The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-12 00:00:00

EXAMINATION OF THE BODY.

There was a very large and slough), wound observable
in the perineum, and the scrotum was exceedingly dark
coloured, from ecchymosis. The finger could be passed to
the prostate without difficulty, which was not deeply
situated ; indeed, it was the declared opinion of Dr. Hodg-
kin and Mr. Key, he lied not a " deep perineum." The
cellular tissue throughout the pelvis was easily Incerable,
and this was especially the case with the portion between
the bladder and the rectum, admitting of the passage of
the finger with great facility, and to a considerable dis-
tance. There was a tolerable fair lateral section of the
prostate and neck of the bladder. The `gland itself was
larger than natural, and the portion which is designated
the third lobe, presented a singular appearance, being of
tl.e size of the tip of the little finger, and forming a kind
of valve at the neck of the bladder; part of this third lobe
had a dark-coloured appearance, and it seemed as if some
substance had been resting upon it. The bladder itself
presented nothing remarkable.
The peritoneum lining- the abdominal parietes was highly
vascular, and there was a slight quantity of turbid scrum
in the cavity of the abdomen. Tke kidneys had a mottled
appearance throughout their cortical substance.
There are two or three points in this case to which see
beg :particular attention ; first, the statement of 111 r. B.
Coeper, at the time of the operation, that he " could not
reach the bladder with his finger," as contrasted with the
fact of the bladder being very readily reached in the post-
mortem examination ; the man not having a deep perineum.
Secondly, the circumstance of the finger passing with
facility, between the bladder and rectum to a great depth,
as considered in connexion with another declaration of Mr.
Cooper, that he could not feel the stone with the forceps,
until the time of its extraction, although a sound, passed
into the bladder downwards, from the penis, struck upon
the stone; as was the case also, on one or two occasions,
when a staff was passed at the perinea! opening.
The surface of the calculus was rather larger than the
disc of a shilling, flat, oval-shaped, and apparently consist-
ing of lithic acid.
Our report of the operation of lithotomy at Guy's Hos-
pital, in which Mr:, Bransby Cooper, after employing a
variety of different instruments, extracted the stone at the
end of fifty-five minutes, i—the average max imunz of time
in which this operation is performed by skilful surgeons
being about six minutes; has, as might have been expect-

• The following- passage occurs in John Bell's great
work on surgery :—" Long and Pnurderous operations,
where the surgeon labours for an hour in extracting the
stone, to the inevitAble destroction of the patient."
f The poor fellow, who has lift a widow and six chil-
dren, said, that he " came to town to he operated upon by
the Ncvey' of the great Sir Arstley."
t We hare frequently seen the operation performed by
the senior surgeun of Guy's Hospital in lees than one minute.

