in which there had been smallpox patients had -become so soiled and smeared with the smallpox virus as to make its -removal necessary, a physician or other attendant may order the paper -to be torn down; and the landlord cannot successfully maintain an -action against the physician for doing this [388]. - -Apparently a surgeon may retain the limbs he cuts off a patient, upon -the ground that parts of the body when severed become dead, and at -common law there is no property in a dead human body. The point was -once contested in Washington [389]. |144| - -A surgeon who attends a duel, although to save by his skill if -possible the lives therein imperilled, will be held guilty of aiding -and abetting the principal offender in the event of death ensuing [390]. - -If a medical practitioner wilfully injures a patient he is liable to -be indicted for an assault, and if death ensue from the injuries so -inflicted he may be indicted for murder. And this is so even though -the patient might have submitted at the time from the supposition -that the treatment was for his good. Having or attempting to have -carnal connection with a female patient under pretence of treating her -medically is an assault [391]. Making a female patient strip naked, -under pretence that the defendant, a medical practitioner, cannot -otherwise judge of her illness, if he himself takes off her clothes, -contrary to her wishes, is an assault. In this case the jury found that -the defendant had stripped the girl wantonly, and not from any belief -that it was necessary [392]. - -Where a physician takes an unprofessional unmarried man with him to -attend a case of confinement, and no real necessity exists for the -latter’s assistance or presence, both are liable for damages; and it -makes no difference that the patient, or her husband, supposed at the -time that the intruder was a medical man, and therefore submitted -without objection to his presence; or that the intruder accompanied the -physician reluctantly on a dark and stormy night to carry a lantern -or umbrella, and some instruments, and that there was only one room -in the house. The Court remarked: “Dr. De May therefore took an -unprofessional young unmarried man with him, introduced and permitted -him to remain in the house of the plaintiff, when it was apparent that -he could hear at least, |145| if not see, all that was said and done, -and, as the jury must have found under the instructions given, without -either the plaintiff or her husband having any knowledge or reason to -believe the true character of the third party. It would be shocking -to our sense of right, justice and propriety even to doubt that for -such an act the law would afford an ample remedy. To the plaintiff -the occasion was a most sacred one, and no one had a right to intrude -unless invited, or because of some real and pressing necessity which it -is not pretended existed in this case. The plaintiff had a legal right -to the privacy of her apartment at such a time, and the law secures to -her this right by requiring others to observe it and to abstain from -its violation. The fact that at the time she consented to the presence -of Scattergood, supposing him to be a physician, does not preclude her -from maintaining an action, and recovering substantial damages upon -afterward ascertaining his true character. In obtaining admission at -such a time and under such circumstances, without fully disclosing -his true character, both parties were guilty of deceit, and the wrong -thus done entitles the injured party to recover the damages afterward -sustained, from shame and mortification, upon discovering the true -character of the defendants.” The action was brought by the wife [393]. - -If physicians, who have certified to the insanity of a person, have -not made the enquiry and examination which the statute requires, or if -their evidence and certificate in any respect of form or substance are -not sufficient to justify a commitment to an asylum, the authorities -should not commit, and if they do it is their fault and not that of the -physicians, provided the latter have stated facts and opinions truly -and have acted with due professional care and skill [394]. |146| - -If a medical man takes upon himself the responsibility of imprisoning -a person on the ground of insanity, upon mere statements made to him -by others, he will be liable to an action, and also for an assault, -unless he can indeed show that the party imprisoned was insane at -the time [395]. He is not liable for an assault if he has signed a -certificate under the Lunacy Acts and has done nothing more towards -causing the confinement of the alleged lunatic [396]. A medical man -or other person may justify an assault where it is committed for the -purpose of putting a restraint upon a dangerous lunatic in such a state -that it is likely he may do mischief to some one [397]. - -In Ontario, except under order of the Lieutenant-Governor, no one -can be admitted into a lunatic asylum without the certificate of -three medical men, each attested by the signatures of two subscribing -witnesses. Their certificates must state a personal and separate -examination, and that after due enquiry the patient was found insane; -and the physicians must also specify the facts upon which they formed -their opinion of the insanity. In England, except in the case of -paupers, two certificates are required [398]. - -The practice of abortion is forbidden by the oath of Hippocrates. The -act is recognized as a crime in almost every code of medical ethics: -its known commission has always been followed by ignominious expulsion -from medical fellowship and fraternity. At Common Law a child _en -ventre sa mere_ is not considered a person the killing of whom is -murder; but if one, intending to procure abortion, causes a child to be -born so soon that it cannot live, and |147| it dies in consequence, -it is murder [399]. And it is murder if one, attempting to procure -abortion, either by means of drugs or instruments, cause the death of -the woman [400]. - -In most civilized countries it is now either a felony, or grave -misdemeanor, to attempt to procure the miscarriage of a woman by any -means; or to supply or procure any thing knowing that it is intended -to be unlawfully used or employed to procure a miscarriage [401]. In -some States the crime of abortion may be committed at any stage of -pregnancy [402]. The thing prescribed must be noxious in its nature, but -it is not necessary to prove that it will produce miscarriage [403]. - -The burden of shewing that the use of instruments to produce abortion -was necessary to save the life of the woman is on the accused [404]. - -It is an indictable offence for a physician, or any one else, -unlawfully and injuriously to carry along or to expose in a public -highway, on which persons are passing, and near to the habitations -of others, any person infected with the small-pox, or any contagious -disorder; and it is for the accused to shew that the object of the -carrying or exposure was lawful [405]. - -In England, since 1840, it has been an indictable offence to innoculate -for the small-pox [406]. So, too, it has been in Canada for a number of -years [407]. |148| - -It has been held in the State of Alabama, that where a special -prohibitory Act does not except the practising physician from its -operation, he is liable if he administers intoxicating bitters to his -patient, but not for using liquors necessary in compounding medicine -manufactured and sold by him. The application of any other rule, -it was said by the Court, would be fraught with difficulty, if not -impracticability. So, too, in Kansas [408]. - -Any registered practitioner who has been convicted of felony shall -forfeit his right to registration, and the Medical Council may cause -his name to be erased from the register; and if any one who has been -convicted of felony presents himself for registration the registrar may -refuse registration. But one’s name cannot legally be removed from the -register without notice and an opportunity of being heard [409]. - -A person who has met with personal injuries must exercise the same -degree of care in the employment of a physician and surgeon, and in -procuring and submitting to proper medical treatment, as a prudent and -reasonable man would in any other matter; for those persons liable for -the original injury will not be responsible for the further damage -arising from the improper selection of a physician [410]. - -If a family doctor, or the surgeon of a company or society, on leaving -home, recommends in case of need, some other physician, who is not, -however, in any sense in his employment, it does not make him in any -way liable for injuries arising from the latter’s want of skill [411]. - - - - -|149| - -CHAPTER XII. - -DISSECTION AND RESURRECTION. - - -A knowledge of the causes and nature of sundry diseases which affect -the human body, and of the best methods of treating and curing such -diseases, and of healing and repairing divers wounds and injuries to -which the human frame is liable, cannot be acquired without the aid of -anatomical examination. So saith the preamble to the British Anatomy -Act of 1832. The chief hindrances to the pursuit of the study of -anatomy have arisen from ignorance and superstition. A prejudice has -prevailed in all nations against the violation of the human body after -death. Even now, only philosophers like Jeremy Bentham are willing to -have their bodies dissected by their friends. Simple association of -thoughts causes the remains of a dead kinsman or friend to be treated -with respect and tenderness; in the same way, the horror of death -attaching to anything connected with the dead, and the religious idea -that the soul outlives the body, and continues in a ghostly way to -retain a connection with its old habitation of clay, have led to the -respectful disposal of the corpse among most nations. - -The Ptolemy princes Philadelphus and Euergetes, who enabled their -physicians to dissect the human body, and prevented the prejudices of -ignorance and superstition from compromising the welfare of the human -race, were far in advance of their times. Long after their day, the -Koran denounced as unclean the person who touched a corpse, and |150| -the rules of Islamism still forbid dissection; the old Moslem doctors -only found opportunities of studying the bones of the human body in -the cemeteries. Not until the days of Henry VIII. did the law make any -provision for the cultivation and practice of the art of dissection. -In 1540, more perhaps to strike terror into malefactors, than from -any enlightened notion of forwarding knowledge, the Legislature gave -permission to the masters of the Mystery of Barbers and Surgeons of -London to take annually four persons, put to death for felony, for -anatomies, and to make incision of the same dead bodies, or otherwise -to order the same, after their discretions, at their pleasure, for -their further insight and better knowledge, instruction, insight, -learning, and experience, in the science or faculty of surgery [412]. - -Elizabeth, in 1565, made a similar grant to the College of Physicians, -that they, observing all decent respect for human flesh, “might dissect -the four felons.” By 25 Geo. II. cap. 37 (1752), the bodies of all -murderers executed in London and Westminster were to be given to the -surgeons to be dissected and anatomised. But the legal supply of human -bodies for anatomical examination still continued insufficient fully to -provide the means of knowledge; and in order to furnish the necessary -subjects, divers great and grievous crimes and murders were committed, -the money paid, being the incentive. So, in 1832, the Anatomy Act [413] -was passed. This Act proves clearly that Parliament regarded anatomy as -a legal practice, and it provides for the licensing of those practising -anatomy, allows any executor or other person, having lawful possession -of any dead person (and not being an undertaker, etc.), to hand over -the body for dissection (respect, however, being had to |151| the -wishes of the deceased or his known relatives). Inspectorships of -schools of anatomy were likewise established. - -In Canada, the bodies of convicts who die in a penitentiary, if -unclaimed by the relatives, may be delivered to the professors of -anatomy in any medical college, or to an inspector of anatomy [414]. - -The first defender of the faith, Henry VIII., the illustrious Elizabeth -of most famous memory, and the enlightened James, had several statutes -passed in which the disinterring of the dead is mentioned, but they -were chiefly enactments against witchcraft, conjuration, the use -of dead men’s bones, and all sorts of sorceries. The parliament of -James solemnly enacted, “that if any person should consult, covenant -with, entertain, employ, feed or reward any evil and wicked spirit, -to or for any intent or purpose, or take up any dead man, woman, or -child out of his, her, or their grave, or any other place where the -dead body rested, or the skin, bone, or any other part of any dead -person, to be employed, or used, in any manner of witchcraft, sorcery, -charm, or enchantment * * every such offender, his aiders, abettors, -and counsellors, should suffer death as felons, and should lose the -privilege and benefit of clergy and sanctuary” [415]. This philosophical -enactment graced the statute book until the ninth year of George II. -While these statutes against sorcery were in force, and the Judges -still imbued with the superstitious spirit of the age, the presumption -was very strong that bodies disinterred were removed for purposes -of enchantment or witchcraft, and resurrection-men and students of -anatomy, as their aiders and abettors, were in imminent jeopardy of -suffering as felons; but as the belief in sorcery grew weaker the -prospect of these men grew brighter, and they were relieved from the -great danger that they ran. |152| - -Under the laws of Constantine, a woman could without blame repudiate -her husband, if he was guilty of violating the tombs of the dead; and -we are told that the Ostrogoths allowed divorce for this same reason. -And among the Franks, one who took the clothing from a buried corpse -was banished from society, and none could relieve his wants until the -relations of the deceased consented [416]. As long ago as the tenth -year of James I., at the assizes in Leicester, a man was tried for -stealing winding sheets. Sir Edward Coke tells the matter thus: “One -William Hain had in the night digged up the graves of divers several -men and of one woman, and took the winding sheets from the bodies and -buried the bodies again; and I advising hereupon, for the rareness of -the case, consulted with the Judges at Sergeants’ Inn on Fleet street, -when we all resolved, that the property of the sheets was in the -executors, administrators, or other owner of them, for the dead body is -not capable of any property, and the property of the sheets must be in -somebody, and according to this resolution he was indicted of felony in -the next assizes; but the jury found it but petit larceny, for which he -was whipped, as he well deserved.” These learned people thought that -if a winding sheet had been gratuitously furnished by a friend the -property remained in the donor. For, quoth they, the winding sheet must -be the property of somebody; a dead body, being but a lump of earth, -hath no capacity; also, it is no gift to the person, but bestowed -on the body for the reverence toward it, to express the hope of the -resurrection; also, a man cannot relinquish the property he hath to his -goods unless they be vested in another [417]. Subsequently, lawyers have -generally concurred in these opinions; the coffin, too, is the property -of the personal representative of the deceased [418]. |153| - -A still more interesting question arises as to who owns the corpse. -It has been generally held that there is no property in it. Blackstone -remarks, that, although the heir has a property in the monuments -or escutcheons of his ancestor, he has none in his body or ashes. -According to the law of England, after the death of a man, his -executors have a right to the possession and custody of his body -(although they have no property in it) until it is properly buried. A -man cannot dispose of his body by will or any other instrument [419]. -A contract for the sale of a corpse, even to doctors, will not be -enforced; it cannot be made an article of merchandise [420]. The -relatives have the right of interring the body, and when this right -is once exercised they have no further interest in it than to protect -it from injury [421]. In Indiana, the Courts have diverged somewhat -from the beaten track, and held that the surviving relatives are -entitled to the corpse in the order of inheritance as property, and -that they have a right to dispose of it as such, subject to whatever -burial regulations are reasonable and proper for the public health and -advantage [422]. - -The English Anatomy Act, as has been seen, gives the executor or other -person having the lawful possession of the body of any deceased person -power to permit it to be anatomically examined. In England, the earlier -writers on criminal law say nothing of the taking of a body from the -grave, except that it is not theft. East, however, calls it a great -misdemeanor; and there have been several convictions for this as an -offence at Common Law. Doubtless the belief that it was an offence at -Common Law was nearly connected |154| with the idea of the bodies -being used for the dark purposes of the necromancer, and it would -appear that no distinct authority upon the abstract point has been -found in ancient legal records [423]. It is still an indictable offence, -punishable with fine and imprisonment, or both [424]. And this even -though the body has been taken in the interest of science, and for the -purpose of dissection; or even if the motives of the offender were -pious and laudable. In _Lynn’s_ case—(Lynn was indicted for entering a -burying ground, taking a coffin up, and carrying away a corpse for the -purposes of dissection)—it was urged that the offence was cognizable -only by the ecclesiastical courts; but the Judges of the King’s Bench -said that common decency required that a stop should be put to the -practice; that it was an offence cognizable in a criminal court as -being highly indecent, and _contra bonos mores_, at the bare idea alone -of which nature revolted; that the purpose of taking up the body for -dissection did not