The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-01-10
TIE INTERIOR J0URHAL.
FRIDAY. JANUARY 10, 1873


Doctors and LnWycrs.
DR.. Haughton, in recent address
before tie Birth Medical Association,
is responsible for the following:
Il now come TO more pleasant part
Of my subject, and ono in which shall
have the hearty cooperation Of all my
audience; and that is a. to the evidence
Of professional witnesses in The civil and
criminal courts of law. DR.. Davoy, at
the end of an admirable address delivered
at Bristol a few years ago, made sug-
eestion which net with tlo approval Of
the medical, local Newspaper, and other
circles, but no steps have since boon tax
en-. allude, Of course, TO the shameful
md degrading manner in which Medical
and.scientifc evidence Of every kind is
taken in courts Of justice and before par
liamentary committees. Medical men
are peculiarly sensitive on this point
Because Of some pcculiariiies in their or
ganiza,ion. The doctor and lawyer look
ct one another as from opposite poles.
There is no greater contrast than that
between the legal and the medical mind.
The medical man is accustomed to see
the best features andfhe best side Of soci-
city. He stands by the bcdsiod where
the best affections of the heart are die
playei toward those who are suffering,
and he forms q more charitable opinion
Of his neighbours than the rest Of the
world. Perhaps he. thinks and acts'I
more in accordance with the spirit Of
Christ than others. On the other hand,
the legal man sees his neighbor under the
vilest and foulest aspects. lie comes in
contact with swindling and every kind
OF knnvery until his mind becomes I'M
bued with it. The lawyer becomes, like
the chameleon, tinged with the colors Of
those about him. There is an utter dis
proportion between such men and those
whose lives are spent in doing good. /
reckon myself skillful professional beg
but whether | collect. for an
for building a church, or the
deaf and dumb institution, l can never
extract money from lawyer; and that
is the experience of Others. Where can
they expect to go2 When barrhter
gets medical man on the table what
does he dof He has the same natural an
antipathy TO him that terrier has for Il
rat. I am happy TO say, however, that
the rat sometimes turns out to be bsd-
ger; and sometimes a medical witness
proves to bs.a badger and not a rat
Il may mention here trick which ]
played upon an eminent lawyer, who was
leading counsel on one SIDE in a great
case of lunacy which was before the
Dublin law courts. ~fhis gentleman did
me the honor to ask me TO dino with him
! day or two before the trial knew it
Tas for the purpose Of getting grind.
Well, gave him his lesson; and the
learned gentleman, who was one of the
greatest bullies at the bar, trottei it out
IN such a style that We had such
a scene as was rarely or never witnessed,
In these cases the doctors on one side
wear A B G, while those on the other
iepose Y Y z; and anything like an i'm
partial statement is carefully excluded.
will not mention the name of the law
yer, as he is now on the bench, and it
night be disrespoctfdl in place where
here are coercion laws. told him
ew facts about lunacy, and then added
hat when the examination was nearly
'ver he was to say, Now sir, you are on
FOUR oath; you are giving your EVIL
ience.' You know they always keep
Now, sir, you are on your
'ath'. Well, l told him thnt all
would go on smoothly up to certain
'oint, and then just as the witness was
bout to leave the box he was to say,
Now, sir, you know you are about to
cave that table, and you are upon your
'ath and upon your oath do you not
Inow that crepitus redvr is the most
earful form of insanity which can afiiict ,
nenY was base enough 10 ask my
awyer friend to get Inc afront scat when
he case came on; and i went 10 enjoy +;
he fun. / heard him put his questions !
n his best style; and when he came to !;
his one, just as the witness was going to /,
cave the table, he called him back--he
vas great bully, was my friend-then
'e put up his shoulders, and called out,
Now, sir, mind how you answer. On
our oath, sir, i not erepitis redllr the
post fearful form of the aiilic;ion Of in !,
anityf' He said this in a perfect frenzy
{ passion; and the witness, startled at
he sudden question, the question itself,
nd the manner in which it was put, be-
anne quite frightened, aud turning to
he judge said, That mans mad, my
ord; have him taken up"
IT takes 5000 cochineal insects to C
,ake one pound in weight, and the 0