ed, excited Iq9 ordinary seneaqon in the toinde of the •
public, as well as among the. open-atm 's prof brethren
An attempt has been made to cell in question tine accuracy
of our report, in a letter signed by a nuniher of the dressers
and pupils of the Borough Hospitals, whielt letter had been
inserted, as an advertisement, in the 7lntes, and also in
the Morning Herald. Some of the young gentlemen who
have aft:lntel their sig natures to this letter, were present at
the operation ; others, wino were not present at the opera-
tion, have nevertheless, with a generosity more charac-
teristic of their age than of their discretion, added the
weight of their se simony to that of the eye-witnesses of the
melancholy exhibition, and volunteered their approbation
of Mr. Bransby Cmo;ner's performance. Upon the value
of this species of te.dimony eve shall make no comment, nor
do we think it material that the document
_to which we
allude is signed, we believe, by not more than one third of
tine number of yowls; gentlemen present ; had they all
signed it, their united opinion of the skill, dexterity,
and self-possession exhibited by Mr. liranehy ceof,„,•
on this occasion, is not likely to influence the judgment of
the profession, whatever it may effect with the public.—
The question to which tine manner en which the Lite ope-
rations was performed is calculated to give rise, is nut a
question between Mr. Bransby Cooper and his pupils, but
it is a question between a surgeon, holding a high and re-
sponsible situation in Guy's Hospital, and the public. Of
Mr. Bransby Cooper's amenity of manners, and kindness
of disposition, we entertain no doubt; and the letter in
question may be regarded as a testimcnial of the estimation
in which a good-natured lecturer is held by the young gen-
tlemen who attend his class. lint the question is not, whe-
ther Mr. Bransby Cooper is is puler among his pupils, but
whether he performed the late operation with that degree
of skill, which the public has a right to expect front a sur-
geon of Guy's H nspital ; whether, in short, the case_pre-
sented such difficulties as no degree of skill could have sur-
mounted in less time, or with less disastrous cones-
queuees ; or whether the unfortunate patient lost his lire,
not because his Cast! was really one of extraordinary diffi-
culty, but because it was the turn of a surgeon to operate,
who is indebted for his elevation to the influence of a cor-
rupt system, and who, whatever may he his private virtues,
would never have been placed in a situation of such deep re-
sponsibility as that which he now occupies, had he not been
the nephew of Sir A. Cooper. This is the question, the only
question, in which tine public is interested ; and if Mr.
Bransby Cooper is desirous of bringing this question to an
issue in a Court of Justice, it will be for Mr. Harrison,
the treasurer of Guy's Hospital, to enlighten the minds, of
the Jury as to the circumstances under which the nephew
of Sir Astley Cooper was elevated to bin; present situation.
lie tine event of au action, we shall most unquestionably
call upon Mr. Harrison to disclose these circumstances to
the jury. In the mean time, we do not ninticipate the
decision cf this question by positively impugning Mr.
Bransby Cooper's skill ; but we contend, as IVO have re-
peatedly contended on fornser occasions, that the inevitable
tendency of making the patronage of hospital sergeoncies
en affair of flintily influence, jobbing, and intrigue, is to
occasion a erred and wanton augmentation of human suf-
fering, and to render frequent such heart-rending specta-
cles, as that which was lately exhibited at Guy's Hospital.
We repeat, that there may, by poseibility, have been
difficulties in this ease, which no degree of surgical skill
could have surmounted in less time, or with greater ability
than Mr. Bransby Cooper exhibited ; and it remains to be
seen whether such difficulties can be shown to have ex-
isted. At present, not a single material fact in our report
is denied, though its general accuracy is vaguely questioned
by the operator's pupils. It is not denied that nearly one
hour elapsed before Mr. Bransby Cooper extracted the
stone. It is not denie I that the operator had recourse to
the multiplicity of instruments enumerated in our report.
It is not denied that the patient was subjected to extraor-
dinary mutferine—euffering which could scarcely fail to
terminate in death ; hut no attempt has been made
to show that this was a case of extraordinary diffi-
culty. It is scarcely worth while to allude seriously to
the document which has been put forth by Mr. Bransby
CoopeCa select pupils. But as these are tine only panegy-
rists tile operator has hitherto procured, we will put a case.
which may enable the public to estimate the value of their
approbation. Suppose it had been stated that, instead of
employing fifty-five minutes in extracting the stone, Mr.
Bransby Cooper had performed the operation in tine usual
time—say, four or five minutes. Suppose it had been
stated that, instead of manifesting great perplexity and em-
barrasement, Mr. Bransby Cooper had exhibited the ut-
most coolness and self-possession ; that the patient ap-
peared to suffer very slightly during the operation, and
was removed frem the theatre with every prospect of a fa-
vourable issue to the case. Let us suppose these, and
similar false representations to have been made in this
Journal ; and we will ask whether any of these young
gentlemen, friendly as their feelings are towards a teacher
whose good nature is matter of greater notoriety than
his science, and interested as they are in obtaining his
good-will, and his certificates to enable them to pass their
examinations at the College before his " uncle," who is
the president of that benighted body—we will ask whether
any of there young gentlemen, some of whom did, and
more than one-third of whom did not see the operation,
woeld have come forward to contradict a favourable, though
a false report. We repeat that we do not, as the case stands
at present, directly and positively, impugn Mr. Bransby
Cooper's surgical skill ; but as none of the material facts de-
tailed in our report have been, or, we believe, can he, con-
tradicted, we do not hesitate to say, that, looking to the cir-
cumstances attending this and other operations pet formed
by this gentleman, in connexion with the circumstances._
we believe that we are justified, and that Mr. Harrison, the
treasurer of Guy's Hospital, knows we are justified in saying,
the extraordinary circumstances 'attending his elevation to
Isis present situation, justice, humanity, the interests of the
medical profession, and the, safety of the public at large, call
alike for investigation. Whether this investigation be of a
judicial character or not, we are indifferent. We are pre-
pared to meet 24c. Bransby Cooper, if he think fit, in a
Court of Justice ; we will meet him in our own person
(for this will not be a case to intrust to a lawyer, however
eminent or highly gifted), and we shall see whether Mr.
Bramsby Cooper will be equally prepared to meet us, the
public, the relatives of the unfortunate patient, and Mr.
Harrison, the Governor of Guy's Hospital.
Sir JAMES SCARLETT said he should now take
the opinion of the Court upon the different counts
and pleas, as to whether it was his or the defend-
ant's duty to begin, urging that it was incumbent on
the part of his client.
The defendant contended the contrary, and cited
the eases of Hodgkins and Holdham, Jackson and
Hescot, and Biddell and Russell, in support of this
proposition.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said that as his de-
cision would probably be made the ground of future
ones, he should not give it without consulting with
his brother Judges. His Lordship retired for that
purpose, and returned in about ten minutes, when
he stated his opinion to be, in which the other Judges
• concurred, that the task of beginning was upon the
defendant.