make it less an indictable offence. They refused to -stay proceedings, but inasmuch as Lynn might have committed the deed -merely through ignorance, they only fined him five marks. Since then -others have been more severely dealt with. And in a very recent case, -Stephen, J., said, “The law to be collected from these authorities -seems to me to be this:—The practice of anatomy is lawful, though it -may involve an unusual means of disposing of dead bodies, and though it -certainly shocks the feelings of many persons; but to open a grave and -disinter a dead body without authority is a misdemeanor, even if it is -done for a laudable purpose.” - -It is, also, an indictable offence in many of the States to disinter a -corpse, unless the deceased in his life-time had |155| directed such a -thing, or his relatives consent to it; and that the resurrecting is for -the purpose of dissecting does not improve matters [425]. In New York, -removing dead bodies “for the purpose of selling the same,” or “from -mere wantonness,” is punishable by both fine and imprisonment [426]. And -in New Hampshire and Vermont such offences bring upon those convicted, -fines, whipping, and imprisonment, as the Court may see fit. - -In Massachusetts, unclaimed dead bodies, and those of persons killed -in duels, or capitally executed, are assigned to the medical schools -of the State. The New York Act of 1789 must be considered as the -first American Anatomy Law. The first section prohibits the removal -of dead bodies for dissection, and the second section permits the -Courts, in passing capital sentence, to award the body to the surgeons -for dissection. Enactments similar to that of the New York Act, sec. -1, have been passed by the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, -California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, -Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, -Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode -Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and -Wisconsin. The second section of the New York Act has developed into -the Acts of twenty-four States, which have thus legalized dissection, -and most of them have made specific provision for the dissection of the -bodies of certain deceased criminals, chiefly murderers; these States -are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, -Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, -Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, -Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Some of these -States |156| have made no other provision for anatomical study beyond -that mentioned [427]. We have already referred to the Canadian Act on -this subject. In addition, the Ontario Act provides that the bodies of -persons found dead, publicly exposed, or who at time of death had been -supported in and by some institution receiving government aid (except -lunatics in provincial asylums), shall, unless the person so dying -otherwise direct, or the _bona fide_ friends or relations claim it, be -given to public medical schools in the locality, or to public teachers -of anatomy or surgery, or private medical practitioners, having -three or more pupils, for whose instruction such bodies are actually -required. Such medical practitioners must give security for the decent -interment of the bodies after they have served their purposes; and -then a written authority to open a dissecting room is given by the -Inspector of Anatomy of the city, town, or place. The Inspector’s duty -is to keep a register of bodies given up for dissection; a register -of the qualified practitioners desiring bodies; to make an impartial -distribution of the bodies in rotation; to visit the dissection rooms, -and to report to the police magistrate or chief municipal officer, any -improper conduct on the part of students or teachers [428]. - -A person may be found guilty of the offence of disinterring a corpse, -even though he was not actually present at the body-lifting, if with -the intention of giving aid and assistance he was near enough to afford -it, if required [429]. - -Besides the danger he runs of being brought before a criminal tribunal, -the body-lifter incurs the risk of civil proceedings being taken -against him. It is true, as Blackstone says, the heir has no property -in the body or ashes of |157| his ancestors; nor can he bring any -civil action against such as indecently, at least, if not impiously, -violate and disturb their remains when dead and buried; but that -learned commentator goes on to remark: “The person, indeed, who has -the freehold of the soil, may bring an action of trespass against such -as dig and disturb it” [430]. This has been clearly established in a -case in Massachusetts, where a father sued for the removal of the -remains of his child, and recovered a verdict for $837 in an action -of trespass _quare clausum fregit_. Mr. Justice Forster, in giving -judgment, remarks that a dead body is not the subject of property, -and after burial it becomes part of the ground to which it has been -committed, earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes. The only -action that can be brought is trespass _quare clausum_. Any one, said -the Judge, in actual possession of the land may maintain this against -a wrong-doer. The gist of the action is the breaking and entering, but -the circumstances which accompany and give character to the trespass -may always be shown either in aggravation or mitigation. Acts of -gross carelessness as well as those of wilful mischief often inflict -a serious wound to the feelings, when the injury done to property is -comparatively trifling, and we know of no rule of law which requires -the mental suffering of the party complaining, caused by the misconduct -of the wrong-doer, to be disregarded [431]. - -Willcock, in his “Laws relating to the Medical Profession,” in his -tenth chapter, when considering the lawfulness or unlawfulness of -taking bodies for the purpose of dissection, says: “The whole question -must depend upon the proper answer to these inquiries. Is it a -violation of property? |158| Is it a personal injury to any individual? -Or is it an injury to the public? Every lawyer who has mentioned -the subject has admitted that there is no violation of property in -respect of the corpse itself, which is necessary to constitute the -removal an offence; and Blackstone has distinctly stated that the only -property violated is the grass and soil of the land wherein the body -was interred, in respect of which the person may bring his action -of trespass, and the law has not provided any punishment as for an -offence. It is equally clear that it is not an injury to any person; -for the shrewd lawyers of Coke’s time determined that the body was -no person but a lump of clay; and the only injury which can give a -right of action to—that is which amounts to a violation of any legal -right of—a relative or master, is such as may be said to recoil upon -him, by causing him expense, labor, or loss of valuable service. The -unpleasantness which may arise from an attack upon prejudices, however -intimately blended with good feeling and delicacy of sentiment, is -ranked by the court with that class of wrongs which are technically -designated _damna absque injuria_.” - -“In _Lynn’s_ case, the judges assumed to answer the third question, -that is to assert that it is an injury to the public. Society is not -injured by the disinterment of the dead for the purposes of science, -for it could hardly exist without such a sacrifice of fastidiousness; -society is not insulted by the secret abstraction of the corpse from -the vermin which crowd to pollute it, and they who so curiously seek -the remains of those they hold dear, behind the veil of science, would -do well to pry for one moment into the secrets of the sepulchre. They -alone are the violators of every sentiment of delicacy and benevolence -who insult the disconsolate relatives with the tale of the robbery and -the pursuit, and with the foul spectacle of dismemberment they may have -at length discovered.” |159| - -It would appear that in a proper case the Court, in the interests -of justice, will compel the exhuming and examination of a dead body -which is under the control of a plaintiff, if there is strong reason -to believe that without such examination a fraud is likely to be -accomplished, and the defendant has exhausted every other method known -to the law of exposing it. However, such an order should be made -only upon a strong showing to that effect. “It would be a proceeding -repugnant to the best feelings of our nature, and likely to be in many -cases so abhorrent to the sensibilities of the surviving relatives, -that they would prefer an abandonment of the suit to a compliance -with the order.” Thus spake the court in a case where the order for -exhuming was asked for and refused as not being justified under the -circumstances. The action was on a policy of insurance, and the defence -was, that the insured had falsely warranted that he had never received -any serious personal injury, whereas his skull had been fractured in -boyhood, and had been healed by trephining. To prove this, the company -proposed to disinter his body, after the suit had been pending eighteen -months, upon the sole testimony of his physician, that the deceased -had said that he had been told of such an accident and operation. The -counsel for the plaintiff called the proposal “revolting,” and said -that to break the signet of the grave, and take from its resting place -the sacred property of relatives to gratify the corporation’s mercenary -curiosity, would be worse than Shylock’s demand [432]. - - - - -|160| - -CHAPTER XIII. - -DENTISTS. - - -The need of dentists existed long before dentistry. The Preacher knew -of the inconveniences which arise when the grinders are few. Marcellus, -about B. C. 380, gave two receipts for toothache. One is, “Say, -‘argidam, margidam, sturgidam;’” the other is, “Spit in a frog’s mouth -and request him to make off with the complaint.” These are given in -Glenn’s “Laws affecting Medical Men.” - -In England, in the tenth and eleventh centuries, priests and monks -were the dentists of the day. Afterwards, a decree of the Council of -Tours having forbad clergymen undertaking or engaging in any bloody -operation, all surgical practice fell into the hands of blacksmiths and -barbers. The latter soon became the more important class, and in 1461 -(as we have seen already), Edward IV. incorporated them as “The Freeman -of the Mystery or Faculty of Surgery.” By degrees other persons assumed -to practise pure surgery, and these two bodies, in 1560, were united by -Act of Parliament, and became “The Masters or Governors of the Mystery -and Commonalty of the Barbers and Surgeons of London.” By the third -section of this Act [433], because of fear of the spread of contagious -diseases, any one in the City of London using barbery or shaving, was -forbidden to |161| occupy any surgery, letting of blood, or any other -thing belonging to surgery, drawing of teeth only excepted. In those -days one wishing to find a drawer of teeth had to resort to one of -those shops where was exhibited the bandaged pole as a sign or symbol -that “all the King’s liege people there passing by might know at all -times whither to resort in time of necessity.” - -Something more than a sign is now required of dental surgeons. The -Royal College of Surgeons in England has now the power to appoint -examiners for testing the fitness of persons to practise as dentists, -and to grant certificates of such fitness. To become a Licentiate of -Dental Surgery in England, it is necessary to be engaged for four years -in the acquirement of professional knowledge; to attend at a recognized -school one course of lectures, at least, in anatomy, physiology, -surgery, medicine, chemistry, and materia medica, and a second course -on the anatomy of the head and neck; one course on metallurgy, and -two on dental surgery and anatomy, dental physiology and mechanics; -to have dissected for nine months; to have taken a course of chemical -manipulation; to have attended a hospital for two or more sessions; -and to have spent three years in acquiring practical familiarity in -mechanical dentistry under a competent practitioner; and then to pass -the examination required by the board. - -In Ontario, “The Royal College of Dental Surgeons” has power to appoint -a Board of Directors, who have authority to fix the curriculum of -studies to be pursued by students, to determine the period during which -they must be employed under a practitioner, to appoint the examiners, -and arrange the examinations, for those who desire to obtain a license -to practise dental surgery in the province. The Board may also confer -the title of “Master of Dental Surgery” upon any licentiate who passes -certain examinations and |162| conforms with certain regulations. The -College is composed of all those entitled to practise in the Province; -and no one who is not a member of the College can practise dentistry -for hire, gain or hope of reward, or pretend to hold, or take, or use -any name, title, addition or description, implying that he holds a -license to practise, or that he is a member of the College, or shall -falsely represent, or use any title representing that he is a graduate -of any dental college, under a penalty of $20 and costs for every -offence, to be recovered in a summary way before a magistrate, or in a -Division Court by suit. Persons contravening the Act cannot recover for -work done or materials provided. Of course, the Act does not interfere -with legally qualified medical practitioners [434]. - -Dentists are subject to the same rules, as to negligence, as are -physicians or surgeons [435], and if by a culpable want of attention and -care, or by the absence of a competent degree of skill and knowledge, -a D.D.S. causes injury to a patient, he is liable to a civil action -for damages, unless, indeed, such injury be the immediate result of -intervening negligence on the part of the patient himself, or unless -such patient has by his own carelessness directly conduced to the -injury [436]. The law is ever reasonable; so it only requires of a -dentist a reasonable degree of care and skill in his professional -operations, and will not hold him answerable for injuries arising -from his want of the highest attainments in his profession. The rule -is, that the least amount of skill with which a fair proportion of -the practitioners of a given locality are endowed, is the criterion -by which to judge of the professional man’s ability or skill [437]. -As far as the liability is concerned, no distinction is made |163| -between those who are regular practitioners and those who are not so; -the latter are equally bound with the former to have and to employ -competent skill and attention. - -A patient must exercise ordinary care and prudence [438]; so that, if -one tells the dentist to pull out a tooth, but does not say which one -is to go, and the wrong one is taken out, the sufferer has no legal -ground of complaint, unless, indeed, it is quite apparent which is -the offending member. A patient may have been a little careless and -negligent; still, if the dentist has been so very neglectful of his -duty that no ordinary care on the part of the patient would have -prevented the mistake or injury complained of, the injured party will -recover, _i.e._, recover damages for the injury received [439]. - -The fact that one has taken chloroform will not affect his rights -or remedies against the tooth-puller for any mistake or negligence. -The maxim _vigilantibus, non somnientibus jura subveniunt_, has -no reference to people put to sleep by anæsthetics. In New York, -two dentists undertook to extract a tooth from a patient while the -latter was under the influence of laughing gas. During the operation -the forceps slipped, and part of the tooth went down the patient’s -throat, causing coughing and vomiting for four weeks, when—in a fit -of coughing—the tooth came up, and relief followed. The patient sued -for damages, and when the case came before it, the Court said, “The -defendants (the dentists) knew that the plaintiff (the patient) -while under the influence of the anæsthetic, had no control of his -faculties, that they were powerless to act, and that he was unable to -exert the slightest effort to protect himself from any of the probable -or possible consequences of the operation which they had undertaken -to perform. He was in their |164| charge and under their control -to such an extent that they were required to exercise the highest -professional skill and diligence to avoid every possible danger; -for the law imposes duties upon men according to the circumstances -in which they are called to act. In this case, skill and diligence -must be considered as indissolubly associated. The professional man, -no matter how skilful, who leaves an essential link wanting, or a -danger unguarded in the continuous chain of treatment, is guilty of -negligence, and if the omission results in injury to the patient, the -practitioner is answerable. The quantum of evidence necessary to make -out a _primâ facie_ case of negligence is very slight in some cases, -while in others a more strict proof is required. Often the injury -itself affords sufficient _primâ facie_ evidence of negligence. * * * -There was evidence offered by the plaintiff showing, that while the -defendant drew the tooth, the forceps slipped. This fact, combined with -the unusual circumstance that the tooth went down instead of coming -up, was sufficient to carry the case to the jury upon the question -of negligence. The trial Judge held that while the affirmative was -upon the plaintiff to prove negligence, the fact that the defendants, -instead of taking the plaintiff’s tooth out, let it go down his -throat, was sufficient evidence to carry the question of negligence -to the jury, to the end that they might determine whether, in the -light of all the circumstances, the defendants had exercised the skill -and care which the exigencies of the case required. This ruling was -correct” [440]. - -Boyle’s case is an interesting one on the subject of the use of -chloroform. He was a street-car driver; a vicious horse by a kick threw -him from his platform, so that he hit his head against a tree-box. -He was picked up insensible and carried into a surgery; this he was -enabled to leave |165| in a couple of hours, and the following day -went to work again. In course of time he had a toothache, and went to -a Dr. Winslow’s to