The Portland daily press., 1890-04-16
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT.
BEFORE JUDGE WALTON.

Roscoe Libby VS.. Frederick Henry Gerrish.
At the opening Of the court Mr.; Meaher contin-
ued the cross-examinati0n OF Dr.. Gerrish. Nothing
new or important was ELECTED.
DIR. stephen II. Weeks of this city was then
called. He testified to examining, with other sur
ge0ns, Libby's leg yesterday noon. Found an
oblique fracture; there is no bony union. By TAX
ing hold OF the leg above and below the point of
facture there is motion showing there is no bony
union. The ends of the fractured bone are in fair
position but held together by ligamentous mate
rial. The small bone is SO deeply impedded in the
thick muscles it is impossible to tell its precise
condition. The failure of the bone to unite by
bony union is undoubtedly due to some fault in
the blood of the patient so that it did not furnish
BIO ny material made careful measurement of
his leg and it is about one inch shorter than the
other. The fragments are today In very good
position bnt there is no rounding off of the edges,
no provisional callous as is the case where bony
material has been thrown out. If did not know
the history of the case should say there had
ments are almost as sharp as if it had been done
month ago. Upon placing the plaster Of paris
splint produced here, upon the patients leg it is
the leg has taken place sincethe splint was taken
OFF. The shape of this plaster spllnt shows that
good shape when the splint was applied and the
zones could not have gotten out OF place while
the plaster dressing was upon it. l should say
common and they are not rare. In these days of
antiseptic surgery. in a case of this kind Of
a surgical operation, cutting down. freshiniug
the euds Of the bone bringing them together and
securing them by Mrs or bone Or ivory pegs
The chief indications in the treatment of frac-
tn res are extension counter extension, and eoap-
tatiOn. Surgeons use different spiints; the splint
that best fulflls these three indications is the
best, do not hesitate to say that the splints and
surgical appliances ~ 3e that haze heard described
method of the best surgeons of today. have ne
doubt they are much better and serve the pur-
poses better than the wooden tsplints produced
here by Dr. Buzzell. In case of non-nnon, due
to constitutional trouble, lact0 phosphate of lime
as prescribed BY Or. Gerrish, is one of the best
ing TO improve his general health. Looking at
the case as shown by the evidence, and the state
ments Of Dr. Gerrish as to his treatment, there is
no change for the better in the treatment or ap-
pliances that can suggest.
The defendant then called Walter c. Sweetsir
and George e. Gilman, both in the employ of the
Boston Maine railroad, who had known the
plaintiff since he was boy, and both testified
that the plaintiffs reputation for truth is bad.
DIR. John A. Donovan of Lewiston was called
and testified 10 being present at the examination
of the plaintiffs leg yesterday and as to the fact
that the shortening and curvature must have TAX
en- place since the plaster splint was removed.
1.-THE last plaster splnt was removed March 9Th,
nineteen weeks after the accidentl. The witness
agreed with DR.. Weeks as to the treatment being
according TO the best methods of the profession
DR.; u. Z; HIN Of Saco Dr.; Frederick G. Thayer
city, all agreed with the other surgeons as to the
treatment and appliances being of the best and
also as to the cause OF the plaintiffs present
DR.. George p. Morton of Dover, N. H., was a
medical student when DIR. Gerrlsh was called to
the case and testified to assisting him in setting
the bones that the fractures were reduced and
the bones continued In position as long as the wit
ness knew about the case-the last of November
DIR. Henry III. Hunt went with Dr. Gerrish and
saw Libby ten days after the accident. The leg
was Wen set and had on well fitting skilfully
applied splint DR.. Hunt agreed with the other
surgeons as TO the cause of the plaintiffs present
condition; that 1t is due to constitutional defect
and to no fault or want Of care of the surgeons in
charge; also as to the necessity and advisability
OF surgical operation to effect cure at this late
period OF time.
This closed the testimony for the defendant.
The rebutting testimony on both sides was unim-
portant.
Mr.. Charles F. Libby made the closing argu-
ment for the defendent, occupying Just one hour,
and putting the case in his usually clear, logical
and convincing way.
Mr.. Meaher will close for the plaintiff in the