Sir JAMES SCARLETT trusted that being the de-
cision of the Court, that whatever the termination
of this case might be he should be at liberty to
examine his witnesses, for the purpose of removing
that brand which had been thus thrown upon him.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE did not consider. it
necessary to give an opinion at the present moment
upon that part.
The defendant then rose, and trusted that before
he proceeded to address the Jury the Court would
order all the witnesses to withdraw.

Sir J. SCARLETT had no objection to the with-
drawal of these witnesses who spoke to facts, but
those who were to give opinions he considered
it essential and necessary they should remain in
Court.

After some discussion it was agreed that the wit-
nesses speaking to facts should withdraw, and those
who were to give opinions should remain.
The defendant then addressed the Jury in the
following terms :—May it please your Lordship, and
Gentlemen of the Jury, you have already heard from
the learned gentleman who has opened the plead-
ings, that this is an action instituted against me,
the Editor and Proprietor of the Lancet, for an al-
leged libel of and upon the professional character
of the plaintiff. It is stated that I have published
a report of a supposed operation at Guy's Hospital, falsely
and maliciously, and it is inferred from the "declaration
that no such operation was performed in that Institution :
and that what I have published is nothing
more nor less
than gross calumny. Guy's Hospital, Gentlemen, as yon
must he aware, is an Institution of very great importance,
not only- as an Institution of charity, but one from which
it is expected that there should emanate the first prin-
ciples of our profession, practice in the very first and best
manner. It has attached to it an extensive medical school.
It has lectures there, and a very large attendance of
students. The practice which the students witness in the
Institution is necessarily carried by them to the most dis-
taut parts of the
kingdom. Hence it is of the utmostim-
portance to the public welfare that the practice there in-
culcated should be calculated to promote the interests