have it extracted, intending to take chloroform. -The chloroform was administered, but did not operate as soon as usual, -exciting rather than tranquilizing B. Insensibility, however, having -been finally obtained, the teeth were taken out, the doctor giving -the anæsthetic from time to time during the operation, as symptoms of -returning consciousness appeared. Boyle walked home shortly afterwards, -feeling, however, dizzy, and being uncertain in his gait; these -unpleasant symptoms continued even after reaching his house. The next -day, thickness of speech and numbness of one arm and side came on, -with partial paralysis. From this he was still suffering, when a jury -was called upon to say whether his state was due to the neglect of the -dentist or not. The Judge told the jury that, even if they doubted -the safety of the agent employed (chloroform), there was still a -consideration of the highest reason which they ought not to disregard. -He remarked, “All science is the result of a voyage of exploration, -and the science of medicine can hardly be said to have yet reached -the shore. Men must be guided therefore by what is probably true, and -are not responsible for their ignorance of the absolute truth which -is not known. If a medical practitioner resorts to the acknowledged -proper sources of information—if he sits at the feet of masters of high -reputation and does as they have taught him—he has done his duty, and -should not be made answerable for the evils that may result from errors -in the instruction which he has received. * * * He who acts according -to the best known authority is a skilful practitioner, although -that authority should lead him in some respects wrong. * * * If the -plaintiff was from previous circumstances predisposed to paralysis, -it might well happen that the extraction of his teeth, |166| without -the chloroform, or the use of the chloroform without the extraction, -would bring on a paralytic attack. Even if this was the case, still it -would not be just to make the defendant answerable for consequences -which he could not foresee, which were not the ordinary or probable -result of what he did. He was only bound to look to what was natural -and probable, to what might reasonably be anticipated. Unless such -guard is thrown around the physician his judgment may be clouded, or -his confidence shaken by the dread of responsibility, at those critical -moments when it is all important that he should retain the free and -undisturbed enjoyment of his faculties, in order to use them for the -benefit of the patient” [441]. - -In the olden time, front teeth were considered very valuable. Our -ancestors appear to have used them in fighting, and the hurting of a -man so as to render him less able in fighting to defend himself or -annoy his adversary, was considered a misdemeanor of the highest kind, -and spoken of by my Lord Coke as the greatest offence under felony. To -cut off an ear or strike off a nose was nothing to the knocking out of -a fore-tooth, for a nose or an ear is useless in a fight—doubtless they -are in the way [442]. According to that system of punishment introduced -into England by the Engles, which compensated every injury by a money -payment, a front tooth was valued highly, and one who deprived another -of such a member had to pay six shillings, while breaking a rib only -cost half as much, and shattering a thigh only twelve shillings [443]. - -The fact that a dentist extracts teeth for love and not for money -does not relieve him of his liability for failure to perform his -work properly [444]; and if one is foolish enough |167| to allow an -ignorant apprentice to practise on his teeth, he can still recover from -the dentist for any injuries [445]. It is a good answer to an action -brought by a dentist to recover payment for his work and labor, that -the defendant has been injured instead of benefited by the plaintiff’s -treatment, either because of his want of skill or his negligence. So, -when Mr. Gilpin went to Mr. Wainwright to have a tooth extracted, and -Wainwright gave him chloroform, and then pulled out the wrong tooth, -and Gilpin declined to pay for the performance, alleging a want of -consideration, the dentist sued for his account, but the Court gave -judgment against him [446]. If the dentist’s bill has been increased -owing to his own mistake or wrong doing—as where being employed to pull -out one tooth and insert a false one, he pulled out two, and so had to -put in two; he cannot recover for this additional amount of work. Lord -Kenyon well put this when he said: “If a man is sent for to extract a -thorn which might be pulled out with a pair of nippers, and through his -misconduct it becomes necessary to amputate the limb, shall it be said, -that he may come into a court of justice to recover fee for the cure -of the wound which he himself has caused?” [447]. To put the question -is to give the answer. In fact, in such a case as the one put, it -would appear that not only could no recovery be had for the additional -services rendered necessary by the dentist’s own want of proper care, -but the man whose grinders were thus made few would be entitled to a -further deduction from the bill for the bodily suffering and damage he -had sustained [448]. - -One cannot reasonably expect to have teeth as well fitted to the mouth -by art as nature. Mrs. Henry got a set of artificial ones from Dr. -Simonds; when put into her |168| mouth, she complained that they felt -odd and pained her. The plate was somewhat filed, but she was still -dissatisfied, and declined to pay the bill. It was then agreed that she -should take them away and try them for a day or two; this was done, -and again she returned them, declining to pay. The doctor then sued, -and the evidence as to whether the teeth fitted was conflicting. One -testified that they were a good piece of work; another, that they were -a fair average piece of work; while a third said that they were nothing -extra. The Judge instructed the jury that if Simonds had used all the -knowledge and skill to which the art had at the time advanced, that -would be all that could be required of him. The verdict was for the -defendant. On an application for a new trial the court considered the -instructions erroneous and granted a new trial, saying: “that surgeons -are held responsible for injuries resulting from a want of ordinary -care and skill. The highest degree of skill is not to be expected, -nor can it reasonably be required, of all. The instruction given was -* * * * undoubtedly correct, and no more would be required of him. But, -upon legal principles, could so much be required of him? We think not. -If it could, then every professional man would be bound to possess -the highest attainment, and to exercise the greatest skill in his -profession. Such a requirement would be unreasonable” [449]. - -It is a dangerous thing for both parties for the dentist to try a new -instrument or a new _modus operandi_ for the first time—doing so the -Court once said was a rash act, and he who acts rashly acts ignorantly. -Using a new instrument is acting contrary to the known rule and usage -of the profession [450]. One cannot become an experimentalist except at -his own peril. |169| - -A dentist, at a lady’s request, prepared a model of her mouth, and -made two sets of artificial teeth for her. In response to a letter -notifying her that they were ready, and asking when he could come and -put them in, the dentist received the following note: “My dear Sir, I -regret, after your kind effort to oblige me, my health will prevent my -taking advantage of the early day. I fear I may not be able for some -days. Yours, etc., Frances P.” Very shortly the lady died. The dentist -sued her executors for £21, but he failed to recover. The court held -that a contract to make a set of teeth is a contract for the sale of -goods, wares or merchandise within the meaning of the seventeenth -section of the Statute of Frauds; and that as by the terms of the -contract the teeth were to be fitted to the lady’s mouth, and as this, -through no default on her part, was never done, her executors were not -liable to the dentist for work done and materials provided; nor was the -letter a sufficient memorandum within the meaning of the Act referred -to. Counsel for the plaintiff and the Court seemed to differ widely -in their opinions of the artistic nature of tooth-making. The former, -arguing that the deceased had in truth contracted for the skill of the -dentist, and that the materials were merely auxiliary to the work and -labour, said this case was not to be distinguished from that of an -artist employed to paint a picture; the ivory used was of insignificant -value as compared to the skill employed. Judge Crompton, however, said: -“Here the subject matter of the contract was the supply of goods. -The case bears a strong resemblance to that of a tailor supplying a -coat, the measurement of the mouth and the fitting of the teeth being -analogous to the measurement and fitting of the garment” [451]. - -A similar view of the standing of a dentist was taken by the Court in -Michigan, when it held that he was a “mechanic.” The Court observed, -“A dentist, in one sense, is |170| a professional man, but, in another -sense, his calling is mainly mechanical, and the tools which he employs -are used in mechanical operations. Indeed, dentistry was formerly -purely mechanical, and instruction in it scarcely went beyond manual -dexterity in the use of tools; and a knowledge of the human system -generally, and of the diseases which might affect the teeth and render -an operation important, was by no means considered necessary. Of late, -however, as the physiology of the human system has become better -understood, and the relations of the various parts and their mutual -dependence become more clearly recognized, dentistry has made great -progress as a science, and its practitioners claim, with much justice, -to be classed among the learned professions. It is nevertheless true -that the operations of the dentist are, for the most part, mechanical, -and so far as tools are employed, they are purely so, and we could not -exclude these tools from the exemption which the statute makes, without -confining the construction of the statute within limits not justified -by the words employed” [452]. On the other hand, in Mississippi, the -Court said, “A dentist cannot be properly denominated a ‘mechanic.’ It -is true that the practice of his art requires the use of instruments -for manual operations, and that much of it consists in manual -operations; but it also involves a knowledge of the physiology of the -teeth, which cannot be acquired but by a proper course of study, and -this is taught by learned treatises upon the subject, and as a distinct -though limited part of the medical art, in institutions established for -the purpose. It requires both science and skill, and if such persons -should be included in the denomination of ‘mechanics,’ because their -pursuit required the use of mechanical instruments and skill in manual -operation, the same reason would include general surgeons under the -same denomination, because the |171| practice of their profession -depends in a great degree upon similar instruments and operative skill; -nor could such a pursuit properly be said to be a trade” [453]. - -False teeth have been considered necessaries for a wife. One Andrews -had a conversation with Gilman, a dentist, as to the latter furnishing -the former’s wife with a plate of mineral teeth, and he agreed to pay -for certain other dental services rendered to Mrs. A. The plate was -furnished while Mr. and Mrs. A. were living together, and it was quite -suitable to the former’s circumstances and station in life; he saw it, -knew whence it came, raised no objection to it, still he declined to -pay for it. The Court, however, held him liable, not only because the -wife being permitted to retain the plate, and the other circumstances, -showed her authority to make the purchase, but also on the ground that -the teeth were some of those necessaries wherewith a husband is bound -to furnish his wife [454]. - -A dentist must not take any unfair advantage of his patient. Some -thirty years ago, one Captain Simpson, a very old seaman and a -pensioner in Greenwich Hospital, gave a bill of exchange, payable -eight months after date, for £262 10s. to one Davis, a London dentist, -purporting to be for value received. Davis said, the real bargain was -that he should during the whole of the Captain’s life attend to his -teeth, and supply him with new ones from time to time. He also said -that a new set of teeth would cost from £30 to £50. The bill was in the -handwriting of D.; it was given in his house when no third person was -by, and it was never heard of until after the captain’s death, which -took place before it was due. There was no writing as to the teeth. -The executors of Simpson declined to pay, whereupon Davis handed the -note over to a creditor of his own, |172| who sued both parties. -The executors filed a bill in chancery, impeaching the document for -fraud, and asking that it might be delivered up to them. The Court -thought that it was quite impossible for any reasonable being to draw -any inference from the materials before it, but that it was a case of -fraud—nay, a gross fraud, and the decree was made as asked [455]. Sir -Launcelot Shadwell thought that the case had points of resemblance to -that of _Dent_ v. _Bennett_ [456], in which a medical man bargained for -a very large sum of money to attend a person of advanced years until -death; but in that case the doctor had to attend to the whole human -body, not merely to a particular part of it. - -One dentist must not imitate too closely the sign or card of a fellow -practitioner. One Colton alleged that he had purchased from a Dr. G. -Q. Colton the right to use the name “Colton Dental Association” in -connection with the use of nitrous-oxide gas to alleviate pain in -the extraction of teeth, and that he used the same in advertisements -and prominently displayed it on signs; that the defendant, who had -been in his employment, left him, opened dental rooms in the same -street, issued cards announcing that he was “formerly operator at the -Colton Dental Rooms,” and extracted teeth without pain by the use of -nitrous-oxide gas, and put a sign to the same purport over his door, -but the words “formerly operator at the,” upon cards and sign, were -in small and almost illegible letters, while the words “Colton Dental -Rooms” were very conspicuous; the signs were very similar in shape, -size, &c., and were hung on the same side of the street, in the same -manner, and might readily be mistaken the one for the other, especially -by suffering patients impatient for relief. An injunction against the -defendant’s cards and signs was granted [457]. |173| - -And where Morgan and Schuyler, two dentists, dissolved partnership, -S. bought M.’s interest in the fixtures and in the lease of the -room, and continued business therein. M. removed his name from the -sign, but S. replaced it, and put above, in letters so small as to -be nearly imperceptible, his own name with the words “successor to.” -The agreement of dissolution did not prohibit M. from engaging in the -business, so he opened an office therefor in another part of the city. -He then applied to the Court to restrain his late partner from the -use of his name as mentioned. He was successful in his action. But -the Court thought that S. would have kept within his rights if he had -merely described himself as “late of” the firm [458]. - - - - -|174| - -CHAPTER XIV. - -DRUGGISTS. - - -A druggist, the Supreme Court of Louisiana says, means “one who sells -drugs without compounding or preparing them: and so is a more limited -term than apothecary [459].” - -A commission merchant, dealing principally in alcohol, is not a -druggist, within the meaning of the Massachusetts’ Act, regulating the -sale of alcohol by druggists [460]; and although whiskey may be sold by -druggists in comparatively small quantities as medicine, and doubtless -a great many people so take it, still it was held that fifty barrels of -whiskey remaining in a bonded warehouse at the time of his death would -not pass under the will of a wholesale and retail druggist bequeathing -his stock of medical drugs, etc. The Court considered fifty barrels of -whiskey wholly disproportionate to the ordinary stock of medicine and -drugs kept on hand by the testator—too much sack for the bread [461]. -One may be an apothecary or druggist although he does not actually -compound his medicines [462]. - -In the early days in England, the grocers, or poticaries, who formed -one of the trade guilds of London, united with their ordinary business -the sale of such ointments, simples |175| and medicinal compounds as -were then in use. In the days of Henry VIII., the medical department -of the grocers’ trade being greatly increased, shops were established -for the exclusive sale of drugs and medicinal and all kinds of -chemical preparations. We have a graphic description of one of these -apothecaries about the days of “Good Queen Bess,” in the words of the -prince of English dramatists: - - ——I do remember an apothecary, - And hereabouts he dwells, which late I noticed - In tatter’d weeds, with overwhelming brows, - Culling of simples: meagre were his looks, - Sharp misery had worn him to the bones, - And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, - An alligator stuff’d, and other skins - Of ill-shaped fishes: and about his shelves - A beggarly account of empty boxes, - Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds, - Remnants of pack thread and old cakes of roses - Were thinly scattered to make up a show. - - ROMEO AND JULIET, Act. V., SC. 1. - -Until 1868, any person whatever might open what is called a chemist’s -shop in England, and deal in drugs and poisons. In that year, however, -the Pharmacy Act was passed, which prohibits any person engaging in -the business of, or assuming the title of, Chemist and Druggist, or -dispensing chemicals or drugs, unless he be registered under that Act. -And to be registered one must pass an examination in Latin, English, -arithmetic, prescriptions, practical dispensing, pharmacy, materia -medica, botany and chemistry. - -Under the Ontario Act [463] there is a College of Pharmacy, managed -by a Pharmaceutical Council who grant certificates of competency to -practise as pharmaceutical chemists, prescribe the subjects on which -candidates are to be |176| examined, and