The New York herald., 1877-11-17
The Doctors Still Explaining
the Causes CT HE Death.
FUNERAL WIT.
Further Hearing Of the Case Post
poned Until December. -
TALMAGE ON THE WILL.

proceedings the contest The ~l of his iaher,
the ia,e Commodore Mr. Vanderbilt Was accom-
panied by his irlsnd, Augustus sehsiii his counsel,
Mr. Henry /. Clinton, and Judge comstock aud Mr.
Samuel Barger. Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt was also
present with counsel for the contestant. Scott Lord
md Judge Jeremiah Black The latter gentleman
took no part In the proceedings beyond Suggesting
question or two 10 his associate 10 fact The great
Pennsylvania lawyer seemed to be bored by the tes-
timony which was OF a strictly med cal end technical
character relating os II did, exclusively TO tho au-
topsy upon body OF the testator, and he amused
himself by drowsily twiriing between bis nngers
SILVER box. from which no occasionally refreshed
himself with a mou,hul OF tobacco. On tho
other side Judge ComstocK sat With an as-
stracted air. and occasionally dozed few
minutes away when the court opened tho
examination OF Dr. Satterthwate, one OF tho physi-
cans who made the post-mortem. was resumed by
Mr.. Lord The evidence was little moro than an
elaboration what he and DIR. Lnsiy bad previously
testified to- When Mr.. Clinton had crosse questioned
the witness he allowed to depart, and DR.. Lewis
A. Simpson, OF Madison avenue, was called to tho
stand He also assisted at the autopsy, and the qucs
tons put TO him referred to the condition OF tho
organs which were moro particularly left TO his In
Bpectiou To the dsinterestcd spectator II appeared
that Mr. Lords questions to elicit state
ments which would show that the abnormal condition
OF the organs which existed after death had been OF
long standing must have caused pain to the Com
modore for many years. Mr.. Clinton, In his cross
examination. tried, the other hand, 10
prove that the diseased condition OF the patients
system had for the most part existed but for q few
months before death voluminous manuscript
volume In which the physicians had entered their
description Of the and their reports OF tho
autopsy was tho hands OF counsel. and served as
for tho conduct OF the examination. Considerable
amusement created by the difficulty which coun-
Eel either side found in proncuncing and in dealing
generally with the medical words ana phrases in
which tho volume aboundcd. There were not few
passages penned by the OF Escuapius in describ
Ing certain organs which strongly suggestive Of
the story Of tho hibernian who after hearing COM
rade's injuries described by young sawbones, told
Airicnd that he "wounded in all his Latin parts.
GAsrRoNoMIC JOKE.
At one O'Clock Mr. Lord remarked that IN the course
the stomach, 'and that" said he, reminds me
that We might now adjourn for lunch" recess OF
half an hour was declared but u was after Two wnen
the counsel reappcared in the court rOom The after
noon wore away without anything OF peculiar interest
being elected and at four O'Clock an adjournment was
had Surrogate Calvin stated that with the eAcep-
lion OF Monday next, his calendar was full for every
day this month. Counsel thought it was not worth
while 10 attend tor that one day, and
the therefore put until the
Attn day Of December The Surrogate offered to
give HIS time to the cuse Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Fridays throughout the whole OF next month Mr..
Lord said his side would require probably four weeks
TO examine all the witnesses. MI Clinton, ior the
will said he would probably require but three
days. The Surrogate offered also to hear testimony
the case the afternoons OF Mondays and Fridays,
but counsel declined this and resolved TO content
themselves with the three whole days each week. In
qu,ry made the Court takin The cstmony
oi several witnesses &c bene pending the contnu
non OF the case and counsel told 10 that
matter between themselves
THE DOCTORS on THE AUTOPSY.
