Part 1

Transcriber’s Notes Italic text displayed as: italic Bold text displayed as: =bold=

GOLDEN RULES

MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

STANLEY B. ATKINSON, M.A., M.B., B.Sc.

of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law; a Justice of the Peace for the County of London; Hon. Sec. of the Medico-Legal Society (London).

“GOLDEN RULES” SERIES. No. XVI.

Bristol: JOHN WRIGHT & CO. London: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LTD.

PREFACE.

The science, the art, and the correct estimation of the value of Medical Evidence is the province of Forensic Medicine.

It is hoped that this little book will aid the General Practitioner when he is called upon to offer medical testimony, so that the ancient inquest jury especially may fully appreciate the bearing of the technical facts he narrates. Those who pose as “experts,” should ipso facto be themselves authorities on the matter and the manner of bearing testimony.

STANLEY B. ATKINSON,

10, Adelphi Terrace, W.C.

INDEX.

PAGE

Alleged drowning, uncertainty concerning, 47

— overlaying, uncertainty concerning, 47

— still-birth, uncertainty concerning, 47

Blood-circulation preceding sudden death, 48

Civil actions, the fees in, 44

Common witnesses of facts, 8

Coroner’s court, constitution of, 8

— — the fees in, 39

Criminal proceedings, the fees in, 41

Dead, the examination of, 21

Deglutition and peristalsis preceding sudden death, 48

Drawing up a medico-legal report, 24

Evidence, classes of, 8

— given before entering court, 10