arrange for the registration -of chemists. No one, save those registered or their employeés, -is authorized to compound prescriptions of legally authorized -medical practitioners. The Act, however, does not apply to medical -practitioners. But, save as aforesaid, no one can retail, dispense, -or compound poisons, or sell certain articles named, or assume or use -the title of “Chemist and Druggist,” or “Chemist,” or “Druggist,” or -“Pharmacist or Apothecary,” or “Dispensing Chemist or Druggist,” unless -he has complied with the Act. - -The Code Napoleon recognizes two classes of vendors of drugs and -medicines, apothecaries and druggists. The former, who are assumed to -be pharmaceutically educated, are alone allowed to sell compounded -medicine, the latter who are classed with grocers are only permitted to -sell drugs of a simple character in bulk and at wholesale [464]. In the -United States, wherever statutes do not otherwise direct, apothecaries -and druggists are put upon the common law footing of provision vendors, -and may sell in any quantities articles in which they deal. - -A druggist is held to a strict accountability in law for any mistake -he may make in compounding medicine or selling his drugs. By the -statute law of England it is declared to be the duty of every person -using or exercising the art or mystery of an apothecary to prepare -with exactness, and to dispense, such medicines as may be directed for -the sick by any physician [465]. And by the same Act, for the further -protection, security, and benefit of George the Third’s subjects it was -declared, that if any one using the art or mystery of an apothecary, -should deliberately or negligently, unfaithfully, fraudulently or -unduly make, mix, prepare or sell any medicines, as directed by any -prescription signed by any |177| licensed physician, such apothecary -shall, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, unless good cause -be shown to the contrary, forfeit for the first offence £5, for second, -£10, and for third he shall forfeit his certificate. But apart from any -statute, whenever a druggist or apothecary (using the words in their -general sense) sells a medicine, he impliedly warrants the good quality -of the drugs sold; and besides that, he warrants that it is the article -that is required and that it is compounded in every prescription -dispensed by him _secundum artem_. Like the provision dealer, the -pharmaceutist is bound to know that the goods he sells are sound, -_i.e._, competent to perform the mission required of them, and being so -presumed to know, he warrants their good qualities by the very act of -selling them for such. The rule, “Let the buyer beware,” does not apply. - -In some way Fleet and Simple got cantharides mixed with some snake -root and Peruvian bark. Unfortunately Hollenbeck, requiring some of -this latter mixture, bought this that these druggists had, took it as -a medicine, and in consequence suffered great pain, and had his health -permanently impaired. He sued for damages, and recovered a verdict for -$1,140. The defendants asked for a new trial, but the Court refused it -saying, “Purchasers have to trust to a druggist. It is upon his skill -and prudence they must rely. It is his duty to know the properties of -his drugs, to be able to distinguish them from one another. It is his -duty so to qualify himself, or to employ those who are so qualified, -to attend to the business of compounding and vending medicines and -drugs, as that one drug may not be sold for another; and so that, when -a prescription is presented to be made up the proper medicine, and none -other, be used in mixing and compounding it. The legal maxim should be -reversed, instead of _caveat emptor_ it should be _caveat venditor_, -_i.e._, let him be certain that he does not sell |178| to a purchaser -or send to a patient, one thing for another, as arsenic for calomel, -cantharides for, or mixed with snake root and Peruvian bark, or even -one innocent drug calculated to produce a certain effect, in place of -another sent for and designed to produce a different effect. If he does -these things he cannot escape civil responsibility upon the alleged -pretext that it was an accidental or an innocent mistake. We are asked -by the defendants’ attorneys in their argument, with some emphasis, -if druggists are in legal estimation, to be regarded as insurers. The -answer is, we see no good reason why a vendor of drugs, should in his -business be entitled to a relaxation of the rule which applies to -vendors of provisions, which is, that the vendor undertakes and insures -that the article is wholesome [466].” - -The general customer is not supposed to be skilled in the matter of -drugs, but in the purchase he must rely upon the druggist to furnish -the article called for; and in this particular business the customer -who has not the experience and learning necessary to a proper vending -of drugs, will not be held to the rule that he must examine for -himself, it would be but idle mockery for the customer to make the -examination when it would avail him nothing. On the contrary, the -business is such that in the very nature of things, the druggist -must be held to warrant that he will deliver the drug called for and -purchased by the customer [467]. - -It is the duty of the druggist to know whether his drugs are sound or -not, and it is no answer to his want of knowledge to say, that the -buyer had opportunities for inspection, and could judge for himself of -the quality of goods [468]. - -If a druggist miscompounds a medicine, or intentionally deviates from -the formula, he commits a tortious act, and |179| if any injury -arises to another through his ignorance or neglect he is liable. Even -if a physician writes a prescription wrongly it is expected that the -druggist will know enough to detect the error, and whether he does so -or not he still compounds it at his peril. For one man’s negligence -or omission of duty is no palliation of another’s, and under the -doctrine of joint liability the apothecary or druggist who compounds, -knowingly or not, a noxious prescription, commits a joint tort with the -physician who writes it [469]. And in an action against a druggist for -injury through the negligence of his clerk in selling sulphate of zinc -for Epsom salts, it is no defence to say that the subsequent medical -treatment was negligent [470]. - -A wholesale druggist is liable in the same way as a retail, when he -supplies substances notoriously dangerous to health or life, and -he impliedly warrants the articles to be as represented by their -conventional designation, and if they are not so, he is liable for all -damages that may ensue from his misrepresentation [471]. - -If a druggist affixes to a medicine, or drug, a label bearing his name -and stating it to have been prepared by him, he makes the warrant only -more notorious, and by so doing (inasmuch as it is an invitation to -the public to confide in his representation), is ever after estopped -from denying responsibility for any injury which may have arisen out -of defects in its quality, or errors in its composition. So long as -the label is attached, it is an affirmation of the good quality of -the article and its correct composition, to every one who relies upon -it when buying. But as some articles deteriorate in time, what is -said in relation to the liability of the vendor applies only to the -article at the time it leaves |180| his hands. He only warrants its -good qualities then, but no longer, and his representation affirms -that much, and no more [472]. The subject of labels was carefully -considered in _Thomas_ v. _Winchester_ [473], where Ruggles C.J. gave -judgment. Mary Ann Thomas was ordered a dose of extract of dandelion, -her husband bought what he believed was dandelion from Dr. Foord, -druggist and physician; but it was extract of belladonna. The jar -was labelled ‘½ ℔ dandelion, prepared by A. Gilbert, No. 108 John -street, N. Y.’ Foord bought it as dandelion from James S. Aspinwall, -druggist, who bought it from defendant, a druggist, 108 John street. -Defendant manufactured some drugs and purchased others, but labelled -all in the same way. Gilbert was an assistant who had originally owned -the business. The extract in the jar had been purchased from another -dealer. The two extracts are alike in colour, consistency, smell and -taste. Gilbert’s labels were paid for by defendant and used in his -business with his knowledge and consent. A non-suit was moved for on -the ground, that defendant being a remote vendor and there being no -privity or connection between him and the plaintiff, the action could -not be sustained. The Court said, “Gilbert, the defendant’s agent, -would have been punishable for manslaughter if Mrs. Thomas had died in -consequence of taking the falsely labelled medicine. Every one who by -his culpable negligence causes the death of another, although without -intent to kill, is guilty of manslaughter [474]. This rule applies not -only where the death of one is occasioned by the neglectful act of -another, but where it is caused by the neglectful omission of a duty -by that other [475]. Although the defendant W. may not be answerable -criminally for the neglect |181| of his agent, there can be no doubt as -to his liability in a civil action, in which the action of the agent is -to be regarded as the act of the principal. The defendant’s neglect put -human life in imminent danger. Can it be said that there was no duty on -the part of the defendant to avoid the creation of that danger by the -exercise of greater caution? Or that the exercise of that caution was a -duty only to his immediate vendee, whose life was not endangered? (He -being a dealer and not a customer.) The defendant’s duty arose out of -the nature of his business, and the danger to others incident to its -mismanagement. Nothing but mischief like that which actually happened -could have been expected from sending the poison falsely labelled into -the market, and the defendant is justly responsible for the probable -consequences of the act. The duty of exercising caution in this respect -did not arise out of the defendant’s contract of sale to Aspinwall. -The wrong done by the defendant was in putting the poison unlabelled -into the hands of Aspinwall as an article of merchandise to be sold, -and afterwards used, as the extract of dandelion by some person then -unknown. The defendant’s contract of sale to Aspinwall does not excuse -the wrong done the plaintiffs. It was part of the means by which the -wrong was effected. The plaintiffs’ injury and their remedy would have -stood on the same principle if the defendant had given the belladonna -to Dr. Foord without price, or if he had put it in his shop without his -knowledge under circumstances that would have led to its sale on the -faith of the labels.” - -Ordronaux says (sec. 186): It cannot be denied that had Mrs. Thomas -died, Foord would, equally with Gilbert, have been guilty of -manslaughter, since whether he intended it or no, he was doing an -unlawful act in dispensing a poison for a salutary medicine. While -then it may be proper enough to rely upon labels and warranties of -others, |182| in dealing with ordinary substances, still when it comes -to articles of a character dangerous to health or life, the law will -presume knowledge of their quality in those professionally dealing in -them, and exact a degree of skill and care commensurate with the risks -incurred. Here it is _caveat venditor_ instead of _caveat emptor_. - -In Kentucky, a druggist sold croton oil instead of linseed oil for a -patient, who, in consequence of the mistake, died. His widow was held -entitled to full damages against the seller [476]. - -If a druggist negligently sell a deadly poison as and for a harmless -medicine to A., who buys it to administer to B., and gives B. a dose of -it as a medicine, from the effect of which he dies, a right of action -against the druggist survives to B.’s representative, notwithstanding -the want of privity of contract between B. and the druggist [477]. And -this is the rule, also, when the sale has been made by the apothecary’s -assistant [478]. - -Joseph George, and Emma, his wife, sued Skivington, a druggist, -alleging that he, in the course of his business, professed to sell a -chemical compound made of ingredients known only to him, and by him -represented to be fit for a hairwash without causing injury to the -person that used it, and to have been carefully compounded by him; that -Joseph thereupon bought of the defendant a bottle of this hairwash, to -be used by Emma, as the defendant knew, and on the terms that it could -be so safely used, and had been so compounded; yet the defendant had so -negligently and unskilfully conducted himself in preparing and selling -the hairwash, that it was unfit to be used for washing the hair, -whereby the plaintiff, Emma, who used it for that |183| purpose was -injured. The Court held that a good cause of action was shewn [479]. - -A Massachusetts apothecary sold sulphide of antimony by mistake for -black oxide of manganese. The two look alike, but differ in this, that -the preparation of manganese may be safely mixed with chlorate of -potassia for many useful purposes; but if that antimony is mixed with -that chlorate, an explosive compound is formed. The buyer, supposing -he had manganese, proceeded to mix it with potassia, having bought the -article for that purpose. But, it being antimony, the compound which -he made exploded, broke his head, damaged his hearing, and destroyed -the furniture of his laboratory. Yet the Court held that the druggist -was not chargeable with these damages, because he did not know that the -article he sold was to be mixed with potassia, and did not sell it for -that purpose. Kept or used by itself, as he sold it, it would have been -innocuous. He was not to blame for the mixing, the real cause of the -injury [480]. - -In England [481], a chemist and druggist was indicted for manslaughter, -but was acquitted. The deceased had been in the constant habit of -getting aconite and occasionally henbane from Noakes; on this occasion -he sent two bottles of his own, one marked, “Henbane, 30 drops at a -time.” The druggist by mistake put the aconite into the henbane bottle, -the dose of thirty drops was taken, and the customer was no more. Erle, -C.J., told the jury that although there might be evidence of negligence -sufficient for a civil action, still that they could not convict unless -there was such a degree of complete negligence as the law meant by the -word “felonious,” and that in this case he did not think there |184| -was sufficient to warrant that. But Tessymond, a chemist’s apprentice, -was found guilty of manslaughter for causing the death of an infant by -negligently giving to a customer who asked for paregoric to give to the -infant (a child of nine weeks old), a bottle with a paregoric label, -but containing laudanum, and recommending a dose of ten drops [482]. - -One Jones recovered against a chemist and druggist of the name of -Fay, £100 for damages, because he, Fay, gave him blue pills for the -painters’ colic, such physic being improper [483]. A man, on the -advice of a friend, went to a drug store for ten cents worth of -“black-draught,” a comparatively harmless drug, of which he intended -to take a small glassful as a dose for diarrhœa. There was evidence -given by the clerk who sold the mixture, that at the shop he asked for -“black-drops,” the defendant, the proprietor, told him that that was -poison, that the dose was from ten to twelve drops, and advised him to -take another mixture; he refused, and the clerk (by the defendant’s -direction), gave him two drachms of “black-drops” in a bottle, with a -label bearing those two words written upon it, but nothing to indicate -the dose, or that it was poison. The man took the bottle home, drank -almost all its contents, and died the next morning from the effects of -so doing. In an action brought by the representative of the deceased -to recover damages for negligent killing by the defendant, it was held -that the Courts should have submitted to the jury the question as to -whether the defendant was not guilty of negligence in failing to place -upon the bottle a label, shewing that its contents were poisonous, and -that it erred in non-suiting the plaintiff. Afterwards in giving the -judgment of the Court of Appeal, Finch, J., said, “on such a state of -facts (as sworn to by the clerk) a verdict |185| against the defendant -would not be justified. Although no label marked ‘poison’ was put upon -the phial, and granting that by such omission the defendant was guilty -of misdemeanor and liable to the penalty of the criminal law (under the -statute of the State), still that fact does not make him answerable to -the customer injured, or to his representative in case of his death, -for either a negligent or wrongful act, when towards that customer he -was guilty of neither, since he fairly and fully warned him of all and -more than could have been made known by the authorized label. * * * -If the warning was in truth given, if the deceased was cautioned that -the medicine sold was a strong poison, and but ten or twelve drops -must be taken, he had all the knowledge and all the warning that the -label could have given, and could not disregard it and then charge the -consequences of his own negligent reckless act upon the seller of the -poison. But if no such warning was given, its omission was negligence, -for the results of which the vendor was liable both at common law and -by force of the statute.” But the Court considered that the clerk being -himself the one who had been negligent stood in a position to provoke -suspicion, arouse doubt and justify watchful and rigid criticism, and -that this joined with the conduct of the deceased, developed a question -of fact rather than of law, and that the Court below was right in -saying that the case should have been submitted to the jury [484]. - -Under the Ontario Pharmacy Act no one can sell certain poisons named -without having the word “Poison,” and the name of the article, -distinctly labelled upon the package; and if the sale is by retail, the -name of the proprietor of the establishment where it is sold, and the -address must also be on the label [485]. |186| - -Any person selling any poison, in violation of the Act, is liable to a -penalty of not more than $20 and costs for the first offence, and $50 -and costs for every subsequent offence; and one-half of the penalty -goes to the