of the public, and alleviete, as far as it is possible, the sure
k.rnaze and ndeeries of mankind. Guy's Hospital was
finnidel soh.ly by one individual, Thomas Guy, I think,
in the year 1722 or 1724, who at that period left to the
Institution a sum equivalent to 200,0001., consequently
the funds of that Institution, from the increase that has
taken place in point of value, must be immense. Of course,
it ic great consequence that those funds should- be
appropriatedte of
in the hest manner, that individuals of the
greatest possible skill should be elected to fill its situations,
both medical and surgical, and that it is not fair that those
offices sl,etild be filled in soy other manner than what is
consonant with the intention of the founder and which would
he of the greatest benefit to the public. Mr. 13raneby
Cooper is one of the persons who has been elected to fill
the office of surgeon, and in the duties of his situation he
perfin rued the operation which I published in No. 284, of
my journal. Now it is right that I shoeld state to you,
that the Laura was first published and projected by me,
in 1823. I considered that by publishing the lectures
that were delivered in public institutions, lectures which I
considered as public property, because the individuals who
delivered them were public servants, I considered it would
he of immense consequence to place in contrast the theories
of the different individuels in the lecture-room, and the
praittice in the wards of the hospital. By so doing, the
lecturers were stimulated to a greater exercise of their
duty, for their opinions were laid before the pub_
lie, and they had an opportunity of seeing what
their opinions were, and, at the same time, of seeing whe-
ther the practice used in the wards was a practice of neg-
lect or attention. '['he publication-of Lectures has led to
a good deal of discussion in some other Courts of Law.—
The publication of Hospital Reports has likewise led to
great benefits as regards the public. The public hare thus
the advantages of the opinions of Hospital Surgeons, and
they have to endure the scrutiny of the public, end cannot
hack and halve the Lectures as beinre. Of course, I am
under the necessity of employing a great number of re-
porters, who arc necessarily much distributed over this city.
They are in the practice of taking notes of the cases admitted,
and carefelly registering :all the points connected with
them. The reporters I bare employed, as far As I have
been capable of judging, hare been men of the most ho-
nourable character, and have fulfilled their duty in a very
accurate and conscientious manner. The reports sent to
me I am compelled to rely on, as all editors are, for their
correctness, for it is impossible that an editor can himself
he everywhere—l cannot be at St. Thomas's, St. George's,
and Guy's Hospitals at the same moeuent. The reports,
therefore are transmitted to me regularly from the various
institutions. The report of this operation was sent to me
by a gentleman of very high character, a gentleman whom
I shall summon to the wimess-box before you this day,
who will himself tell you that he witnessed this operation,
Who will state to you that the report is in every respect
correct. That gentleman will assert this openly before the
Court, and I challenge all inquiry, all strict and scrutieizing
investigation, into hie character. I have heard, indeed,
that attempts will be made this day, that some imputations
are h,:eried to be founded on this young man, but
I defy calu.nny, and I court scrutiny. However, you will
be the best judges whether his evidence is entitled to
weight or not. When this r. (Tort was transmitted to
me, as it was of an extraordinary character, and as it re-
ferred to circumstances of a still more extraordinary charaa •
ter, I palm(' before 1 inserted it. I waited, and I did not
publish it in the first publication after it occurred. I
waited till the period of publishing a second one arrived,
and when this report was brought to toe, it cer-
tainly contained some statements against the operator
rather harsher than what had appeared elsewhere.
This gentleman told toe that he considered it his
duty to characterise such an operation by the strongest
terms of reproach. And, Gentlemen, be has assured me,
upon his honour, before I gave currency to the report, that
it was in every respect correct. I considered that I had
no other course to pursue in my public character, than to
present it to the public, whatever the consequences might
be, in the manner I Inure done. Having made a few alte-
rations in it with regard to some of the expressions, and
inserted the words " nephew and surgeon, licensee he is
nephew," (Laughter.) I believe I inserted that and that
only. Gentlemen, I shall not detain you longer, as I have no
doubt that I shall have another opportunity of addressing
you, and that my case will not fail in your bands, as my
Learned opponent has stated. I rather think the Learned
Gentlemen will have ample scope for producing all his wit-
nesses, and giving all the evidence he can adduce, as to the
skill of this Mr. Bransby Cooper. lam therefore in hopes
