The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-28 00:00:00

that nig "1
„,.•ri ad the post mortem ekarninat ion.
NeVer heard "anYtliihg about the probability of an inqtieat
being held upon the deceased at that time. At the post
mortem examination he took notes of the appearance of the
body. Its appearance was that of a well-grown muictilar man ;
the body was not much wasted by disease ; there was the
mark of a blister on the stomach, another on the back, below
the shoulder-blade, and marks of punishment across the
shoulders, particularly across the right shoulder-blade, but
the skin had quite healed, with the exception of a felt boils.
On opening the chest we found the right lung firmly attached
to the diaphragm. On the left side there were recent •adhe-
sions between the lung and the rib, the pluera was inflamed
and about twelve ounces of fluid had forced into the cavity
of the left pleura, which had the appearance of recent ins
flair mationsandcontainedshreds ()lymph. The lung itself was
gorged with serum, and themusculartissue was softand easily
torn. There was inflammation of all the membranes of the
heart. The inflammation extended a little way along the
pulmonary artery, and over the semi-lunar valves at the
commencement of the heart. The tendons between the left
cavities of the heart were matted together by the
recent infusion of lymph. The pericardium did
not contain more fluid than natural. The liver was
enlarged beyond the margin of the ribs, and there was some
inflammation in the large lobe. The eut:etance of the liver
itself was not unhealthy. I should call it simply an enlarge-
ment of the liver unattended with disease; all the other
vessels of the belly were healthy. Did not examine the
spine. The -head was opened and the membranes of the
brain were found congested. The skin was removed from the
back at his request, to ascertain the nature of the tissue be.
low, and might have been five or six inches, but it might
have contracttd much. All the tissues were perfectly natural
—there was no trace of inflammation (the skin was produced).
He said the true skin was not broken by the flogging, and
was not cut away with the intention of secreting anything,
but to see the nature of the tissue below. The true skin lie
r. peated was not got through. Attributed death principally
to inflammation of the lung membrane of the heart, pluera and
left, lung. Ascribed the cause ofinflammation to the change of
the temperature at the time he was recovering. Tout was
most likely thing he could ascribe it to. Conid not at-
t ibute it to the flagging. A man belonging to the regiment
siied ye4erday from inflammation.
Mr. %VAKLEY explaine I to the witness the reason why he
did not wish him to be present at the second examination of
the body by Dr. Wilson, yesterday ; the jury considered that
the examination should be made by medical gentlemen un-
connected with the regiment,
Dr. Hail then stated that during the whole course of his
military experience he never heard men who had received
corporal punishment complain of pains in the chest. He
had carefully examined the chest of Matthewson, and found
that he did not labour under any inflammation of the chest.
Dr. Reid, Staff Assistant-Surgeon, Graduate of theUoiver-
sky of Edinburgh, and Licentiateof the College of Surgeons of
the same place—Did not see the man during his iite. Had made
post mortem examinations for the last thirteen years. Had
heard the evidence of Dr. Hill, and agreed with him as to
the cause of the man's death, and the appearances of the
b-dy, which he described at length. It was a difficult thing
to determine the cause of inflammation. The punishment had
walling whatever to di) with the cause of death. This was the
first case he had ever with the exception of the case
!nt the man flogged by Governor Wall,of a man's death being
cauQed by flegging.
Mr. Horatio Day, s irgeon, of Isleworth, was then ex-
amined—Never saw the deceased alive, but made a post
mortem examination of the body on the Thursday after the
death, in company wish his partner. No, one else was
present. A post mortem examination had been made before.
Opened the cavity of the chest and abdomen, pits of
which lie found very much decomposed. The heart appeared
smaller than usual, and the muscular fibres softer than usual ;
the lung of the heart was redder than usual, but it might
have been caused by the previous examination of the organ.
The lungs were gorged, and the pleura exhibited in-
flammation. The liver was larger and he thought paler than
usual, but there was nothirg peculiar in the appearance. Had
heard all the evidence, and considered the immediate cause
of death pleuray and pneumonia, caused no doubt from
change of temperature from heat to cold.

Erasmtis Wilson, surgeon, Fellow of the' College of
Surgeons, Consulting Surgeon to 'the St. Pancras Hospital,
and lecturer on anatomy and physiology, in Middlesex
Hospital—Had written works on •" Ht.althy and Unhealthy
Skin." and on the "Anatomy, Physiology, 'and. Diseases of
the Skin." Made a post mortem examination of the back of
the deceased, at Heston churchyard, on Wednesday, the 22d
of July. The body was very much decomposed.
Dr. Hall here, at the request of the Coroner, read his report
to Sir James M'Greggor, which was simply detailed in the
evidence adduced above. They were respectively handed ie.
The examination of Mr. Wilson was then proceeded with,
and be read from a printed statement the result of his investi-
gation. The inflammation existed, though the skin and the
muscles below were pulpy and soft, which had extended so
deep as the lining of the chest. The spine was in great de-
composition, but healthy. Attributed the pulpy softening to
the contraction of the muscles taking place during the agony
of punishment. The report concluded by stating that the
corporal punishment was the cause of the pulpy and dis-
ordered state of the lungs. There could be no doubt that the
man would be alive now, if he had not been flogged.
After some further evidence, the inquest was again ad-
journed.