prosecutor; and no one selling in violation of the Act can -recover his charges. And one wilfully or knowingly selling any article -under pretence that it is a particular drug or medicine, when it is -not, is liable to the above penalties, besides any other to which he -may be liable irrespective of the Act [486]. - -In Georgia it was held, that where a druggist in good faith recommended -the prescription of another person to the owner of a sick horse, who -thereupon ordered him to put it up and paid for it, the owner had no -cause of action because the medicine had injured his horse, as the -stuff was properly prepared according to the prescription [487]. - -In England chemists and druggists are liable to the heavy penalty of -£500 if they sell to brewers or dealers in beer anything to be used -as a substitute for malt; they are also liable for adulterating, or -selling any adulterated, medicine; and on a second offence of this -kind, the name of the offender, his abode, and his crime may be -published in the newspapers at his expense [488]. - -An action can be maintained by a husband against a druggist to recover -damages for selling to the plaintiff’s wife, secretly, from day to day -large quantities of laudanum to be used by her as a beverage, and which -are so used by her to the druggist’s knowledge, without the knowledge -or consent of the husband, the druggist well knowing that the same was -injuring and impairing her health, and concealing the fact of such -sales and the use thereof from the husband; |187| in consequence of -which use by her the wife became sick and emaciated, and her mind was -affected, so that she was unable to perform her duties as such wife, -and her affections became alienated from her husband, and he lost her -society, and was compelled to expend divers sums of money in medical -and other attendance upon her [489]. - -In some of the American Courts it has been held that a statute -forbidding the sale or keeping for sale without authority of spirituous -or intoxicating liquors does not apply to druggists who keep such -liquors only for the purpose of mixing them with other ingredients, -according to prescriptions of physicians; and also for the purpose -of manufacturing such compounds as are commonly used by druggists to -be sold as medicines for remedies for sickness and disease [490]. The -question has often come up whether a compound sold by a druggist is to -be considered an intoxicating liquor, the sale of which is illegal, -or not. The rule laid down is, that so long as liquors retain their -characters as intoxicating liquors, capable of being used as beverages, -notwithstanding that other ingredients—roots or tinctures—may have been -mixed therewith, they fall under the ban of the law; but when they -are so compounded with other substances as to lose their distinctive -characters of intoxicating liquors, and are no longer desirable for -use as stimulating beverages, they are medicine and their sale is not -prohibited [491]. - -In Indiana a _bona fide_ sale of intoxicating liquor by a druggist -for medicinal purposes is not a violation of the statute regulating -the sale of such liquors, although the statute contains no exception -authorizing the sale of such |188| liquors, without license, for -medicinal, chemical or sacramental purposes. - -And that is the law in North Carolina, but not in Arkansas [492]. In -Iowa it was considered a breach of the law for a druggist to sell a -quart of whiskey to a stranger upon his simple statement that he was -accustomed to take it as a medicine and wanted it as such [493]. - -In Texas, where a druggist can only sell ardent spirits upon the -prescription of physicians in sickness, a druggist who is himself a -physician may sell to a sick patient without a prescription from anyone -else [494]. - - - - -|189| - -CHAPTER XV. - -PARTNERS, GOODWILL, ASSISTANTS. - - -A partnership [495] between medical men is an association of persons, -standing to one another in the relation of principals, for jointly -carrying out the objects of their profession, with an agreement to -share the profits. - -The general laws relating to partnerships apply to those of medical -men or dentists. There can be no partnership, as between themselves, -if the relationship of master and servant exists, or where there is -no joint interest. No particular form of words is needed to create -a partnership, nor need the agreement be in writing unless it is to -last for more than a year from the date. If an agreement to form a -partnership is broken an action will lie, if the terms of the agreement -be clear and distinct; but the performance of such an agreement will -not be compelled unless all the terms have been fixed and ascertained, -and a definite time for its duration agreed on. - -If one has been induced to enter the partnership through the fraud -or misrepresentation of the other, the party deceived may at his -option avoid the contract. But he should act promptly on discovering -the deception. Where a surgeon was induced to enter into partnership -with, and pay a large premium to another, in consequence of |190| -misrepresentations as to the amount of income derived from the -practice, a dissolution was decreed and a return of part of the -premium [496]; and where a practitioner took a partner and a premium, -and agreed to continue practising for three years, concealing the fact -that he was suffering from a disease which soon carried him off, his -executor was ordered to return part of the premium [497]. - -Partners are trustees and agents for one another, and must exercise -the most perfect good faith towards one another. One cannot sue the -other for his share of the profits until the accounts have been stated -and settled between them. One medical man cannot, as a rule, bind his -partner by borrowing money, even to pay partnership liabilities, or by -making or drawing promissory notes or bills of exchange; but he may -generally do so by simple contracts, within the scope of the business. - -In England, it appears that there is nothing illegal in the partnership -of a qualified and an unqualified practitioner, and that it will be -sufficient if only one member of the firm be registered [498]. - -A partnership may be dissolved by mutual agreement, or by the effluxion -of time. A wilful and permanent neglect of business is a ground for -dissolution; so is gross misconduct by a partner in reference to -partnership matters. Immoral conduct materially affecting the business -will be a ground for dissolution; also, insanity, or permanent -incapacity [499]. On a dissolution the partners may separately carry on -the business at any place, unless restrained by agreement. |191| - -Sir John Leach considered that in a partnership, between professional -persons, upon the death of one partner the good-will of the business -belonged to the survivor, and that he was not bound to account to the -representatives of the deceased partner for it [500]. - -A good-will attaches to a professional, as well as to any other kind of -business, and it is and may be the subject of purchase and sale; and -although it is not computable, and the sale of it is not enforceable by -an action for specific performance if it has not been estimated, yet it -does stand on the same footing as any other business, if the parties -have fixed a determinate price upon it, or have provided any other way -of fixing its value [501]. The good-will of a medical man’s business -is an asset of his estate which his representatives can sell, and for -which they must account if it is sold. But it is not clear that the -representatives can be compelled to find a purchaser [502]. - -Jessel, M. R., recently asked the question, “What is the meaning of -selling a medical practice?” And in answering his query he said, -“It is the selling of the introduction of the patients of the doctor -who sells to the doctor who buys, he has nothing else to sell except -the introduction. He can persuade his patients, probably, who have -confidence in him to employ the gentleman he introduces as being a -qualified man, and fit to undertake the cure of their maladies, but -that is all he can do. Therefore, when you talk of the sale of a -non-dispensing medical practice—of course, when a man keeps what is -called a doctor’s shop, there is a different thing entirely to sell—you -are really talking of the sale of the introduction to the patients, and -the length, the |192| character and duration of the introduction, the -terms of the introduction are everything. And there is something more, -according to my experience, in cases of the sale of medical practices; -there is always a stipulation that the selling doctor shall retire from -practice either altogether or within a given distance. It is so always, -and there is also sometimes a stipulation that he will not solicit the -patients, or shall not solicit them for a given time. They are both -very important stipulations as regards keeping together the practice -for the purchasing doctor” [503]. - -The general rule of law is, that any contract in general restraint of -trade or industry is illegal and void as contrary to public policy; -but such contracts are valid if they operate merely as a partial -restraint, and are made for good consideration, and not unreasonable. -Whether they are reasonable or not, is for the Court, not the jury, to -say. A contract made with an assistant, or with a partner, that upon -separating from the principal, or partner, he will not practise within -a certain section of country, or for a certain time, is valid when made -in consideration of instruction to be given, or pecuniary or other -benefits to be enjoyed in consequence of the partnership. The limits -must be reasonable, and when the contract is not to practise within so -many miles of a certain place, the distance will be measured “as the -crow flies,” unless otherwise mentioned [504]. - -Covenants, on the part of an assistant to a surgeon and apothecary, -not to practise on his own account for fourteen years, in a certain -town, or within ten miles of the town; and not at any time to practise -within five, seven, ten, twenty miles of certain places, have been -all respectively |193| held good [505]. The comparative populousness -of the district forbidden ought not to enter into consideration at -all; and an assistant to a dentist was held bound by a covenant not to -practise in London, notwithstanding that city had a population of over -a million [506]. But a stipulation not to practise within one hundred -miles of York, in consideration of receiving instruction in dentistry, -was held void [507]. - -A promise, whether verbal or written, made without good consideration -by a medical man not to exercise or carry on his profession within -certain limits is void. The stipulations in a contract not to -practise are divisible, and if part of them be unreasonable, and -therefore illegal and void, the agreement is not void altogether; and -the remaining stipulations, if valid, will not be affected by the -illegality of the others [508]. - -The relations of medical men to their apprentices, assistants and -pupils, are, as a rule, regulated by the ordinary law of master and -servant. No particular words are needed to create the relationship -of master and apprentice, or master and assistant, the intention of -the parties will be considered, nor need the agreement be in writing, -unless it is not to be performed within a year from the making -thereof [509]. A master is liable on contracts entered into by his -apprentice or assistant, when he has authorized him to enter into any -such contract, either expressly, or by implication. For instance, if an -assistant usually orders drugs |194| on credit, and the master usually -pays, the master will be held liable to pay for any goods of a similar -nature which the assistant may get for his own and not his master’s -use [510]. The master is also, as a rule, liable to a civil action for -the wrongful acts of his assistant, unless they be beyond the ordinary -scope of his employment; the plaintiff, however, must prove that the -injury was produced by want of proper skill, where the act complained -of is said to have arisen through want of skill [511]. But the master -will not be criminally responsible for the acts of his assistant or -apprentice, if the latter has caused the death of any one, unless, -indeed, he has expressly commanded or taken part in the acts [512]. In a -case of criminal negligence, the apprentice himself is responsible; if -a party is guilty of negligence, and death results, the party guilty of -that negligence is also guilty of manslaughter. - -An apprentice, or pupil, cannot be dismissed in as summary a way as an -ordinary servant for misconduct. In one case it was held that though a -person has a right to dismiss a servant for misconduct, still he has no -right to turn away an apprentice because he misbehaves; and that the -case of a young man, say of seventeen, who under a written agreement, -is placed with a medical man as “pupil and assistant,” and with whom a -premium is paid, is a case between that of apprenticeship and service; -and if such an one on some occasions comes home intoxicated, this alone -will not justify the surgeon in dismissing him. But if the “pupil -and assistant,” by employing the shop boy to compound the medicines, -occasions real danger to the surgeon’s practice, this would justify the -surgeon in dismissing him [513]. |195| - -Pupils and others admitted to hear the lectures of medical men, -whether such lectures are delivered _ex-tempore_, or from memory, or -from notes, although they may go to the extent, if they are able to do -so, of taking down the whole by means of shorthand, can do so only for -the purposes of their own information, and cannot publish the lectures -for profit without the consent of the lecturer [514]. - - - - -|197| - -INDEX. - - - A. - - ABORTION— - Evidence of experts in cases of, 116. - Criminality of, 146, 147. - - ACCIDENT— - Payment of medical men in cases of, 40, 41. - - ACCOUNT— - Must be in detail, 22. - - ADVERTISING QUACKS—132, 133. - - AMPUTATED LIMBS— - Ownership of, 143. - - ANATOMY— - A lawful study, 154, 157, 158. - Hindrances to study of, 149, 152. - In early days, 149, 150. - Provision made for study of, in England, 150, 153. - — — — — — in Canada, 151, 156. - — — — — — in United States, 155, 156. - - ANATOMY ACT OF 1832—153. - - ANGUINEUM—2. - - APOTHECARIES— - In England in early days, 11. - Incorporated in England, 12. - How regulated, 12. - Duties of, 12. - Fees of, 15, 16. - - ARTIFICIAL TEETH.—_See_ TEETH. - - ASSAULTS ON PATIENTS— - Attempting carnal intercourse with, 144. - Wantonly stripping patient, 144. - Taking layman to midwifery case, 144. - Liability for committing one as insane, 146. - - ASSISTANTS AND APPRENTICES— - Rules regulating, 193. - Master liable for, civilly, 193, 194. - — not liable criminally, 194. - — may recover for services of, 20. - Misconduct of, 194. - - ATTENDANCE— - Medical men neglecting, 72, 73. - Withdrawing from, 73, 74. - - B. - - BARBERS— - As practitioners, 4, 5, 6. - - BAUNSCHEIDT SYSTEM— - Layman practising, 47. - Liability for using, 89. - - BODIES— - Supply of, for dissecting, 150–156. - - BODY-SNATCHING—_See_ RESURRECTION, 152–157. - - BOOKS—_See_ SCIENTIFIC BOOKS, 99–105. - - BOTANIC PHYSICIANS—52, 54, 88. - - C. - - CARELESSNESS—_See_ NEGLIGENCE. - Of patient, 67–69. - When physician criminally liable for, 85–88, 91. - In treating internal diseases, 92. - - CHARACTER— - Defamation of, when actionable, 131, 134. - - CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST—_See_ DRUGGISTS. - - CHLOROFORM— - Care needed in using, 163–166. - - CIVIL LIABILITY— - For negligence—_See_ NEGLIGENCE. - For stealing corpse, 157. - - CLAIRVOYANT PHYSICIAN— - Must be licensed in Maine, 52. - Misrepresentations by, 142. - - CLERICAL PRACTITIONERS—3. - - COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT— - When not privileged, 93. - When privileged, 94–96. - - CONSULTATIONS—23. - - CONTAGIOUS DISEASES— - Precautions necessary when attending, 21, 143. - Exposing people suffering from, 147. - - CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE— - Of patient, 67–69. - - CORPSE— - Stealing, 152. - Who owns the, 153. - Selling, 153. - Raising, a misdemeanor, 154–156. - Civil liability for raising, 157. - Exhuming, when ordered, 159. - - CRIMINAL LIABILITY—_See_ CRIMINAL MALPRACTICE. - - CRIMINAL MALPRACTICE— - Definition of, 55 in, 82. - Immaterial whether physician licensed or not, 83, 84, 91. - What makes, 84, 85. - Physician acting honestly and _bonâ fide_, 89, 92. - Mistakes of druggists, 180, 181. - - CRITICISM— - When justifiable, 132, 133. - - CURE— - Not essential to right to pay, 20, 21. - No cure, no pay, 24. - Promising, 143. - Curious cures, 2, 3, 8. - - CONTRACT— - Between physician and patient, 141. - Not to practice, 192, 193. - - D. - - DAMAGES— - For personal injuries, 78, 80. - Rules for determining, 78, 79. - Not recoverable against representatives, 80. - In cases of death, 80, 81. - Only one action for same cause, 81. - Against negligent druggists, 177–185. - — — dentists, 162–167. - - DEATH— - Damages when negligence causes, 80, 81. - Evidence of experts as to cause of, 116–119. - - DECLARATIONS OF SICK PEOPLE— - When evidence, 96–98. - - DEFAMATION—129–137. - What libel, what slander, 129. - When actionable, 129, _et seq._ - Civil and criminal remedies, 130. - Imputing want of knowledge, 130. - — unprofessional conduct, 131–132. - — immorality, 134. - Holding up to ridicule, 132. - Justifiable criticism not, 132, 133. - Evidence in actions for, 135. - When physician liable for, 135–137. - - DENTISTS—Chapter XIII. - Early practitioners, 160, 161. - Subjects of examination for, 161, 162. - In Ontario, must be licensed, 162. - Liability for negligence, 162, 167. - Pulling wrong tooth, 163, 167. - Skill requirable, 164, 166. - Acting gratuitously, 166. - When services are useless, 167. - Are they mechanics? 