that the Gentlemen of the Jury will have nn opportunity
of hearing all the evidence. I shall not flinch front my
duty, if it can be proved that this report was in-
coireet, there is nothing will give me greater regret than
to have done any injury whatever to Mr. Bransby Cooper
or any other person. It is not by this that we instruct
the profession, but it is when men come boldly for-
ward to sanction such proceedings that it gives a stain
to the profession which ages can by no possibility remove,
because, when men conic forward and swe•r that this
operation was performed skillfully, I know not what they
will swear ; and you must presume that they are tenable
themselves to perform the operation in any other way.—
With these observations I shall leave the case entirely in
your hands. I shall call a number of witnesses to prove
that this report is in every respect a correct one : and, if
this be so, I shall, of course, he entitled to your verdict.
Alderman Partridge examined by the defendant—l re-
side at Colchester, and ant a Member of the College of
Surgeons; I have been fourteen years in practice at Col-
chester; I have seen many operations in lithotomy, and
hate performed the operation 16 or 18 times. I witnessed
the operation performed by Mr. Braneby Cooper at Guy's
Heepital in March last. I bare seen the report, and when
I read it 1 thought it correct, and since then I have had no
reason to alter that opinion. The patient appeared to be
a very healthy man. I think Mr. Cooper introduced the
staff, but the second incision was made without the staff,
all the instruments having been withdrawn after the first
incision. (The defendant here produced a figure repre-
senting the situation of the patient, wltieh the wit-
ness deposed to as being correct.) The patient re-
mained in that position an hour. During that time the
sound was repeatedly introduced. Several cuts were at-
tempted to be made into the bladder with a knife. The
cutting gorget was introduced, and also a blunt gorget.
The scoop was also intro ;need, and two pair of forceps were
also introduced. The patient called out several times, re-
questing that the:, would leave off and unloose him. The
operator decleeed more than owe that he could not explain
the diffictulty. The operator appeared to be perplexed and hur-
ried in consequence of the delay. He appeared not to have any
Pcientific design. He introduced his finger with considerable
force. He used instruments in the ordinary way, but failed
in lighting upon the atone, which was of course his intention.
The forceps di,' net enter the bladder the first time, and
witness thought the reason was, that the opening was not
sufficiently large, but believes there was an opening from
the appearances which followed. The operator said that
he felt the stone when he passed his staff through the urethra
and could alto feel it when he passed the sound through
the incision in the perineum. lie also said that Ise could
not feel it with the forceps. The reason of this was, that
the forceps, if straight or slightly curved, would pass under
the stone, which was high up in the bladder. Mr. Cooper
tried several times to feel the stone with his finger, and
measured his finger with other gentlemen to see if any of
them had a longer finger. Taking all the circumstances into
consideration, he could not say that Mr. Cooper performed
the operation in a scientific manner. It was not per-
formed in such a manner as the public had a right to
expect from a surgeon of Guy's Hospital. The average
time for performing such an operation is about four or five
minutes. I believe this operation occupied nearly en hour.
Mr. Cooper used the straight staff with n knife. Whe2
the operator found that he could not introduce the forceps
with the fit st intent, he then made a second cut without the
staff, which is a very unusual proceeding. The scoop is
used to extract fragments of a stone, which may have
crumbled off it. There were no fragments in this case.
The longest time I ever saw such an operation occupy,
even in the most difficult cases, was within half an hour.
In these cases there were evident causes why the operation
lasted so long. Those causes were where the stone was
large, and where it would he dangerous to enlarge the
wound for fear of injuring the rectum, and there
the time was lost in drawing at the stone gradually...._
In the operation in question, the stone was a
small one hieing not larger then a common Windsor bean,
flat and round. It might have weighed about two drachms
or less, but certainly not more. Stones weighing several
ounces have been successfully removed. Unless the isucisira '
was large enough to admit the forceps, that instrument
could not lay hold of the stone without also catching the
1 integnmenta of the bladder. The stone lay above the
pubis, for the sound always touched it on being withdrawn,
and it was extracted by pressure above the pubis, and with
a curved forceps. if the operator had been aware of the
situation of the stone, he should have taken these measures
at first. lie should hare ascertained this in the first in-
stance. 1

