The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-02
nor was il until the tongue Of SANDER

nor was ~ un,ii the tongue OF slande
assaIled't the reputation of his daughte
that he deemed it necessary, for th'
purpose Of vindicating of her characte
To appeal TO the law for redress.
Such was the plaintiffs case as of
fered in proof, and such we should pre-
sumo to be the estimation of il by the
Jury, from the verdict they rendered.
On the part of the defendant, n ser
want girl who lived with the plaintiff a
the time of the transaction, was exam
ined, and testified to various points in
consistent with the testimony of the
principal witness. Other evidence was
adduced to prove discrepancies anC
| cOntraricties of assertion by the other
witnesses who were called by the plain
! tiff to sustain the action.
IL was also attempted to be shewn on
the part of the defendant, who admit
ted to a witness that he was perhaps
too free with the young lady-but that
cit was his way"-that whatever he
had done was done professionally, and
moreover that she labored under hys-
! Hilu liIbL iIlt Ciini X
she made against him were the mere cf-
tects of a disturbed imagination. To
this 1t was replied that no personal ex-
animation was either authorized or ne
cessary, and that the hysterical aflec-
tIOns, If hvstcrlcal they were, were not
the cause Of the charge, but the effect
Of the outrage.
Medical gentlemen were called TO
prove the wayward fancies Of persons
IabOrIng under hystCria, but their testi-
mony went to shcw that memory is not
always impaired even during the fit,
and that the defect ceases when the fit
has passed away.
Great zeal and ability were manifes-
ted by the counsel on both sides. The
cause was committed to the jury yes
tcrday morning, after an impressive
and lucid charge by Judge Thompson.
In about two hours they returned with
"A verdict for the Plaintiff of two thou
sand dollars damages and costs.
The verdict, although not SO heavy as
many might suppose it ought to be, If
/ the jury deemed the defendant guilty
at ALL was, nevertheless, doubtless suf-
ficient to vindicatc the young lady re-
putation, which we believe to stand
without rcproach. No effort was made
by the defendant to impcoch it by any
direct testimony whatever, other than
to show by variant evidence, that she
was mistaken in her tcsh.nony.
But whatever NAV have been the
grounds assumed by the Jury, the case
itself, is Of deep Importance to the pub
lie, and To the profession 10 which the
defendant belongs. Confidence is ne.
cessarily rcposcd in our medical advis-
crs, and if that confidence is betrayed
or abused, scarce Y too dcepcXecration
can visit the head Of the offender. With,
ont reference to the special case in
question, we take occasion to say, that
the " mawkish familiarity" too often
assumed by some physicians. ought tC
he represscd; and although it is doubt
less essential that those To whom the
health of our families is committed
should fully understand tie case of their
patient, yet, IN every instance, the most
scrupuIous deicacy compatible with
necessary investigation, should be OBJ
served. II is no cxcuscto say--itis my
way, If that way is bad way; and no
practitioner, in our Judgment, is to be
permitted Co take any liberties with a
female patient, unless distinctly author
ised by the individual to whom, by ma
ture or relation, her honor is coniidcd
Independent of the rcpugnancc that
may he felt by young lady of susccp-
tibIe mind, and the consequent injury
that may result to her health and feel
ings, there are reasons To apprehcnd
that such familiarity is one of the ave.
nues by which temptation may approach
and the moral sense be subdued.
The whole subject is one of dclcacy
which it is more easy TO conceive thai
discuss, and we therefore dismiss the
subject by remarking that however thi,
trial may affect the parties, we hope it.
operation may be salutary To the pub
llc--that parents and guardians viii
exercise increased vigilance in the Sc
lection of medical advisers, and these
advisers will sedulously abstain from
any practice that may inilict an unne
cessary pang on the innocent and sensi
: tive mind.
FATAL EROIIr