169, 170. - Defrauding patient, 171, 172. - Appropriating signs of others, 172. - - DILIGENCE— - Must go along with skill, 64. - - DIPLOMA— - _Prima facie_ proof of skill, 64. - - DISCRETION— - As to modes of treatment, 25. - As to number of visits, 63. - - DISSECTION— - Provisions made for, 150, 151. - English Anatomy Act, 153. - Lawfulness of, considered, 157, 158. - - DRUGGISTS—Chapter XIV. - Definition, 174. - Old time, 175. - Requirements of, 175–176. - Liability for miscompounding, 176–178. - — — mistakes, 177–185. - — — quality of drug, 178. - — criminally, 180. - — for selling adulterating substances, 186. - — — — deleterious drugs, 186. - — — — intoxicants, 187, 188. - Warrants drug to be as represented, 179. - Label a warranty, 179–180. - - DRUGS— - Physician may charge for, 24. - Mistakes in selling, 177–186. - - DRUIDS—1–3. - - DUEL— - Medical man attending, 144. - - DUTY OF PHYSICIAN— - On undertaking charge of patient, 57. - Not bound to take charge, 57. - To possess ordinary care, diligence and knowledge, 58–61. - In cases of small-pox, 22, 144, 147. - - DYING DECLARATIONS— - Evidence in certain cases, 105. - - E. - - EARLY PRACTITIONERS—Chapter I. - - ENGLAND— - Early practitioners in—Chapter I. - Who may practice, 43. - Women may practice, 14. - - ENTRIES AGAINST INTEREST— - Admissible as evidence, 105, 106. - - EXPERIMENTS— - Liability on making, 71, 72, 168. - - EVIDENCE—_See_ EXPERTS AND EXPERT EVIDENCE, SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. - - EXPERTS AND EXPERT EVIDENCE— - Fees to medical witnesses, 27, _et seq._ - Excluding at trial, 106, 120. - Limiting number at trial, 106. - Rules for guidance, 106, 107. - When evidence of, admitted, 108, 117–120, 127. - Who may be experts, 109–114, 128. - The Court decides who may be, 113, 114. - Experts among the Romans, 109. - Opinions concerning, 110, 121–124. - Need not have made a special study, 112. - Better if they have, 112, 127. - Jury to decide weight to be given to, 114. - Opinions on morals, 115. - Do not speak as to merits, 115, 118, 125, 127. - Advisers of the Court, 115, 116. - Should state grounds of opinion, 116. - Admissible only as to matters of skill, 119. - Are not jurors, 119, 125. - Opinions on opinion, 119. - In insanity cases, 121–128. - What they may be asked, 124, 125. - Must hear all the evidence, 126. - Hypothetical cases, how put, 126, 127. - - F. - - FAMILY PHYSICIAN— - Recommending another, 148. - - FEES—_See_ PAYMENT OF MEDICAL MEN. - Under Roman Law, 15. - Of physicians, not recoverable at Common Law, 15, 16. - Recoverable under Medical Act, 15, 17. - Of surgeons and apothecaries, 15, 16. - Of physician and surgeon, 16. - In Scotland and the Colonies, 17. - In America, 17. - No express promise to pay necessary, 18. - How fixed, 18, 19. - Must be reasonable, 19. - In some countries fixed by law, 19. - Services of assistants, 20. - Not dependant upon cure, 20, 21. - But services must be of benefit, 20–24, 167. - Account should be in detail, 23. - For friendly visits, 24. - For drugs, 24. - Where no cure, no pay, 25. - To medical witnesses, 26, 27. - To medical experts, 27–31. - Exorbitant charges, 140. - Who must pay, 32. - - FRANCE— - Who may practise in, 44. - - FRIEND— - Prescribing as, fees, 24. - Not medical attendant, 24. - - G. - - GERMANY— - Who may practise in, 44. - - GIFTS TO MEDICAL MEN— - Are closely watched, 139. - When set aside, 139, 140. - When sustained, 140, 141. - - GOODWILL— - In professional partnerships, 191. - Sale of, 191. - - GRATUITOUS SERVICES— - Liability of physicians for, 61, 65, 66. - — — unprofessional men, 66, 67. - — — dentists, 166. - - GROSS NEGLIGENCE— - What is, 87, 88. - Liability for, 55. - - H. - - HAIR-DYE— - Noxious, damages for, 182. - - HOMŒOPATHISTS— - Regulations as to, in Ontario, 66. - Are Physicians in New York, 50, 54. - Are not Quacks, 132. - Consulting with, 134. - - HUSBAND— - When liable for attendance on wife, 35, 39. - When liable for artificial teeth for wife, 171. - Suing druggist for damages to wife’s health, 186. - - HYPOTHETICAL CASE— - How put, 126, 127. - - I. - - IGNORANCE— - Liability for gross ignorance, 55–61. - Criminal liability for gross, 55–88, 91, 92. - Imputing, when actionable, 130. - - IMMORALITY— - When actionable to impute, 134. - - IMPROPER TREATMENT— - When a defence to action, 20–24, 167. - Charges for, 20, 22, 167. - - INFANT— - Medicines and medical aid, necessary for, 39. - - INFECTIOUS DISORDERS— - Exposing persons suffering from, 147. - Duty of physicians in cases of, 22, 143, 147. - - INSANE PATIENT— - Not liable for negligence, 69. - - INSANITY CASES— - Evidence of experts, 121–128. - Opinions concerning, experts in, 121–124. - When expert evidence admissible, 124. - How to examine witnesses, 124–125. - Putting hypothetical cases, 126, 127. - Evidence of non-experts, 128. - Experts can only give opinions, 129. - Liability for committing in, 145–146. - Requisites for committal, 146. - - INTOXICATING LIQUORS— - When unlawful to give, 148. - Druggists selling, 187–188. - - IRELAND— - Early practitioners in, 6. - - L. - - LABEL OF DRUGGIST— - Is a warranty, 179–180. - - LECTURES— - Cannot be published by students attending them, 195. - - LIBEL—_See_ DEFAMATION. - - M. - - MALPRACTICE—_See_ CRIMINAL MALPRACTICE. - Defined, 55. - Consequences of, 55. - Civil and criminal, 55, 56, 83. - Some injury must be proved, 76. - Is a question for the jury, 76. - Cases of, should be construed in favor of physician, 76, 77. - Cases against physician rare, 77. - Actionable to charge one with, 133. - - MANIPULATION— - Practising, without license, 51. - - MANSLAUGHTER—_See_ CRIMINAL MALPRACTICE. - Physicians acting honestly and _bonâ fide_, 89, 90. - Druggist making mistake, 180–184. - - MASTER AND SERVANT—_See_ ASSISTANTS AND APPRENTICES. - Payment of medical attendance, 40. - - MEDICAL ACT OF ENGLAND— - Recovery of fees under, 17. - - MEDICAL ACT OF ONTARIO— - Recovery of fees under, 17. - - MEDICAL MAN— - Chaucer’s definition of, 7. - Had to be graduates in old times, 7. - Divisions under Henry VIII, 8. - Qualifications necessary to practise, 9, 48. - Qualifications under Henry VIII, 10. - No branches in America or Colonies, 17. - Discretion as to mode of treatment, 25. - As witnesses, 26. - Who must pay, 32–41. - Who may practise, 42. - The law favors no school, 42, 47. - Must practise according to school, 52, 53, 54. - One practising liable as, 54. - Duties when assuming charge, 57, 72, 73. - Must exercise ordinary care and diligence, 58. - Must keep up with the age, 61, 71. - Not liable for bad nursing, 70. - Rashly trying new experiments, 71. - Accepting retainer must attend, 72, 73. - Withdrawing from attendance, 73, 74. - Liability when not employed by patient, 74. - Action against, for defamation, 135–137. - Administering intoxicants, 148. - Relations with patients, 138–146. - Care necessary in choosing, 148. - - MEDICINE— - When first studied in England, 6. - First statute concerning, 8. - Evidence of experts as to, 118. - - MEMORANDA— - When may be used in court, 98. - - MIDWIFE— - Defamatory words when actionable, 130. - - MISREPRESENTATIONS— - To obtain money, 142, 143. - - MISTLETOE—1. - - MORALS— - Expert opinions on, 115. - - N. - - NECESSARIES— - Medicine and medical aid, 35, 39. - Artificial teeth, 171. - - NEGLIGENCE OF MEDICAL MEN— - Communicating contagious diseases, 22. - Liability for gross negligence, 55. - Judged from legal stand point, 56. - Defined, 56, 57. - Liability for, when causing injury, 57, 63, 167. - Medical men must exercise reasonable care and diligence, 58. - Sex no excuse, 61. - Where services are gratuitous, 65. - — — — voluntary, 65, 66. - Proximate cause, 69. - When requested to perform operation, 69. - Aggravated by nursing, 70. - General reputation unavailing, 71, 86. - Injurious treatment, 72. - Neglecting to attend, 72, 73. - Where not employed by patient, 74, 75. - Not liable for every mistake, 75. - Is a question for the jury, 76. - Amount of damages recoverable, 78–80. - Action for, does not survive against representatives, 80. - Where death is caused by, 80, 81. - Criminal negligence, 82–85. - Immaterial whether physician licensed or not, 83, 84. - Acting _bona fide_ no criminal liability, 89, 90. - Patient affected by mortal disease, 90, 91. - Imputing want of skill, when actionable, 130, 133. - Of dentists, 162, _et seq._ - Of druggists, 177, _et seq._ - - NEGLIGENCE OF PATIENT— - Responsible for careless choice of physician, 53. - Knowledge of physician’s ignorance, 57, 67. - Disobeying or neglecting orders, 67, 68. - What is contributory negligence, 68. - Insane patient’s negligence, 69. - - NEW YORK— - Who may practise in, 49–51. - - NURSING— - Aggravating the case, 70. - Liability of medical man for, 70. - - O. - - ONTARIO— - Who may practise medicine in, 45. - — — — dentistry in, 162. - — — — as druggists in, 176. - - OPINION—_See_ EXPERT EVIDENCE. - - P. - - PARENT AND CHILD— - Liability of parent for doctor’s bill, 33. - Rule in England and United States, 37, 38. - Statutory liability in England, 38, 39. - - PARTNERSHIP AMONG MEDICAL MEN— - Definition of, 189. - General rules applicable, 189. - Fraudulently inducing one to enter into, 189. - Conduct of partners, 190. - Dissolution, 190. - Interest of survivor, 191. - - PATIENT—_See_ RELATIONS WITH. - Calling homœopath, 54. - Physician not bound to take, 57, 72. - Must exercise prudence in selecting doctor, 67. - Must co-operate with doctor, 67, 68. - Must exercise ordinary care and prudence, 68, 69. - Physician withdrawing from, 73, 74. - Not employing physician, 74, 75. - Suffering from mortal disease, 90, 91. - Submitting to dangerous operation, 91. - Communication with physician not privileged, 93. - - PAYMENT OF MEDICAL MEN—_See_ FEES. - Physician called in by stranger, 32–35. - Wife may bind husband for, 35, 36. - As between parent and child, 35–39. - — — master and servant, 40. - Paupers, 40. - Liability of railways in accidents, 40, 41. - - PECULIAR PEOPLE—38, 39. - - PERSIA— - Medical fees in, 19. - - PHARMACY, COLLEGE OF— - In Ontario, 175, 176. - - POISONS— - Should be marked, 184. - Selling illegally, 185. - - POST MORTEM— - Fees for, 27. - - PRACTISE— - Who may, 42, _et seq._ - Contracts not to, 192, 193. - - PRACTICE— - Sale of, 191, 192. - - PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS— - Communications between physician and patient not, 93. - Are by statute in some States, 94, 95. - Must be lawful to be, 95. - Necessary for physician to prescribe, 95. - Report of officer of insurance company, 96. - Defamatory statements when, 136, 137. - - PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE— - Representation by patient as to malady, 96–98. - Mem. made by physician, 98, 105. - Scientific books not admissible, 99–105. - Dying declarations when admissible, 105. - Entries against interest admissible, 105. - Rules for guidance of medical witness, 106, 107. - Exclusion of experts, 120. - - Q. - - QUACKS— - When medical men may be called, 133, 134. - When not, 132. - - R. - - RASHNESS—86. - - REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL MEN— - Before recovery of fees, 17, 18, 45. - Before practice in England and Ontario, 44, 45. - Who may be registered in England, 44. - — — — — — Ontario, 45. - Non-registered practitioners are quacks, 133. - Striking off registry for felony, 148. - - REGULAR PHYSICIAN— - An allopathic, 51. - - REPRESENTATION BY PATIENT— - As to malady, when evidence, 96–98. - - REPUTATION— - Unavailing in accidents for negligence, 71, 86. - - RESTRAINT OF TRADE— - When such contracts are allowable, 192, 193. - - RESURRECTION— - Stealing winding sheet, 152. - Taking body a misdemeanor, 154. - Assisting at, 156. - Civil liability for, 157. - Ordered in proper cases, 159. - - RELATIONS WITH PATIENTS— - No one can take advantage of a trust reposed, 138. - Practitioner must shew fairness of dealings with patients, 138. - Undue influence, when inferred, 138–140. - Gifts to medical men set aside, 139, 140. - Exorbitant charges relieved against, 140. - When patient has independent advice, 140, 141. - Contracts open and fair, 141. - Wills in favour of medical men, 141, 142. - Misrepresentations by medical men, 142. - Promises of cure, 143. - Duties in cases of small-pox, 143. - Right to limbs, 143. - Assaults on patients, 144–146. - - ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS. Edinburgh—11. - - ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS. Ireland—11. - - ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS. London—9. - - S. - - SALE OF PRACTISE—191, 192. - - SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE— - The law favors no school, 42, 43, 47, 51, 115. - Physician must practise according to his school, 52. - Considered in determining skill needed, 63, 64. - Experts may be of any school, 115. - - SCIENTIFIC BOOKS— - Not admissible as evidence, 99. - Rule different in Iowa and Wisconsin, 100. - Cannot be read to jury, 100–103. - Can be used to test witness, 101. - Can be read to jury in some States, 103–105. - When cannot be quoted to jury, 105. - Can be read to the court, 105. - - SCOTLAND— - Early practitioners in, 5. - - SIGN— - An evidence of professional character, 64. - Of dentists in old days, 161. - Misleading, 173. - - SKILL— - Physician must have ordinary, 57, 58. - What is ordinary, or reasonable skill, 59. - Amount required, 59–62. - — — varies, 60, 61. - Liability if skill not applied, 62. - Skill and diligence must be joined, 63. - School considered in determining, 64. - Proof of skill, 64. - Required in non-professional, 64, 65. - — — volunteer, 65. - — — gratuitous services, 65, 66. - — — dentists, 162. - - SLANDER—_See_ DEFAMATION. - - SMALL-POX— - Duties of physician in cases of, 143. - Innoculation, 147. - Exposing patients with, 147. - - SMITHS— - As practitioners, 4. - - SUPERSTITIOUS PRACTICES—2, 3, 8. - - SURGEONS— - United with barbers, 4–6. - Union dissolved, 5. - Qualification under Henry VIII, 9. - Fees, 15. - Right to amputated limbs, 143. - Attending duels, 144. - - T. - - TEETH— - Value of, 166. - Dentists pulling wrong tooth, 163. - Artificial, need not be perfect, 163, 168. - Contract for purchase of, 169. - Artificial are necessaries, 171. - - U. - - UNDUE INFLUENCE— - When exercised over patient, 138, 140. - Setting aside will for, 141, 142. - Exercised by dentist, 171. - - UNITED STATES— - As a rule any one may practise, 47. - The law sometimes interferes, 47. - Statutory requirements, 48, 51. - - UNPROFESSIONAL MEN— - Liable for gross negligence, 65. - Liability for gratuitous services, 66, 67. - When criminally liable, 92. - Admitting, at a confinement, 144. - - UNREGISTERED PHYSICIAN— - Practising for reward, 45, 46. - — — charity, 46. - - V. - - VACCINATION— - Negligence of physician, 22. - - VISITS— - Physician best judge of number, 23. - As a friend, 24. - - VOLUNTEER— - Held more strictly than one called in, 65, 66. - - W. - - WIFE— - May generally bind husband to pay doctor, 35, 36. - But husband may select physician, 36. - Cannot bind him for clairvoyant services, 36. - Selling deleterious drugs to, 186. - - WILL— - In favour of medical man, 141, 142. - - WITNESS—_See_ EXPERTS. - Fees to medical men, 26, 37. - - WOMEN PHYSICIANS— - Among the Druids, 2. - In England in early times, 2, 3, 10, 14. - Penalty for practising, 7. - In Greece and foreign lands, 13. - In United States, 14. - In England under the Medical Act, 14. - In Ontario, 14. - As liable for negligence as men, 61. - - - - -Printed for the Publishers by MOORE & CO., 20 Adelaide Street East, -Toronto. - - - - -ENDNOTES. - - -[1] The Faërie Queene, b. III., cap. 5, sts. 31, 32, 33. - -[2] 32 Henry VIII., cap. 42. - -[3] 21 & 22 Vic. cap. 90. - -[4] 3 Henry VIII. cap. 11. - -[5] _Rose_ v. _Coll. of Phy._, 3 Salk. 17: 6 Mod. 44. - -[6] 55 Geo. III. cap. 194. sec. 5. - -[7] _Apoth. Co._ v. _Lotinga_, 2 Moo. & R. 499; Glenn’s Laws Affecting -Medical Men, p. 207. - -[8] True Blue Laws of Connecticut, by J. H. Trumbull, 1876. - -[9] Prof. H. C. Bolton, _Pop. Sci. Monthly_, vol. 18 p. 191. - -[10] 3 Ortolan, Expli. des Instituts, sec. 1199, quoted in Ordronaux’s -Jurisprudence of Medicine. - -[11] _Poucher_ v. _Norman_, 3 B. & C. 744; _Chorley_ v. _Bolcot_, 4 T. -R. 317; _Veitch_ v. _Russell_, 3 Q. B. 925. - -[12] _Battersby_ v. _Lawrence_, Car. & M. 277. - -[13] Per _Bramwell, B._; _Ellis_ v. _Kelly_, 6 H. & N. 226; _Allison_ -v. _Haydon_, 3 C. & P. 246; _Apothecaries Co._ v. _Lotinga_, 2 Moo. & -R. 495: _Battersby_ v. _Lawrence_, Car. & M. 277. - -[14] _Gensham_ v. _Germain_, 11 Moore 1; _Towne_ v. _Gresley_, 3 C. & -P. 581; _Handey_ v. _Henson_, 4 C. & P. 110; _Morgan_ v. _Hallen_, 8 -Ad. & E. 489. - -[15] Stair I. 12; 5. - -[16] _Adams_ v. _Stevens_, 26 Wend. 451. - -[17] 21 & 22 Vict. cap. 90, sec. 27; _Simpson_ v. _Dismore_, 9 M. & W. -47; R. S. Ont. cap, 142, secs, 35–36. - -[18] _Hewitt_ v. _Wilcox_, 1 Met. 154. - -[19] _Adams_ v. _Stevens_, 26 Wend. 451; _Baxter_ v. _Gray_, 4 Scott, -N. R. 374; _Mock_ v. _Kelly_, 3 Ala. 387; _Beekman_ v. _Planter_, 15 -Barb. 550; _McPherson_ v. _Chedell_, 24 Wend. 15; _Simmons_ v. _Means_, -8 Sm. & Marsh, 397; _Smith_ v. _Watson_, 14 Vt. 322. - -[20] Ordronaux, sec. 39; Willcocks on the Medical Profession, p. 111. - -[21] _Tuson_ v. _Batting_, 3 Esp. N. P. 192; _Baxter_ v. _Gray_, 4 -Scott, N. R. 374. - -[22] Affaire Tallien Jour. du Palais, vol. 3; An. XI., XII. p. 210. - -[23] _Collins_ v. _Grady_, 13 Louis. An. 95; 2 Louis. 331. - -[24] _People_ v. _Monroe_, 4 Wend. 200; _Blogg_ v. _Parkers_, Ry. & M. -N. P. C. 125. - -[25] Story on Bailments, sec. 375. - -[26] _Farnsworth_ v. _Garrard_, 1 Camp. 38; _Adler_ v. _Buckley_, 1 -Swan (Tenn.) 69; _Gallagher_ v. _Thompson_, Wright (Ohio), 466. - -[27] _Basten_ v. _Butter_, 7 East, 479. - -[28] _Adler_ v. _Buckley_, 1 Swan (Tenn.), 69. - -[29] _Hill_ v. _Featherstonhaugh_, 7 Bing. 574; _Seare_ v. _Prentise_, -8 East, 350. - -[30] _Duffit_ v. _James_, cited _Baston_ v. _Butter_, 7 East, 480; -_Kannen_ v. _McMullen_, 1 Peake, 85; _Bellinger_ v. _Craigue_, 31 Barb. -534; _Long_ v. _Morrison_, 14 Ind. 595. - -[31] _Kannen_ v. _McMullen_, 1 Peake, 83; _Hupe_ v. _Phelps_, 2 -Starkie, 424. - -[32] _Piper_ v. _Menifee_, 12 B. Monr. 467. - -[33] Ordronaux p. 92. - -[34] _Landon_ v. _Humphrey_, 9 Conn. 209. - -[35] Peake’s N. P. C. 83, 84. - -[36] _Hughes_ v. _Hampton_, Const. Rep. (S. C.) 745. - -[37] _Wheeler_ v. _Sims_, 5 Jur. 151; _Newton_ v. _Ker_, 14 Louis. An. -704. - -[38] _Tuson_ v. _Batting_, 3 Esp. 191. - -[39] _Miller_ v. _Beal_, 26 Ind. 234. - -[40] _Collins_ v. _Graves_, 13 Louis. An. 95; _Villalobas_ v. _Mooney_, -2 Louis. 331. - -[41] _Todd_ v. _Myers_, 40 Cal. 357. - -[42] _Succession of Duclos_, 11 Louis. An. 406; _Sheldon_ v. _Johnson_, -40 Ia. 84; _Guerard_ v. _Jenkins_, 1 Strobh. 171; Ordronaux, sec. 47. - -[43] _Roberts_ v. _Kerfoot_, cited Glenn’s Laws, p. 201; _Stackman_ v. -_Vivian_, 34 Beav. 290. - -[44] Ordronaux, sec. 43. - -[45] _Bassett_ v. _Spofford_, 11 N. H. 167. - -[46] _Smith_ v. _Hyde_, 19 Verm. 54; _Mock_ v. _Kelly_, 3 Alab. 387; -Jones on Bailm. 