Cross-examined by Sir J. SCARLETT never saw Mr.
Wakely before this day, nor his attorney in the cause
before last night. Mr. Canary was the assistant-sur-
geon on the occasion, and 'Witness believes hiin to
be a man of skill. Witness has had several cases where
the stone lay aheve the pubis, and has always ex-
tracted it in the manner which was at last successfully
adopted by Mr. B. Cooper. The cut is made in the
perineum, and the objeetia to get the knif into the groove

-r

of the staff, by which time it has penetratPd a pot tion of
the urethra. Then the staff is brought forward into a
parallel position with the knife, and a line with the
bladder, in order to make a larger incision ; the staff is then
allowed to remain, and the finger i 4 introduced in order to
scertain the wound your have mule.

Sir J. SoAm...Ere—Yon then introduce the finger and
feel for the stone, after finding which, yam introduce the
forceps along the finger, and lay hold of the stone.
Witness—No : in order to do that you must make too
large an incision, er else have a most extraordinary small
pair of forceps. At the time of the operation I was sitting
in a chair immediately behind Mr. Cooper. I never saw
Mr. Cooper before that day. I have no doubt but that
the first incision penetrated the bladder. I have read the
report in the Lancet, but I never corresponded with that
publication. I take it in and cool it weekly.
Sir J. SCAALETT here read the sentence where it is
raid that the knife was carried on somewhere, and asked
him whether that word, " somewhere," did not mean to
convey an idea that the knife did not go into the bladder ?
Witness—l think it means to convey an idea that it
might or might not have entered the bladder. Ido not
know whether the operator would be the Lest judge
of whether the forceps entered the bladder or ent
it would depend upon what sort of an operator he
wae.—(A laugh.) I 211!1 not prepared to swear that
the forceps were a second time used with consider-
able force. Would neither swear to, nor contradict it.
I mentioned my opinion of this operation to several per-
sons but I cannot now say to whom.
John Clapham—l am in practice with my father, near
Peterborough. I am a licentiate of the Apothecary's
Company. I have studied two courses of lectures on sur-
gery. I saw the operation in question. The report in
the Lancet is in my opinion correct. The patient ap-
peared to be a favourable subject of operation. On the
withdrawal of the knife the first time a small quantity of •,
fluid escaped. There was no subsequent gush of urine
that witness saw. Mr. Cooper used a knife to en-
large the opening before he used the forceps sue-
cessfully ; but he (Mr. Cooper) attempted to use the
forceps snore than once before he made the second cut.
A good deal of force was used, and the operator did not
appear to be in a state of self-possession. Great force
was used with the hand, and more than one gorget Was
used ; never before saw a gorget used after an incision bad
been made with a knife into the bladder. The operator
said, in the presence of the patient, that he could not un•
derstand the difficulty ; never heard an operator, on any
other occasion, speak of his difficulties in the presence of
the patient. The operator measured fingers with a gentle-
roan present. Never saw an operator act similarly in the
presence of the patient. Mr. Cooper appeared to be con-
fused, and tie was hurried iu his movements. The ace-
rage time of such operations is from four to eight minutes,
and never saw one occupy more than the latter period of time
until the one in question ; never SAW' so much violence
used in any other case, and I think that no patient could
rceover who had been subjected to such violence. I saw
the stone,. and it was not ©a large as a walnut. The parts
appeared to be bruised.
Cross-examined by Sir J. SCAR LETT—I was twenty-one
years of age last January; I am still a pupil of St.
George's Hospital; I carne to town the night before last ;
I have had no questions put to tee, nor have I examined a
model since I came to town ; I am not a reporter to the
Lancet ; I have not performed the operation of lithotomy,
but I have seen several operations; I have seen no opera-
tion at Guy's Hospital, except the one in question ; there
were a great number of persons present, from one to two
hundred.; I was seated the fourth row from the top; I am
a licentiate of the Apothecary's Company ; I am nut 21 ;
my representation of my age was not correct to the Com-
pany.
Sir J. ScAtarrT.—You mean it was false? Witness,
Yes.

Sir J. SCARLETT.-Did ytlu not swear it? Witnet,..--
No, I gave my certificate.
Sir J. SCAALIITL—A re Clergymen in the habit of giving
false certificates? Witnecs—No.

Sir J. ScApassr.---Wherethen did you obtain it.

Tke CIIIEF Jusztca.—No ! I must stop that question,
for I will now state, that whoever obtains his certificate
by means of a false certificate of age, is liable to be indicted
and punished.
The wit/ass then withdrew.

Joachim Gilbert, a Member of the College of Surgeons,
deposed that he witnessed part of the operation, having
been present only thirty-five minutes, because he could wlt
endure to witness the manner in which the operation was
being performed. The operator used great and unneces-
sary violence. The witness described the operation as far
as he witnessed it in nearly the same manner as the pre-
ceding witnesses, but said that the forceps was poked about
in the wound and inserted no less than four times. The
operation was in his opinion very badly and very impro-
perly performed. Has seen the operation performed in
less than a minute.

Cross-examined—ls an assistant to Mr. Phelps at Leo-
sninster, who is married to 3lr. Wakely's sister. Mr.
Phelps resides in Dorset. Did not see the report before it
was printed. The operator used unnecessary violence with
the forcepi.
Sir J. Scaanzrr—As if he meant to stab the man.
Witness—Yee (a laugh.) Was oo the first row of benches.
I went away, not being able to witness the operation out.
I never made any communication to the Lancet, nor do I
know the extent of its Bale. I never petbrmed the oper-
ation of lithotomy. I witnessed many operations in litho
tomy. I think that Mr. Cooper is an umlaut operator,
and that it would be a benefit to the public if he was re-
moved from the hospital.
Sir JAMES ScAunerr—Have yon ever witnessed the
operation of tying the subclavian artery? Witness—l have
heard of the operation, and have seen it performed once by
Mr. Clive.
Sir J. .''ocant.iere—Which .peration do you think re-
quires the greatest skill upon the part of the surgeon, tying
the subclavian artery or lithotomy ? Witness—l should
think the operation of lithotomy requires the greatest skill.
Sir J. SCARLIITT—Then you think it would require no
skill to tie the subclavian artery ? Witness—lt would
require skill to do so, but more skill to perform! the ope-
ration of lithotomy.
Sir J. SCAALETT—Have you attended any lectures since
you came to town ? Witness—No.
Sir J. ScauLnrr —I mean, none at Walrely's.—(A
laugh.) Witness—No : Mr. Wakely called at my
lodgings yesterday morning, and stopped for a few mi-
nutes, but he did not even sit down ; and that is the only
conversation I have had with him since I came to town.
Re-examined by Mr. Wakely—A very ignorant surgeon
might by accident successfully hind the subclavian artery.
John Thomas, Demonstrator of Anatomy at Mr. Slee's
school, in the Borough, deposed, that he witnessed the
operation, and never saw one performed in so unscientific
and bungling a manner. That was his impression at the
time.
Mr. Wakely—Have you ever seen me before to-day ?
Witness : I do not know who you are.
Cross-examined by Sir J. SCAA.LATT--I AM demon-
strator of anatomy at Mr. Sloe's school, No T 1
- "tun-
street, Borough.