When Or. Satterthwaito took tho stand Mr.. Lord
remarked that ho had on Wednesday asked witness
several questions which, IT appeared, had been put
aim as an expert He did not then intend 10 exam
Inc the Doctor as an expert and he would consent to
huya auIlG fpQl tInnnX ctr eLan trnn
DR.. Satterhwaite was furnished with notes OF his
previous testimony, and proceeded to make some
trivial corrections Then he proceeded to detail the
results OF the microscopic examination; with tho
record OF the examination his hands remark cd that
a the preceding session OF the Court he had stated the
condition IN which the kidneys were found; they pre-
scned none OF the microscopic appearance of
scirrhous cancer; there deposit o. tissue about
the fstulas track such found u bud chronic
infammaton in reference TO the possible existence
OF malignant disease known as epthelal cancer The
examination carried st further but the evidences
were thought not TO indicate the presence OF that dis
ease; the body was much emaciated measure
mcnis taken; the circumference Of the leg was
greater than that OF the arm; there a bed
one hip one inch ana quarter by iuch and
huf II diameter; the kidneys were ound in a condi-
tion OF chronic dfuse ncphritis-that Is tho condition
known as chronic Brights disease; in this particular
instance tho kidney was what is known a contracted
kidney; 1t was smaller than usuai; the surface
granular; tho liver was diminished in size. weighing
but two pounus nine ounces whereas II usually weighs
three and one-half pounds; no examination was made
at the autopsy in reference to the hernia.
Mr.. Clinton stated that he would not cross-examin
the witness then, but that II certain remote
gcncy should arise in the case he would do nere-
alter Mr. Lord objected 10 any reservation OF tho
right to crossqcesIion the witness, point was
left 10 be decided IN case witness shall be called here
ancr
DR. sTIMPsoy's TESTIMONY
DIR. Lewis A. SIMPSON who, with Drs Buck and
Sattcrthw performed the autopsy was sworn as
the next witness. Hc exhibited n copy OF a morning
journal which contained an editorial the subject OF
medical les timony aud asked the Surrogate whether
he had night decune questions asked by
counsel Ee was informed that he would not re-
qaired TO testify to what he had learned OF patient
In huf In mad MT
examination, and that he had no alternative but to
ply 10 counsel. In answer to Mr. Lords questions he
proceeded state that the particulars OF the body of
Commodore Vanderbilt which he had under fnvesilg
lion were the bladder rectum and adjoining parts,
with portion OF the urethra; did not examine
the lungs, but noticed that they ad-
heront to the plcural walls; witness testified
that lie examined tho kidneys and described
their condition very much rs DR.. Satterthwate had;
there was IL large ulcer just above the anus III tho
rectum; the cavity OF the abscess had three open
iugs, one large and two smaller; there was nodu-
rasiOn OF the part OF tue anus adjoining the
dd not know how high u extended put It reached an
opening leading into the abscess; this or,nce was
thrcc-quarters OF an inch In diameter; numerous
glands near The margin Of the anus were twlcc thor
normal size the bladder presented evidence Of chronic
INFLAMMATION; the prostate was half as large again
us It's normal sze inside the bladder there were ev
ueDces OF localized Chronic cyslitis. Witness testified
In relation 10 tho atrophy In corroboration OF Dr.
satterthwaite.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
After the recess Mr.. Lord continued his cxamina.
tion OF Dr. simpson. The surface OF the ntestines
which the Doctor had examined was covered with u
thick, dirty yellow fuid, having focal odor; tho
omcDtum was adherent III piaces the peritoneal
cavity contained certain amount oil liquid which
was not normal there hole in the descending
colon about AS large as a silver quarter; all that por
ton OF the large intestine below the middle Of
transverse colon dlstended with pieces TO tho
diameter of three inches; spontaneous rupture
Cured when IL was lfted with the hand; the liver
and heart smaller than usual; the lungs wero
bound TO the chest wall in places by old adnesons;
the vaiycA oi The heart wcro normal. except
upon Of the Aorta valves there very small,
Gne, hairike vegetation; the spleen was small ami
surface roughened the kidneys we're slightly nodu-
lated nnd the capsule adhercut the cOrex rather
tnIn, put the markings somewhat irregular; Tho
pcvis OF The kidney was not diated, and one OF tho
Kidneys was smaller than the other; there was con-
siderable amount of bio the gall bladder; tho
carries oi the coccyx extended Tor huf an iDch at Its
lower extremity the evidences for portonitis or in
nammation oI the pcritoneum were the liquid found
WITHIN ITS caviy and the adhesion between the omen
tam sua The different lobes OF small intestine.
Mr. Clinton here took charge of the witness and
went over same uninteresEg rodDd OF technical
questions only understood by the ncoicai men the
room hich had been listened To three times
sLxu Ne LII mn