99; Ordronaux, secs. 21 and 15. - -[47] _McClallen_ v. _Adams_, 19 Pick, 333; Ordronaux, sec. 48. - -[48] _Parkinson_ v. _Atkinson_, 31 L. J., C. P. 199; _Turner_ v. -_Turner_, 5 Jur., N. S., 839. - -[49] _Clark_ v. _Gill_, 1 Kay & J. 19; _Webb_ v. _Paige_, 1 Car. & Kir. -23. - -[50] _Hammond_ v. _Stewart_, 1 Stra. 510. - -[51] _In re Askin & Charteris_, 13 U. C. R. 498. - -[52] _In re Harbottle & Wilson_, 30 U. C. R. 314. - -[53] R. S. O. cap. 79, sec. 10. - -[54] Iowa Code, 1873, sec. 1814; North Carolina Laws, 1871, cap. 139, -sec. 13; Rhode Is. Pub. Stat. 1882, p. 733; Indiana Rev. Stat. 1881, p. -94, sec. 504. - -[55] _Belts_ v. _Clifford_, Warwick Assizes, Lent, 1858. - -[56] _Webb_ v. _Paige_, 1 Car. & Ker. 23. - -[57] _Buchman_ v. _State_, 59 Ind. 1. - -[58] In _Re Roelker_. 1 Sprague, 276. - -[59] _People_ v. _Montgomery_, 13 Abb. Pr. (N. S.), 207. - -[60] Juris. of Med. secs. 114–116; 1 Tay. Med. Jur. p. 19; 2 Phil. Ev. -4th Am. Ed., p. 828; 1 Redf. on Wills, pp. 154–155. - -[61] Exparte _Dement_, 53 Ala. 389. - -[62] _Summer_ v. _State_, 5 Tex. Ct. of App. 574. - -[63] Smith on Contracts, 85. - -[64] _Bradley_ v. _Dodge_, 45 How., N. Y., Pr. 57; _Craine_ v. -_Bandoine_, 65 Barb., N. Y., 261; _Harrison_ v. _Grady_, 13 L. T., N. -S., 369; _Spaun_ v. _Mercer_, 8 Neb., 537. - -[65] _Watling_ v. _Walters_, 1 C. & P. 132. - -[66] _Boyd_ v. _Sappington_, 6 Watts, 247. - -[67] _Smith_ v. _Watson_, 14 Vt. 332. - -[68] _Harrison_ v. _Grady_, 13 L. T., N. S. 369; _Cooper_ v. _Lloyd_, 6 -C. B., N. S. 519; Roper on Husband and Wife, 2nd ed. v. ii. p. 114. - -[69] _Harrison_ v. _Grady_, supra; _Thorpe_ v. _Shapleigh_, 67 Me. 235. - -[70] _Webber_ v. _Spaunpake_, 2 Redf., N. Y., 258. - -[71] _Berier_ v. _Galloway_, 71 Ill. 517; _Hartmann_ v. _Tegart_, 12 -Kan. 177. - -[72] _Potter_ v. _Virgil_, 67 Barb. N. Y., 578. - -[73] _Wood_ v. _O’Kelley_, 8 Cush. 406. - -[74] Parsons on Contracts, vol. i. p. 302–303; _Blackburn_ v. _Mackey_, -1 C. & P. 1. - -[75] _Crantz_ v. _Gill_, 2 Esp. 471. - -[76] _Rogers_ v. _Turner_, 59 Mo. 116; _Deane_ v. _Annis_, 14 Me. 26; -_Swain_ v. _Tyler_, 26 Vt. 1. - -[77] _Cooper_ v. _Phillips_, 4 C. & P. 581. - -[78] 31 & 32 Vict. cap. 122, sec. 37. - -[79] _Reg._ v. _Downes_, 1 Q. B. D. 25. - -[80] _Reg._ v. _Hines_, 80 Cen. C. C. Sess. Pap. 309; _Reg._ v. -_Wagstaffe_, 10 Cox. C. C. 530. - -[81] _Reg._ v. _Morby_, 8 Q. B. D. 571. - -[82] _Blackburn_ v. _Mackey_, 1 C. & P. 1; _Hoyt_ v. _Casey_, 14 Mass. -397. - -[83] _Wennall_ v. _Adney_, 3 B. & P. 24; _Sellen_ v. _Norman_, 4 C. & -P. 80. - -[84] _Cooper_ v. _Phillips_, 4 C. & P. 581. - -[85] _R._ v. _Smith_, 8 C. & P. 153. - -[86] Glenn’s Law of Medical Men, pp. 197–199. - -[87] _Cox_ v. _Midland Counties Railway_, 3 Ex. 268; _Cooper_ v. _N. Y. -C._ 13 N. Y. Sup. Ct. 276. - -[88] _Walker_ v. _Great Western Railway_, 2 L. R. Ex. 228; _Cairo, -etc., Railroad Company_ v. _Mahoney_, 82 Ill. 73; _Stephenson_ v. _N. -Y. & H. R. R. Co._, 2 Duer. 341. - -[89] Per Parke, B., and Rolfe, B., in _Cox_ v. _Mid. Co. Railway_, -supra. - -[90] _Corsi_ v. _Maretzck_, 4 E. D. Smith 1 (1855). - -[91] 21 & 22 Vict. cap. 90, secs. 31, 32; _Wagstaffe_ v. _Sharpe_, 3 M. -& W. 521; _Shearwood_ v. _Hay_, 5 Ad. & E. 383; _Turner_ v. _Reynall_, -14 C. B. N. S. 328. - -[92] 21 & 22 Vict. cap. 90, sec. 15. - -[93] Enc. Brit. Vol. xv. p. 799. - -[94] R. S. O. cap. 142. - -[95] _Reg._ v. _Coll. Phy. & Sur._, 44 Ont. Q. B. 564. - -[96] _Reg._ v. _Hessel_, 44 Ont. Q. B. 53 _Reg._ v. _Campbell_, Q. B. -D. (Ont.) June, 1883. - -[97] _Reg._ v. _Tefft_, 45 Ont. Q. B. 144. - -[98] _Wilmot_ v. _Shaw_, 2 C. L. Times, 96. - -[99] _Reg._ v. _Coll. P. & S._ 16 C. L. J. 30; R. S. O. cap. 142, sec. -23. - -[100] _Re Heinemann’s Appeal_, 96 Pa. St. 112. - -[101] Ordronaux’s Inst. of Med., secs. 5 and 6; _Sutton_ v. _Tracy_, 1 -Mich. 243. - -[102] N. Y. Laws, cap. 436. - -[103] _Corsi_ v. _Maretzek_, 4 E. D. Smith, 1. - -[104] _Bradbury_ v. _Bardin_, 35 Conn. 577. - -[105] _Bowman_ v. _Woods_, 1 Iowa, 441. - -[106] _Smith_ v. _Lane_, 24 Hun, 632. - -[107] _Bibber_ v. _Simpson_, 59 Me. 181; _Thistleton_ v. _Frewer_, 31 -L. J. Ex. 230. - -[108] _Patten_ v. _Wiggin_, 51 Me. 594. - -[109] _Bowman_ v. _Woods_, 1 Iowa, 441. - -[110] _Horton_ v. _Green_, 64 N. C. 64. - -[111] Ordronaux, sec. 8. - -[112] _Sutton_ v. _Tracy_, 1 Mich. 243; _Reynolds_ v. _Graves_, 3 Wisc. -416. - -[113] _Langdon_ v. _Mut. Life Ins. Co._, 5 Hun. N. Y. 1. - -[114] Per Cur., in _Dr. Greonvelt’s_ case, 1 Lord Ray, 213. - -[115] Glenn, p. 251; Addison on Torts, Ed. 3rd, p. 17. - -[116] Glenn, p. 252; Erle, C.J., _R._ v. _Noakes_, 4 F. & F. 920. - -[117] _Gardiner_ v. _Heartt_, 3 Denio, 232–236; McClelland’s Civil -Malpractice, cap. 17. - -[118] Wharton on Negligence, sec. 3. - -[119] _Carpenter_ v. _Blake_, 60 Barb. 488. - -[120] McClelland, cap. 17. - -[121] Wharton, sec. 731. - -[122] _Wilmot_ v. _Howard_, 32 Vt. 447; _Long_ v. _Morrison_, 14 Ind. -595; _Patten_ v. _Wiggin_, 51 Me. 594. - -[123] _Hancke_ v. _Hooper_, 7 C. & P. 81. - -[124] _Patten_ v. _Wiggin_, 51 Me. 594. - -[125] _Leighton_ v. _Sargent_, 7 Fost. 460; _Simonds_ v. _Henry_, 39 -Me. 155; _Hancke_ v. _Hooper_, 7 C. & P. 81; _McCandless_ v. _McWha_, -22 Pa. St. 261; _Carpenter_ v. _Blake_, 60 Barb. 488; _Utley_ v. -_Burns_, 70 Ill. 162; _Barnes_ v. _Means_, 82 Ill. 379. - -[126] _Heath_ v. _Gibson_, 3 Oregon, 64. - -[127] _Slater_ v. _Baker_, 2 Wils. 359; _McCandless_ v. _McWha_, sup.; -Wh. and Still. Medic. Juris. sec. 1087. - -[128] Bouvier’s Institutes, secs. 1004–1005. - -[129] Ordronaux’s Jurisp. of Medicine, sec. 23. - -[130] _Rich_ v. _Pierpoint_, 3 F. & F. 35. - -[131] Wharton on Negligence, sec. 734. - -[132] Ordronaux, sec. 22. - -[133] Wharton on Negligence, sec. 640. - -[134] _Small_ v. _Howard_, 128 Mass. 131; _Hathorn_ v. _Richmond_, 48 -Vt. 557. - -[135] Woodward, J., in _McCandless_ v. _McWha_, 22 Pa. Rep. 261. - -[136] _Mich. Cent. Rw._ v. _Hasseneyer_, 48 Mich. 205; _Fox_ v. -_Glastonbury_, 29 Conn. 204. - -[137] Shearman & Red., sec. 432. - -[138] _Patten_ v. _Wiggen_, 51 Me. 594. - -[139] _Rich_ v. _Pierpoint_, per Erle, C.J., 3 F. & F. 35. - -[140] _Carpenter_ v. _Blake_, 60 Barb. 488. - -[141] Ordronaux’s Jur. of Med., sec. 68. - -[142] _Potter_ v. _Warner_, 91 Pa. St. 362; 36 Am. Rep. 668. - -[143] _Bowman_ v. _Woods_, 1 Greene (Iowa), 441; _Corsi_ v. _Maretzek_, -4 E. D. Smith, 1. - -[144] _Sutton_ v. _Tracy_, 1 Mich. 243. - -[145] _Mertz_ v. _Detweiler_, 8 W. & Serg. 376; _Seare_ v. _Prentice_, -8 East, 348; _Carpenter_ v. _Blake_, 60 Barb. 518. - -[146] _Hunter_ v. _Blount_, 27 Ga. 76; _Leighton_ v. _Sargent_, 7 -Foster, N. H. 476. - -[147] Wharton on Negligence, sec. 29. - -[148] _Hood_ v. _Grimes_, 13 B. Monr. 188. - -[149] _Ruddock_ v. _Lowe_, 4 F. & F. 519; _R._ v. _Simpson_, 4 C. & P. -407, note. - -[150] Shearman & Redfield on Negligence, sec. 432; _Ritchey_ v. _West_, -3 Ill. 385; _Shiells_ v. _Blackburne_, 1 H. Bl. 159; _Wilson_ v. -_Brett_, 11 M .2 & W. 113; _Pippin_ v. _Shepherd_, 11 Price, 400. - -[151] Wharton on Negligence, sec. 731 n. - -[152] Jur. of Med. sec. 27. - -[153] _R._ v. _Macleod_, 12 Cox. C. C. 534. - -[154] _Perionowsky_ v. _Freeman_, 4 F. & F. 977. - -[155] _Shiells_ v. _Blackburne_, 1 H. Bl. 159. - -[156] _Boynton_ v. _Somersworth_, 58 N. H. 321. - -[157] McClelland, Civil Malpractice; Wharton on Negligence, sec. 737; -_Leighton_ v. _Sargent_, 7 Fost. 460; _McCandless_ v. _McWha_, 22 Pa. -St. 261. - -[158] _Geiselman_ v. _Scott_, 25 Oh. St. 86. - -[159] _Parker_ v. _Adams_, 12 Metc. 417. - -[160] _Hibbard_ v. _Thompson_, 109 Mass. 286. - -[161] _Cleveland, etc., Rw._ v. _Terry_, 8 Oh. St. 570. - -[162] _Ch. & R. I. Rw._ v. _McKean_, 40 Ill. 218; _Eakin_ v. _Brown_, 1 -E. D. Smith, 36. - -[163] _Clark_ v. _Kerwin_, 4 E. D. Smith, 21; _Parker_ v. _Adams_, 12 -Mete 417. - -[164] _Kerwhaker_ v. _Cleveland, etc., Rw._ 3 Oh. 172; _Ind. and Cin. -Rw._ v. _Caldwell_, 9 Ind. 397. - -[165] _Ch. etc., Rw._ v. _Goss_, 17 Wisc. 428. - -[166] Chapman, C.J., _Hibbard_ v. _Thompson_, 109 Mass. 288. - -[167] _Gramm_ v. _Boener_, 56 Ind. 497. - -[168] _Fisk_ v. _Wait_, 104 Mass. 71. - -[169] _People_ v. _N. Y. Hospital_, 3 Abb. N. C. 229. - -[170] _Chamberland_ v. _Morgan_, 68 Penn. St. 168. - -[171] _Wilmot_ v. _Howard_, 39 Vt. 447. - -[172] _Perionowsky_ v. _Freeman_, 4 F. & F. 977. - -[173] _Potter_ v. _Warner_, 91 Penn. St. 362. - -[174] _Slater_ v. _Baker_, 2 Wils. 359. - -[175] _Carpenter_ v. _Blake_, 60 Barb. 488. - -[176] _Hunter_ v. _Ogden_, 31 U. C. R. 132. - -[177] _Carpenter_ v. _Blake_, Sup. - -[178] _Ballon_ v. _Prescott_, 64 Me. 305. - -[179] Ordronaux, sec. 14; Shearman & Red., sec. 441. - -[180] _Longmeid_ v. _Holliday_, 6 Ex. 767. - -[181] _Pippin_ v. _Sheppard_, 11 Price, 400. - -[182] _Gladwell_ v. _Steggall_, 5 Bing. N. C. 733. - -[183] Wharton on Negligence, sec. 735. - -[184] _Craig_ v. _Chambers_, 17 Ohio St. 253. - -[185] _Fields_ v. _Rutherford_, 29 (Ont.) C. P. 113; _Metropolitan R. -W. Co._ v. _Jackson_, L. R. 3 App. 193, 197. - -[186] _Fawcett_ v. _Mothersell_, 14 C. P. (Ont.) 104; _Jackson_ v. -_Hyde_, 28 U. C. R. 295. - -[187] Ordronaux, sec. 54. - -[188] Ordronaux, sec. 86. - -[189] _Jones_ v. _Northmore_, 46 Vt. 587. - -[190] _Whalen_ v. _St. Louis, etc., Ry._, 60 Mo. 323; _Indianapolis, -etc., Ry._ v. _Gaston_, 58 Ind. 224; _Leighton_ v. _Sargent_, 11 -Foster, N. H. 120. - -[191] _Johnson_ v. _Wills_, 6 Nev. 224. - -[192] _Curtis_ v. _Rochester & S. Ry._ 20 Barb. 282. - -[193] L. R., 4 Q. B. D. 407. - -[194] L. R., 5 C. P. D. 280. - -[195] _Holmes_ v. _Halde_, 74 Me. 28. - -[196] _Jenkins_ v. _French_, 58 N. H. 532; Broom’s Maxims, 702. But see -_Hegerich_ v. _Keddie_, 32 Hun, 141; _Yertore_ v. _Wiswall_, 16 How. -Pr. 8. - -[197] Lord Campbell’s Act, 9 & 10 Vict. cap. 93; R. S. O. cap. 128; -_Lett_ v. _St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rw._, 1 Ont. Rep. 545; _Blake_ v. -_Midland Rw._, 18 Q. B. 93; _Bradburn_ v. _G. W. R._, L. R., 10 Ex. 3. - -[198] _Morse_ v. _Auburn & S. Rw._, 10 Barb. 623. - -[199] Glenn, p. 259 - -[200] _R._ v. _Long_, 4 C. & P. 398; _R._ v. _Crick_, 1 F. & F. 519. - -[201] 4 Coke Inst. 251; 4 Bla. Com. 197; 1 Hale, P. C. 429. - -[202] _Rex_ v. _Van Butchell_, 3 C. & P. 629; _Rice_ v. _The State_, 8 -Mo. 561; _Com._ v. _Thompson_, 6 Mass. 134. - -[203] _Rex_ v. _Webb_, 1 M. & Rob. 405, See also _Rex_ v. _Simpson_, 4 -C. & P. 407 n. - -[204] Bolland, B., in _Rex_ v. _Spiller_, 5 C. & P. 19; _Lamphier_ v. -_Philpot_, per Tindal, C.J, 8 C. & P. 575. - -[205] Per Coleridge, J.; _Rex_ v. _Spilling_, 2 M. & Rob. 107. - -[206] _R._ v. _Chamberlaine_, 10 Cox, C. C. 486; Blackburn, J. - -[207] _State_ v. _Shulz_, 55 Ia. 628. - -[208] _Rex_ v. _Williamson_, 3 C. & P. 635; 14 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 297. - -[209] Cap. 4, sec. 16. - -[210] _Rex_ v. _St. John Long_, 4 C. & P. 378; 19 Eng. Com. Law Rep. -404. - -[211] Wharton on Homicide, sec. 148. - -[212] _Rex_ v. _St. John Long_, 4 C. & P. 423; 19 E. C. L. R. 440. - -[213] _Rice_ v. _The State_, 8 Mo. 561. - -[214] Ordronaux, secs. 80, 77. But see _R._ v. _Nancy Simpson_, 4 C. & -P. 407 n. - -[215] _Rex_ v. _Markuss_, 4 F. & F. 356. - -[216] 38 Ark. 605. - -[217] _Com._ v. _Thompson_, 6 Mass. 134. - -[218] _Rice_ v. _State_, 8 Mo. 561. - -[219] 55 Iowa, 698. - -[220] _R._ v. _Webb_, 1 M. & R. 405; Wharton on Homicide, sec. 405. - -[221] _R._ v. _Lee_, 4 F. & F. 63; _Com._ v. _McPike_, 3 Cush. 181; -_Com._ v. _Hackett_, 2 Allen, 137; Wharton on Homicide, sec. 385. - -[222] Wharton on Homicide, sec. 554. - -[223] Wharton on Homicide, sec. 557. - -[224] Medical Jurisprudence, sec. 1059. - -[225] _Duchess of Kingston’s Case_, 20 Howell St. Tr. 573; _Wilson_ v. -_Rastall_, 4 T. R. 760; _Greenough_ v. _Gaskill_, 1 Myl. & K. 103; _R._ -v. _Gibbons_, 1 C. & P. 97; _Broad_ v. _Pitt_, 3 C. & P. 579. - -[226] _Duchess of Kingston’s Case_, supra. - -[227] Belloc. Cours de Med. leg. 17. - -[228] 1 Greenleaf on Evidence, sec. 248; _Campan_ v. _North_, 39 Mich. -606. - -[229] _Harris_ v. _Russel_, 16 Ind. 209; _Staunton_ v. _Parker_, 19 -Hun. 55; _Fraser_ v. _Jenneson_, 42 Mich. 206. - -[230] 2 N. Y. Rev. St. 406, sec. 73; _Hunn_ v. _Hunn_, 1 Thomp. & C. -499. - -[231] _Pierson_ v. _People_, 79 N. Y. 434. - -[232] _Cohen_ v. _Continental, etc., Ins. Co._, 41 N. Y. Super. Ct. -296; _Grattan_ v. _Metropolitan L. Ins. Co._, 80 N. Y. 281. - -[233] _Hewitt_ v. _Prime_, 21 Wend. 79. - -[234] _Edington_ v. _Ætna Life Ins. Co._, 77 N. Y. 564, but see -_Edington_ v. _Ætna Life Ins. Co._, 67 N. Y. 185. - -[235] _Lee_ v. _Hammerton_, 10 L. T.; N. S. 730; _Mahony_ v. _Nat. -Widow’s Life Assurance Fund_, L. R. 6 C. P. 252; _Baker_ v. _London & -S. W. Railway_, L. R. 3 Q. B. 91; _Cossey_ v. _L. B. & C._, L. R. 5 C. -P. 146; _Skinner_ v. _G. N. R._, L. R. 9 Ex. 298. - -[236] _Aveson_ v. _Lord Kinnaird_, 6 East 188; Taylor on Evidence, -secs. 580, 581, 7th ed. - -[237] _Bacon_ v. _Charlton_, 7 Cush. 586; _Chapen_ v. _Marlborough_, 9 -Gray 244; _Barber_ v. _Merriam_, 11 Allen 322. - -[238] _Kennard_ v. _Burton_, 25 Me. 39; _Gray_ v. _McLaughlin_, 26 Ia. -279; _Brown_ v. _N. Y. C._, 32 N. Y. 597; _Caldwell_ v. _Murphy_, 11 N. -Y. 344; _Barber_ v. _Merriam_, sup.; _Denlon_ v. _State_, 1 Swan 279; -_Matteson_ v. _N. Y. C._, 35 N. Y. 487. - -[239] _Chapin_ v. _Malborough_, sup.; _Lush_ v. _McDaniel_, 13 Ired. L. -485; _Rogers_ v. _Cain_, 30 Tex. 284; _Wilson_ v. _Granby_, 47 Conn. - -[240] _Witt_ v. _Witt_, 3 Sw. & Trist. 143. - -[241] _Ill. Cen. R. R._ v. _Sutton_, 42 Ill. 438. - -[242] _Rowell_ v. _Lowell_, 11 Gray 420. - -[243] _Roosa_ v. _Boston Loan Co._, 132 Mass. 439; _Quaife_ v. _C. & N. -W. R._, 48 Wis. 513. - -[244] _Denton_ v. _State_, 1 Swan 279. - -[245] Greenleaf on Evid. sec. 436; Ordronaux sec. 124; Glenn, p. 284. - -[246] _Collier_ v. _Simpson_, 5 C. & P. 73; _Reg._ v. _Thomas_, 13 Cox -Cr. Cas. 77; Redfield on Wills, p. 145; _People_ v. _Hall_, 48 Mich. -486; Rogers on Expert Evidence, sec. 180; _Brown_ v. _Sheppard_, 13 U. -C. R. 178. - -[247] _Bowman_ v. _Woods_, 1 Ia. 44; _Luning_ v. _State_, 1 Chandler -(Wisc.) 264; _Ripon_ v. _Bittel_, 30 Wisc. 362; _Stirling_ v. _Thorp_, -54 Wisc. - -[248] _Con. Mut. Life Ins. Co._ v. _Ellis_, 89 Ill. 516; Expert -Testimony, sec. 182. - -[249] _Com._ v. _Sturtevant_, 117 Mass. 123. - -[250] _Marshall_ v. _Brown_, 15 N. W. Rep. 55. - -[251] _Brown_ v. _Sheppard_, 13 U. C. R. 178. - -[252] _Pinney_ v. _Cohill_, 12 N. W. Rep. 862; _Ripon_ v. _Bittell_, 30 -Wisc. 362. - -[253] _Ashworth_ v. _Kittridge_, 12 Cush. 193. - -[254] _Reg._ v. _Crouch_, 1 Cox Cr. Cas. 94; _Washburn_ v. _Cuddihy_, -8 Gray 430; _Huffman_ v. _Click_, 77 N. C. 54; _Fraser_ v. _Jennison_, -42 Mich. 206, 214; _People_ v. _Wheeler_, 9 Pac. Coast L. J. 581; -_Robinson_ v. _N. Y. C._, 24 A. L. J. 357. - -[255] 46 Conn. 330. - -[256] _People_ v. _Wheeler_, 9 Pac. C. L. Jour. 581. - -[257] See also _Collier_ v. _Simpson_, 5 C. & P. 73; _Ordway_ v. -_Haynes_, 50 N. H. 159; _People_ v. _Anderson_, 44 Cal. 65; _Carter_ -v. _State_, 2 Cart. 617; _Gale_ v. _Rector_, 5 Bradw. 484; _Harris_ v. -_Panama R. Co._, 3 Bosw. 7. - -[258] _State_ v. _Hoyt_, 46 Conn. 330. - -[259] _Harvey_ v. _State_, 40 Ind. 516; _Wade_ v. _De Witt_, 20 Texas -398; _State_ v. _West_, 1 Houston Cr. Cas. Del. 371. - -[260] _Legg_ v. _Drake_, 1 Ohio St. 286. - -[261] Per Loomis, J., _State_ v. _Hoyt_, sup.; _Wade_ v. _De Witt_, 20 -Tex. 398, 400; _Luning_ v. _State_, sup.; Experts and Expert Testimony -by U. C. Moak, 24 A. L. J. 267. - -[262] _Yoe_ v. _State_, 49 Ill. 410. - -[263] _Russell_ on Crimes, 4th ed. vol. iii. p. 250. - -[264] _Higham_ v. _Ridgway_, 10 East 109. - -[265] Taylor’s Evid., vol. ii., sec. 1259; Alison’s Criminal Law of -Scotland, 542; Wharton’s Evid., vol. i. p. 492. - -[266] _Sizer_ v. _Burt_, 4 Denio, 426; _Anthony_ v. _Smith_, 2 Bos. -(N.Y.) 503, 508; _Fraser_ v. _Jameson_, 42 Mich. 206. 223. - -[267] 1 Smith Lead. Cas., 6th Ed. 509; _Kennedy_ v. _People_, 30 N. Y. -245. - -[268] _Chicago, etc._, v. _McGiven_, 78 Ill. 347; _Hartford Pro. Ins. -Co._ v. _Harmer_, 20 Oh. St. 457. - -[269] _Commonwealth_ v. _Rodgers_, 7 Metc. 5, per Shaw, C.J. - -[270] 1 Greenl. Evid., sec. 440; _Jones_ v. _White_, 11 Hump. 268. - -[271] Plowden, 125; Year Books, vol. v. - -[272] _Whittaker_ v. _Parker_, 42 Ia. 586; _State_ v. _Watson_, 65 Me. -74; _Rutherford_ v. _Morris_, 77 Ill. 404; _Tracy_ Peerage, 10 Cl. & -Fin. 191. - -[273] Taylor on Evidence, sec. 50, Ed. 1872. - -[274] Best on Evidence, sec. 574. - -[275] _State_ v. _Wood_, 53 N. H. 484; _Masons_ v. _Fuller_, 45 Vt. 29; -_New Orleans, etc., Rw._ v. _Allbretton_, 38 Miss. 247; _Re Toomes_, 54 -Cal. 515. - -[276] _Fairchild_ v. _Bascomb_, 35 Vt. 410; _Polk_ v. _State_, 36 Ark. -117; _Roberts_ v. _Johnson_, 58 N. Y. 613. - -[277] _Hathaway_ v. _Nat. Life Ins. Co._, 48 Vt. 335, 351; _Fairchild_ -v. _Bascomb_, supra. - -[278] _Castner_ v. _Sliker_, 33 N. J. (L.) 97; _State_ v. _Reddick_, 7 -Kan. 143; _State_ v. _Henkle_, 6 Ia. 380; _State_ v. _Cook_, 17 Kan. -391. - -[279] _Horton_ v. _Green_, 64 N. C. 64. - -[280] _Emerson_ v. _Lowell Gas Light Co._, 6 Allen, 146. - -[281] _Heald_ v. _Wing_, 5 Me. 392. - -[282] _Harris_ v. _Panama R. R. Co._, 3 Bosw. (N. Y.), 77; _Fairchild_ -v. _Bascomb_, 35 Vt. 398. - -[283] _Re Toomes_, 54 Cal. 575. - -[284] Greenleaf’s Evidence, 12th Ed., I. p. 483; _Livingstone’s case_, -14 Grat. 592. - -[285] _Lorg_ v. _First German Congregation_, 63 Pa. St. 156; _Hills_ v. -_Home Ins. Co._, 129 Mass., 544, 551. - -[286] _Lester_ v. _Pittsford_, 7 Vt. 161; _Mendum_ v. _Com._ 6 Rand. -704; _Tullis_ v. _Kidd_, 12 Ala. 648; _Sinclair_ v. _Rourk_, 14 -Ind. 540; _Winans_ v. _N. Y., etc., R. R. Co._, 21 How. (U. S.) 88; -_Boardman_ v. _Woodman_, 47 N. H. 121; _Davis_ V. _State_, 35 Ind. 496. - -[287] _Forgery_ v. _First Nat. Bank_, 66 Ind. 123, 125; _McEwen_ v. -_Bigelow_, 40 Mich. 217; _Kilborne_ v. _Jennings_, 38 Iowa, 533. - -[288] _Mitchell_ v. _State_, 58 Ala. 418; _Forgery_ v. _First Nat. -Bank_, 66 Ind. 123; _Parnell_ v. _Commonwealth_, 86 Pa. St. 269; -_Carter_ v. _Baker_, 1 Sawy. (U. S. C. C.) 525. - -[289] _Tatum_ v. _Mohr_, 21 Ark. 355; _Getchell_ v. _Hill_, 21 Minn. -464. - -[290] Ordronaux Principles, sec. 108–110. - -[291] _St. Louis Mut. Ins. Co._ v. _Graves_, 6 Bush. 290. - -[292] _Corsi_ v. _Maretzek_, 4 E. D. Smith, 1. - -[293] Wharton on Mental Unsoundness, sec. 282. - -[294] _Keith_ v. _Lothrop_, 10 Cush. 453; _Clark_ v. _State_, 12 Ohio, -483. - -[295] Rules Relating to Opinion Evidence, 26 A. L. J. 486; _State_ v. -_Smith_, 32 Me. 370; _Young_ v. _Makepeace_, 103 Mass. 50. - -[296] _State_ v. _Powell_, 7 N. J. (L.), 269; _Davis_ v. _State_, -38 Ind. 37; _Gardner_ v. _People_, 6 Parker, C. C. 202; overruling, -_Wilson_ v. _People_, 4 Park., C. C. 619; _State_ v. _Jones_, 68 N. C. -443. - -[297] _State_ v. _Smith_, Supra; _Regina_ v. _Stitt_, 30 U. C. C. P. -30; _State_ v. _Wood_, 53 N. H. 484. - -[298] _State_ v. _Bowman_, 78 N. C. 509; _State_ v. _Slagh_, 83 N. C. -630. - -[299] _Com._ v. _Sturtevant_, 117 Mass. 122. - -[300] _Newell_ v. _Doty_, 33 N. Y. 83; _Buell_ v. _N. Y. C._, 31 N. Y. -Ct. of App. 314; _Matteson_ v. _N. Y. C._ 62 Barb. 366; S. C. 35 N. Y. -487. - -[301] 11 Allen, 322. - -[302] _R._ v. _Whitehead_, 3 C. & K. 203; _Rich_ v. _Pierpont_. 