Si; J. Scaamtrr—What do yon mean by fe1100) ?-
Witness : I mean a place where pupils are formed into
classes, and where a demonstrator of anatomy is appointed
to teach them that of which he is master and they are ig-
norant.

Sir J. SCARLETT—What Hospital does the school be-
long to? Witness—To the Western Hospital, Mr. Sire is
the surgeon of it. He established it himself about a year
and a half ago. He has two schools, but the one in Dean-
street has twenty pupils, and I have been demonstrator
since October to that school, but not to both.
Sir J. SCARLETT—Suppose the gentleman, who now
examinedpoi, to be the author of the Lancet, I want to
know how it was thut he came to know your opinion on
this Operation? Witness ---I coulees I was rather surprised
at it myself. 1 was not subrenaed till a late hour last
night.
Witn with anamed
eRs--.Yes. In conversationpupil
Itainsford, I made the remark that I had seen the opera-
was performed in a bungling
opera.-
lion, and that I thought it
Sir J. SCAILLETT—Do you know now, how it was?
and unscientific manner. He has told me te-iday that be
communjcated this fact to Mr. Wakeley. I have made
communications to the Lancet. I have made
four—three 0.1
which were inserted. Those com-
munications wen, at long intervals, and I did not
putmade into the bladder, and I staid about 35
incision was
narne:to them. I arrived at the theatre after the
minutes
during which time the operation was going for-
ward. I have been demonstrator at this new school since
last October I was present at three operations in Li..
thotomy at Guy's Hospital.
Mr. Jeffrey Pearl, examined by the Defendant—l Wit-
nessed the operations in Lithotorny, by Mr. 13ransby
Cooper. I have seen the report of it in the Lancet.—
There was nothing whatever incorrect in that report, ex-
cept Mr. Bransby Cooper said, " Give me Sir Ast-
ley'e knife," instead of " My uncle's." There was
not a gush of urine from the bladder, as usual,
but there was a trickling. I sat in about the
middle sow, on the operator's right hand. I could, I
think, at that distauce, distinguish between a small por-
tion of arterial blood, and a mixture of venous blood and
urine—arterial blood comes in bursts. After the staff
and knife were pushed forward, I believe that there is-
sued a small portion of both venous blood and urine.
There jYm not o gull of .quid at say mbuqueut

perin I. I rather think that Mr. Cooper ttempted
to introduce the forceps altor the first ineision, eau;
that failing in being able to do en, he made a stetonr4
incision. The same forceps was introduced repeatedly'
and great force was used. The operator opened and shut
the forceps with great violence. he forceps was a curved
one, and it was pushed in to a considerable distance. The
fluters of the (treater were introduced and turned in the
incision, I have witneesed, I believe, 20 operations in
lith otomy, and none were performed in the same
manner as this. The usual time for the perform-
ance of an operation is flare four to five minutes,
I 83.1- one by Mr. Green, that lasted nearly an hour, but
that was a peculiar case; the
patient hod been operated oretwzre before, and the cicatrix was hard and uneven, and
he lied two very large etones to extract, which crumbled
We innumerable small pieces in the bladder. The time
was there Occupied in removing
theth the fragments. There was
no form used by Mr. Green, and his manner of using the
setup and forceps was decidedly contrary to that of Air.
Cooper. The stone In the case ofa Mr. Cooper was
puoils that he could
about the se of a Windsor bean. Dnring the operation
Mr. Cooper told the patient and
find no earthly reason for the difficulty in removing the
steee. " Hnsb, hush," said he, " I hear the stone, but I
cannot catch it with the forceps." I think, enntinued the
witeess, that he might have taken the stone had Le intro-
duced the forceps scientifically. The sound might feeve
passed through a hole too small to admit the forceps. Mr.
Cooper did not appear to me to be in a state of ser-possee-
' eion, and I think that he used his instrument without
any rational object. The operation lasted about an
hour. I saw the parts after the death of the patient, and
I could not discover any cause in the formation to prevent
the operation from being properly performed. When I
saw the bladder there appealed to me to be two incisions
in it. A portion of the neck of the bladder was between
the two incisions. The incisions woe oblique, and not
horizontal, as ant' incision ought to he in such an operation.
I think it utterly impossible that the patient could
have survived after such an operation as this one.
The bladder appeared to be very thickened from violent
inflatnmation. Bruises in the bladder would be likely to
produce great disorganization and inflammation. I saw Mr.
Bransby Cooper operate, and I should not conceive him to
be a good operator by any means. I hare been a pupil of
Guy's Hospital more titan a year, but am not a member of
the College of Surgeons.
Cross-examined by SirgJAMES SCARLETT—I W3B edu-
cated at Woodbridge under an army surgeon. I curie
tinned to attend Guy's lioepital, and have seen
nearly all the operations there. I read the " Lancet," but
have not contributed reports to it I never saw Mr.
Cooper perform but one skilful operation, which was
tying the seheievian artery. A surgeon mey, with-
out mtiela skill, perform such an operation as
this accidentally. I read the report in the " Lanett,"
on the day it came out, I had no mason to suspect that the
report would appear, but as such operations usually Ara
inserted in it, I thought that perhaps this would. I
was struck with the variance between the report anti
the fact of his saring,—" Sir Astley's knife,"
and not "my uncle's." I therefore remarked the
difference ; when 1 have been around the wards with
him. I have repeatedly heard him say " fetch my
uncle's gargle, or my nncle's mixture." (A laugh in
which Sir Astley Cooper heartily joined.) I can't
say who furnished the Report to the Lancet. I
was introduced to Mr. Wake!), by a Mr. Lambert
at the bowie of the latter gentleman. I remained there
about an hoer. We had a conversation about this case ;
and, upon my oath, I do not know, from that or any other
conversatiou,.'that Lambert had reported the ease for the
Lancet.

This witness was under cross-examination when

we went to press.

WE SHALL GIVE THE CONCLUSION OF THE
TRIAL IN A SECOND EDITION.

CONSISTORY COURT.

attlattv.—titioit v. CROSSLEY, CALLING lIEESELI' LEICH.
This was a snit for a divorce on the ground of bigamy.
The eircomstances of this rule were folly detailed in our
report of the trial at the Old Bailey. It will be recol-
lected that Cromdey wee convicted of bigamy. she had
hem prononneed in contempt in tine Conit, and the libel
was now admitted in pa nom.

A Mrs. Murphy was sworn to-day to give eviderieo in
support of the allegations in the

ADULTERY-DE LA EXUDE T. DE LA 'ACHY.

This was a suit for divorce oa the ground of adultery.
It appeared that the parties agreed to separate in the year
.1825, when a deed of separation was drawn up between
them. In pursulace of the provisions of that deed,
De la Beche continued to receive a separate maintenance,
until the husband had reason to suspect that she committed.
adultery. Having instituted an inquiry into the circum-
stances, the result was, that all doubt en that subject was
removed from his Mind, and he instantly stopped the allow-
ance which she was in the habit of receiving from him.
Dr. DoosoN on the part of Mrs. De la Beetle said that
after looking into the depositions he feared. he could not
make a successful opposition to the prayer of the husl,and.
tie therefore thought it due to the Court not to take up its
time unnecessarily.
The Kiss's ADVOCATZ said that as the lady's own
Coun.el gave up the case, he should not enter more fully
into it.

The JUDGE said that he had carefully read the libel and
the depositions of the witnesses in support o►f it. There
could be no doubt he thought of the fact, that this lady
had committed adnltery—indeed her own Conusel adruitted
it. It therefore remained for the Court to pronounce a
decree of separation.