3 F. & -F. 36; _Twombly_ v. _Leach_, 11 Cush. 405. - -[303] _Mertz_ v. _Detweeler_, 8 W. & S. 376; _Wright_ v. _Hardy_, 22 -Wisc. 368. - -[304] _Leighton_ v. _Sargent_, 11 Fost. N. H. 120; _Williams_ v. -_Poppleton_, 3 Oregon, 139; _Hoener_ v. _Koch_, 84 Ill. 408; _Ramadge_ -v. _Ryan_, 9 Bing. 333. - -[305] _State_ v. _Clark_, 12 Ired. 151; _Page_ v. _Barker_, 40 N. H. -477. - -[306] _Ramadge_ v. _Ryan_, 9 Bing. 335; _R._ v. _Searle_, 1 M. & Rob. -75; _Fenwick_ v. _Bell_, 1 C. & Kir. 312; _Gibson_ v. _Williams_, 4 -Wend. 320; _Morse_ v. _State_, 6 Conn. 9. - -[307] _Kennedy_ v. _People_, 39 N. Y. 245. - -[308] _New England Glass Co._ v. _Lovell_, 7 Cush. 319. - -[309] _Ramadge_ v. _Ryan_, supra; _Campbell_ v. _Richards_, 5 B. & Ad. -840. - -[310] _Reynolds_ v. _Robinson_, 64 N. Y. 595; _Shafer_ v. _Deans -ad’mor_, 29 Ia. 144. - -[311] _Linn_ v. _Sigsbee_, 67 Ill. 75; see _Bradbury_ v. _Barden_, 35 -Conn. 580. - -[312] 2 Taylor’s Evid., sec. 1259; 1 Wharton’s Evid., sec. 492. - -[313] Bost. Med. and Sur. Journ., Feb. 25. 1869. - -[314] Grier, J., in _Winans_ v. _N. Y. & E. R._ 21 How. (U. S.) 88. - -[315] Taylor’s Med. Jur. 6 Am. Ed. 53. - -[316] Vol. i. p. 103. - -[317] Redfield on Wills, vol. i. cap. 3, sec. 13. - -[318] Sec. 195. - -[319] De Divinatione, II. 58. - -[320] _Com._ v. _Rodgers_, 7 Metc. 5. - -[321] Wharton on Mental Unsoundness, sec. 293. - -[322] _Thomas_ v. _State_, 40 Texas, 65; _Parmell_ v. _Com._, 86 -Pa. St. 260; _Jarrett_ v. _Jarrett_, 11 W. Va. 627; _Flynt_ v. -_Bodenhamer_, 80 N. C. 205. - -[323] _Rex_ v. _Searle_, 1 Mood. & Rob. 75; _R._ v. _Offord_, 5 C. & -P. 168; _McAllister_ v. _State_, 17 Ala. 434; _Delafield_ v. _Parish_, -25 N. Y. 9; _Com._ v. _Rodgers_, 7 Metc. 5; _Clark_ v. _State_, 12 Oh. -483; _Davis_ v. _State_, 35 Ind. 496. - -[324] _Puryear_ v. _Reese_, 46 Tenn. 21; _White_ v. _Bailey_, 10 Mich. -155; _Dickenson_ v. _Barber_, 9 Mass. 225. - -[325] _People_ v. _McGann_, 3 Parker Cr. Cas. 272, 298. - -[326] _White_ v. _Bailey_, 10 Mich. 155; _Fairfield_ v. _Bascomb_, 35 -Vt. 398. - -[327] _R._ v. _Richards_, 1 F. & F. 87. - -[328] _Lovatt_ v. _Tribe_, 3 F. & F. 9. - -[329] _R._ v. _Higginson_, 1 Car. & R. 129; _R._ v. _Searle_, 1 Mood. & -Rob. 75; _Malton_ v. _Nesbit_, 1 C. & P. 72; _R._ v. _Wright_, Russ. & -Ry. 456; see also, _Tingley_ v. _Congill_, 48 Mo. 297. - -[330] _R._ v. _Frances_, 4 Cox C. C. 57; _R._ v. _Searle_, sup. - -[331] _Page_ v. _State_, 61 Ala. 18; _Davis_ v. _State_, 38 Md. 41. - -[332] _Fairchild_ v. _Bascomb_, 35 Vt. 398; _State_ v. _Windsor_, 5 -Harring. 512; _U. S._ v. _McGlue_, 1 Curtis C. C. 1; _McAlister_ v. -_State_, 17 Ala. 434; _Woodbury_ v. _Obear_, 7 Gray, 467; _Hunt_ v. -_Lowell Gas Light Company_, 8 Allan, 169. - -[333] 10 Clark & Fin. 200. - -[334] _Com._ v. _Rodgers_, 7 Metc. 5. - -[335] _U. S._ v. _McGlue_, 1 Cur. C. C. 1. - -[336] _Burton_ v. _Scott_, 3 Rand. 399; 27 A. L. J. 148. - -[337] _Com._ v. _Rich_, 14 Gray, 335; _Hastings_ v. _Rider_, 99 Mass. -625; _Russell_ v. _State_, 53 Miss. 36. - -[338] _Heald_ v. _Wing_, 5 Me. 392; _Whetherbee_ v. _Whetherbee_, 38 -Vt. 454. - -[339] 27 Alb. L. J. 126. - -[340] Glenn’s Laws of Med. Men, p. 212. - -[341] _Cawdry_ v. _Highley_, Cro. Car. 270; Godb. 441. - -[342] _Bill_ v. _Neal_, 1 Sev. 52. - -[343] _Flower’s_ Case, Cro. Car. 211; _Wharton_ v. _Brook_, Vent. 21. - -[344] _Southee_ v. _Denny_, 1 Ex. 196. - -[345] _Bergold_ v. _Puckta_, 2 Thomp. & C. N. Y. 532. - -[346] _Johnson_ v. _Robertson_, 8 Port. R. 586; _Poe_ v. _Mondford_, -Cro. Eliz. 620; _Tutty_ v. _Alewin_, 11 Mod. 221; _Secord_ v. _Harris_, -18 Barb. 425; see, also, _Watson_ v. _Vanderlash_, Het. 69. - -[347] _Davis_ v. _Ockham_, Sty. 235; _Edsall_ v. _Russell_, 4 M. & G. -1090. - -[348] _Southee_ v. _Denny_, 1 Ex. 196; _Ramadge_ v. _Ryan_, 9 Bing. 333. - -[349] _Long_ v. _Chubb_, 5 C. & P. 55; _Allen_ v. _Eaton_, 1 Roll. Abr. -54; _Goddart_ v. _Haselfoot_, 1 Viner’s Abr. (S. A.) pl. 12; _White_ v. -_Carroll_, 42 N. Y. 161. - -[350] _Ayre_ v. _Craven_, 2 Ad. & E. 2. - -[351] _Clarke_ v. _Freeman_, 11 Beav. 112; _Ramadge_ v. _Wakley_, cited -9 Bing. 333. - -[352] Odgers on Libel and Slander, p. 50. - -[353] _Hunter_ v. _Sharpe_, 4 F. & F. 983; and see _Morrison_ v. -_Harmer_, 4 Scott, 524. - -[354] _Macleod_ v. _Wakley_, 3 C. & P. 311. - -[355] _Sugoe’s_ Case, Hetl. 175; _Edsall_ v. _Russell_, 4 M. & G. 1090. - -[356] _Rodgers_ v. _Cline_, 56 Miss. 808; _Camp_ v. _Martin_, 23 Conn. -86; _Jones_ v. _Diver_, 22 Ind. 184. - -[357] _Collins_ v. _Carnegie_, 1 A. & E. 695. - -[358] _Skirving_ v. _Ross_, 31 C. P. (Ont.) 423. - -[359] _Ayre_ v. _Craven_, 2 A. & E. 2; _Dixon_ v. _Smith_, 5 H. & N. -450. - -[360] Anon. 1 Ham. 83; _Foster_ v. _Small_, 3 Whart. 138. - -[361] _Clay_ v. _Roberts_, 9 Jur. (N. S.) 580. - -[362] Odgers on Slander, p. 69; _Rutherford_ v. _Evans_, 4 C. & P. 79; -_Collins_ v. _Carnegie_, 1 Ad. & E. 697; _Moises_ v. _Thornton_, 3 Esp. -4; _Wakley_ v. _Healey_, 4 Ex. 53. - -[363] _Van Tassel_ v. _Capson_, 1 Denio. 250; _Kinney_ v. _Nash_, 3 -Comst. 177; _Ayre_ v. _Craven_, sup. - -[364] Glenn’s Laws of Med. Men, 230; _Harrison_ v. _Bush_, 5 El. & B. -344. - -[365] Per Pigot, C.B., in _Bell_ v. _Parke_, 10 Ir. C. L. Rep., N. S., -288. - -[366] _Humphreys_ v. _Stilwell_, 2 F. & F. 590; _Murphey_ v. _Kellett_, -13 Ir. C. L. Rep. N. S. 688. - -[367] _Alpen_ v. _Morton_, 21 Oh. St. 536. - -[368] _Clarke_ v. _Hawke_, 9 Grant, 52; _Denison_ v. _Denison_, 13 Gr. -596; _Hoghton_ v. _Hoghton_, 15 Beav. 299; _Haguenin_ v. _Baseley_, 14 -Ves. 300; Story, I Eq. Jur. sec. 314. But see _Andeureid’s_ Appeal, 89 -Pa. St. 114; _McEwan_ v. _Milne_, 5 Ont. R. 100. - -[369] Law Rep. 1 Ch. 252. - -[370] _Hoghton_ v. _Hoghton_, sup.; _Dent_ v. _Bennett_, 4 Myl. & C. -276; _Cadwallader_ v. _West_, 48 Mo. 483. - -[371] _Clarke_ v. _Hawke_, sup.; _Dent_ v. _Bennett_, sup. - -[372] _Dent_ v. _Bennett_, sup.; _Gibson_ v. _Russell_, 2 Y. & Coll. C. -C. 104; _Popham_ v. _Brooke_, 5 Russ. 104. - -[373] _Cadwallader_ v. _West_, 48 Mo. 483. - -[374] _Allan_ v. _Davis_, 4 De G. & Sim. 133. - -[375] _Billage_ v. _Southbee_, 9 Hare, 534, 540. - -[376] _Peacock_ v. _Kesnot_, 8 L. T. 292; _Wright_ v. _Proud_, 13 Ves. -136. - -[377] _Pratt_ v. _Barker_, 1 Sim. 1. - -[378] _Mitchell_ v. _Homfray_, 8 Q. B. D. 587. - -[379] _Aheare_ v. _Hogan_, Dru. 322. - -[380] _Doggett_ v. _Lane_, 12 Mo. 215. - -[381] _Middleton_ v. _Sherbourne_, 4 Y. & Coll. 358. - -[382] _Jones_ v. _Godrich_, 5 Moo. P. C. 16. - -[383] _Farlar_ v. _Lane_, 29 L. T. 2; _Jones_ v. _Godrich_, 5 Moo. P. -C. 16; _Reece_ v. _Pressey_, 2 Jur. N. S. 380. - -[384] _Greville_ v. _Lylee_, 7 Moo. P. C. 320; _Durnell_ v. _Corfield_, -3 L. T. 323; 1 Robarts, 51; _Major_ v. _Knight_, 4 N. C. 661. - -[385] _Ashwell_ v. _Lomi_, L. R. 2 P. & D., 477. See also _Crispell_ v. -_Dubois_, 4 Barb. 393. - -[386] _Hides_ v. _Hides_, 65 How. Pr. Rep. 17; _Middleton_ v. -_Sherburne_, 4 Y. & Coll. 358. - -[387] _Brown_ v. _State_, 9 Baxter, 45. - -[388] _Seavey_ v. _Preble_, 64 Me. 120. - -[389] 3 Co. Inst. 203; 20 A. L. J. 320. - -[390] _Reg._ v. _Cuddy_, 1 C. & K. 210; _Reg._ v. _Coney_, L. R. 8 Q. -B. D. p. 569. - -[391] _R._ v. _Case_, 19 L. J. M. C. 174; _R._ v. _Stanton_, 1 Car. & -Kir. 415. - -[392] _Rex_ v. _Rosinski_, 1 Moo. C. C. 19. - -[393] _De May_ v. _Roberts_, 46 Mich. 160; 41 Am. Rep. 154. - -[394] _Pennell_ v. _Cummings_, 75 Me. - -[395] _Fletcher_ v. _Fletcher_, 1 E. & E. 420; _Anderson_ v. _Burrows_, -4 C. & P. 210. - -[396] _Hall_ v. _Semple_, 3 F. & F. 337. - -[397] _Scott_ v. _Wakem_, 3 F. & F. 333. - -[398] R. S. O. cap. 220, secs. 8, 9; 16 & 17 Vict. cap. 96, secs. 4 & -5; (Imp. Stat.). - -[399] _Reg._ v. _West_, 2 C. & K. 784. - -[400] _R._ v. _West_, 2 C. & K. 784; _Mitchell_ v. _Connor_, 78 Ky. -204; Russell on Crimes, vol. i, pp. 670, 740; _State_ v. _Dickinson_, -41 Wis. 299. - -[401] Imp. Stat. 24 & 25 Vict. cap. 100, secs. 58, 59; Can. Stat. 32 & -33 Vict. cap. 20, secs. 59, 60. - -[402] _State_ v. _Slagle_, 83 N. C. 630; _State_ v. _Fitzgerald_, 49 -Ia. 260. - -[403] _State_ v. _Gedicke_, 43 N. J. L. 86; _Reg._ v. _Fraser_, 9 Cox -C. C. 228; _Reg._ v. _Hannah_, 13 Cox, C. C. 54. - -[404] _Bradford_ v. _People_, 20 Hun. (N. Y.) 309. - -[405] _Rex._ v. _Burnett_, 4 M. & S. 272; _Rex._ v. _Sutton_, 4 Burr. -2116; _Rex._ v. _Vantandillo_, 4 M. & S. 73. - -[406] 3 & 4 Vict. cap. 29, sec. 8; 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 84, sec. 32. - -[407] 16 Vict. cap. 170, sec. 1. - -[408] _Carson_ v. _State_, Ala. Sup. Ct. Dec. 1881; 25 A. L. J. 366; -_State_ v. _Kansas_, 29 Kans. 384; and see post Druggists. - -[409] R. S. Ont. cap. 142, sec. 34; _Reg._ v. _Coll. of P. & S._, 44 -Ont. Q. B. 146. - -[410] _Boynton_ v. _Somersworth_, 58 N. H. 321. - -[411] _Hitchcock_ v. _Burgett_, 38 Mich. 501. - -[412] 32 Hy. VIII., cap. 42. - -[413] 2 & 3 Wm. IV., cap. 75. - -[414] 32 & 33 Vict., cap. 29, sec. 100. - -[415] 1 Jac. I., cap. 12. - -[416] 1 Russ. on Crimes, 465. - -[417] 3 Inst. 110; 12 Co. 113 a. - -[418] 2 East P. C. 652. - -[419] _Williams_ v. _Williams_, L. R., 20 Ch. D. 659; _Reg._ v. -_Sharpe_, Dea. and Bell, C. C. 160. - -[420] Am. Law T., July, 1871. - -[421] _Guthrie_ v. _Weaver_, 1 Mo. App. 136; 4 Brady, 502; _Wynkoop_ v. -_Wynkoop_, 6 Wright, 293. - -[422] _Bogert_ v. _Indianapolis_, 13 Ind. 138. - -[423] Willcock, cap. 10. - -[424] 2 East P. Cr. 652; _R._ v. _Gilles_, Russ. & Ry. 366, n.; _R._ -v. _Lynn_, 2 T. R. 733; _Reg._ v. _Sharpe_, 1 D. & B. 160; _Reg._ v. -_Price_, L. R. 12 Q. B. D. 247. - -[425] _Tate_ v. _State_, 6 Black. (Ind.) 111; _Com._ v. _Loring_, -8 Pick. (Mass.) 370; _Com._ v. _Marshall_, 11 Pick. 350; _Com._ v. -_Cooley_, 10 Pick. 37. - -[426] 2 R. S. 688, sec. 13. - -[427] 23 Albany L. J. 421. - -[428] R. S. O. cap. 143. - -[429] _Tate_ v. _State_, 6 Black. 111. - -[430] 2 Com. 429. - -[431] _Meagher_ v. _Driscoll_, 99 Mass. 281; _Barnstable_ v. -_Thatcher_, 3 Metc. 243; _Bracegirdle_ v. _Orford_, 2 M. & S. 77; -_Brewer_ v. _Dero_, 11 M. & W. 625. - -[432] _Granger’s Ins. Co._ v. _Brown_, 57 Miss. 308. - -[433] 32 Henry VIII. cap. 42. - -[434] R. S. O. cap. 144. - -[435] _Simonds_ v. _Henry_, 39 Me. 153. - -[436] Glenn’s Laws, p. 251. - -[437] McClelland’s Civil Malpractice, p. 19. - -[438] _Eakin_ v. _Brown_, 1 E. D. Smith, 36. - -[439] _Clarke_ v. _Kerwin_, 4 E. D. Smith, 21: _Parker_ v. _Adams_, 12 -Metc. 417. - -[440] _Keily_ v. _Cotton_, 26 Alb. L. J. 483. - -[441] _Boyle_ v. _Winslow_, 5 Phil. (Pa.) 136. - -[442] Russell on Crimes, vol. I. p. 720. - -[443] Taswell-Langmead, English Constit. History, p. 41. - -[444] _Street_ v. _Blackburn_, 1 H. Bl. 159; _Wilson_ v. _Brett_, 11 M. -& W. 113. - -[445] _Hancke_ v. _Hooper_, 7 C. & P. 81. - -[446] Glenn’s Laws, p. 209. - -[447] Peake’s N. P. C. 83, 84. - -[448] _Piper_ v. _Menifee_, 12 B. Monr. 465. - -[449] _Simonds_ v. _Henry_, 39 Me. 155. - -[450] _Slater_ v. _Balter_, 2 Wils. 359, 362. - -[451] _Lee_ v. _Griffin_, 1 E. B. & S. 272. - -[452] _Maxon_ v. _Perrott_, 17 Mich. 332. - -[453] _Whitcomb_ v. _Reid_, 31 Miss. 567. - -[454] _Gilman_ v. _Andrews_, 28 Vt. 24. - -[455] _Allen_ v. _Davis_, 4 DeG. & S. 133. - -[456] 4 My. & C. 269. - -[457] _Colton_ v. _Thomas_, 2 Brews. 308. - -[458] _Morgan_ v. _Schuyler_, 79 N. Y. 490; S. C. 35 Am. Rep. 543. - -[459] _State_ v. _Holmes_, 28 La. Ann. 765. - -[460] _Mills_ v. _Perkins_, 120 Mass. 41. - -[461] _Klock_ v. _Burger_, 50 Md. 575. - -[462] _Haniline_ v. _Commonwealth_, 13 Bush. 350. - -[463] R. S. O. cap. 145. - -[464] Code of Med. Pol. 332, 333. - -[465] 55 Geo. III., cap. 194, sec, 5. - -[466] 13 B. Monr. 219. - -[467] _Jones_ v. _George_, 13 Rep. 738; Tex. Sup. Ct. (1882). - -[468] Chitty on Contracts, p. 393. - -[469] _Howe_ v. _Young_, 16 Ind. 312; 2 Hilliard on Torts, p. 297, sec. -A. - -[470] _Brown_ v. _Marshall_, 47 Mich. 576. - -[471] _VanBracken_ v. _Fondar_, 12 John. 468; _Jones_ v. _Murray_, 3 -Monr. 85; _Marshall_ v. _Peck_, 1 Dana. 609. - -[472] Ordronaux, secs. 183–184. - -[473] 2 Selden, 397, (N. Y.) - -[474] 2 R. S. sec. 662, 319. - -[475] 2 Car. & Kir. 368. - -[476] _Hansford_ v. _Payne_, 11 Bush. 380. - -[477] _Norton_ v. _Sewall_, 106 Mass. 143. - -[478] _Ibid._ - -[479] _George_ v. _Skivington_, L. R. 5 Exch. 1. - -[480] _Davidson_ v. _Nicholls_, 11 Allen, 514. - -[481] _R._ v. _Noakes_, 4 F. & F. 920. - -[482] 1 Lewin C. C. 169. - -[483] 4 F. & F. 525. - -[484] _Wohlfarht_ v. _Beckert_, 27 Hun, 74: 92 N.Y. 490. - -[485] R. S. O., c. 145, sec. 27. - -[486] Sections, 28–31. - -[487] _Ray_ v. _Burbank_, 6 Ga. 505. - -[488] 56 Geo. III. cap. 58, sec. 3; 31 & 32 Vict. cap. 121, sec. 24; 23 -& 24 Vict. cap. 84, sec. 30. - -[489] _Hoard_ v. _Peck_, 56 Barb. 202. - -[490] _Common._ v. _Ramsdell_, 130 Mass. 68. - -[491] _State_ v. _Laffer_, 38 Iowa, 422; _Common._ v. _Ramsdell_, -supra; _Common._ v. _Hallett_, 103 Mass. 452; _Common._ v. -_Butterrick_, 6 Cush. 247. - -[492] _Nixon_ v. _State_, 76 Ind. 524; _State_ v. _Wray_, 72 N. C. 253; -_Woods_ v. _State_, 36 Ark. 36; S. c. 38 Am. Rep. 22. - -[493] _State_ v. _Knowles_, 57 Iowa, 669. - -[494] _Boone_ v. _State_, 10 Tex. Ct. App. 418. - -[495] See Glenn’s Laws, cap. viii. - -[496] _Jauncey_ v. _Knowles_, 29 L. J. Cha. 95. - -[497] _Mackenna_ v. _Parkes_, 36 L. J. Cha. 366. - -[498] _Turner_ v. _Reynall_, 14 C. B. N. S. 328. See, also, _Reg._ v. -_Tefft_, 45 Ont. Q. B. 144. - -[499] _Anon._, cited 2 K. & J. 446. - -[500] _Farr_ v. _Pearce_, 3 Mad. 74; _Austen_ v. _Boys_, 24 Beav. 598; -2 DeG. & J. 626. - -[501] _McIntyre_ v. _Belcher_, 10 Jur. N. S. 239. - -[502] _Christie_ v. _Glark_, 16 (Ont.) C. P. 544; 27 Q. B. 21. - -[503] _May_ v. _Thomson_, L. R. 20 Ch. D. 718. - -[504] _Dingnan_ v. _Walker_, 33 L. T. 256. - -[505] _Davis_ v. _Mason_, 5 T. R. 118; _Carnes_ v. _Nesbitt_, 7 H. & N. -778; _Sainter_ v. _Ferguson_ 7 C. B. 716; _Hastings_ v. _Whitley_, 2 -Ex. 611; _Haynard_ v. _Young_, 2 Chit. 407; _McClurg’s Appeal_, 58 P. -St. 51; Parsons on Contracts, vol. ii. p. 748. - -[506] _Mallan_ v. _May_, 11 M. & W. 653. - -[507] _Horner_ v. _Graves_, 7 Bing. 735. - -[508] _Mallan_ v. _May_, supra. Generally on this subject, see Glenn’s -Laws, cap. viii. - -[509] Glenn’s Laws, cap. viii. - -[510] _Nickson_ v. _Brohan_, 10 Mod. 109. - -[511] _Hancke_ v. _Hooper_, 7 C. & P. 81. - -[512] _R._ v. _Bennett_, 29 L. J.; M. C. 27; _R._ v. _Tessymond_, 1 -Lewin C. C. 169. - -[513] _Wise_ v. _Wilson_, 1 C. & K. 662. - -[514] _Abernethy_ v. _Hutchinson_, 3 L. J, 209; _Nicols_ v. _Pitman_, -L. R. 26 Ch. D. 374. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - -Original printed spelling and grammar are retained, with a few -exceptions noted below. The corrections suggested in the CORRIGENDA -have been applied. Small caps are changed to all capital letters. -Italics _look like this_. Original printed page numbers look like this: -“|81|”. Footnotes were changed to endnotes, and renumbered 1–514. One -common printer’s error has been corrected silently; fairly often a -short word such as “a” was printed twice on successive lines. Thus, for -example, a sentence on page 99 originally read “And a a very recent -writer says . . . .” - -In the index, ditto marks and white space were used in combination to -indicate words repeated from line to line. In this edition, em dashes -are used instead. Thus the line beginning “Provision made for study -of, in England”, was printed with two ditto marks and white space -sufficient to indicate the first five words repeated; herein rendered -“— — — — — in Canada”. - -Page v. “Practioners” changed to “Practitioners”. - -Page viii. “Connnecticut” to “Connecticut”. - -Page 12. “distingushed” to “distinguished”. - -Page 26. “carlessness” to “carelessness”. - -Page 36. “chairvoyant” to “clairvoyant”. - -Page 58. The quotation beginning in the last paragraph has no closing -mark. - -Page 74. Closing quotation mark added after “for a misfeasance”. - -Page 66. “exibibit” to “exhibit”. - -Page 80. “probablity” to “probability”. - -Page 84. “adminster” to “administer”. - -Page 101. The quotation beginning ‘Again, “where books are thus -offered’ has no closing quotation mark. - -Page 104 note. Unmatched left curly bracket removed from “1 Houston Cr. -Cas. (Del. 371”. - -Page 106. “Uuited” to “United”. Also, “or there probable effect” is -retained because it is in a quotation. - -Page 115. Closing double quotation mark added after ‘are wholly -inadmissible as evidence.’ - -Page 121. This partial sentence: ‘gives the following, “In a case of -alleged child murder a medical witness, being asked for a plain opinion -of the cause of death, said, that it was owing to “atelectasis and a -general engorgement of the pulmonary tissue.”’ was changed to ‘gives -the following, “In a case of alleged child murder a medical witness, -being asked for a plain opinion of the cause of death, said, that it -was owing to ‘atelectasis and a general engorgement of the pulmonary -tissue’.”’ - -Page 126. Closing quotation mark was added to the end of the paragraph -containing the following opening mark: ‘judges replied, “We think’. - -Page 128. “Massachussetts” to “Massachusetts”. - -Page 130. “physican” to “physician”. - -Page 134 note. “(N. S.) 580)” retained despite evident error. - -Page 155. Full stop removed from “chiefly murderers.;”. - -Page 172. “particnlar” to “particular”. - -Page 177. Closing quotation mark added to the end of the paragraph -containing the following opening mark: ‘Court refused it saying, -“Purchasers have to trust’. - -Page 181. “manslaugher” to “manslaughter”. - -Page 184 note. The rightmost right parenthesis was removed from “_Clay_ -v. _Roberts_, 9 Jur. (N. S.) 580)”. - -Page 191 note. “_Christie_ v. _Glark_” is retained; but there is no -mention of this case in the TABLE OF CASES CITED beginning on page vii. - -Page 209, Index, Heading “Parent and Child”. “Liablility” to -“Liability”. - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Law and Medical Men, by Robert Vashon Rogers - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAW AND MEDICAL MEN *** - -***** This file should be named 51293-0.txt or 51293-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/2/9/51293/ - -Produced by Bryan Ness, RichardW, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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