Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-10

4 normal; the abnormality appeared TIC
i be in the iiabby muscle of the heart
The dead man had no valvular disease
of the heart so far as was discovered
by the witness. On the brain itself,
| the whole area was congested. Death
| from blow would show localized con-
gestion. This showed that the subject
| Vas an alcoholic.
1.-THE right side of the brain was as
congestcd as the left side, was it not ~
About the same; not much differ
| ence"
Doctor, from the state of the brain
itself, irrespective of any marks of
violence, can you determine whether
death was caused by violence?"
"T could not
Attorney Williamson then formulated
the following hypothetical question:
Taking into consideration the con-
gestion as you found it to exist in the
head of George Durham, coupled with
the fact, if it is fact. that alcohol
was found in his stomach. and coupled
with the further fact that he was a
confirmed alcoholic, would you not say
that it was possible that his death oc-
Cured from alcoholism?'
To this question, DIR. Davies, the wit
ness, slowly and distinctly replied:
II think not"
The witness was asked to tell how he
would determine in the case Of an al
coholic. whether death had occurred
from alcoholism or from a blow, and
testified that in the case of death from
external violence, the congestion
would be local in the vicinity of the
blow.
Questioned by the court as to the
condition of the brain relative to ex-
ternal violence, the witness said:
Il think this man was knocked in
the head"
Questioned by Attorney Williamson:
doctor, could you tell from the post
norton whether this subject was an
alcoholic?"
81 should say that he was"
The hearing was then adjourned until
2 o'clock.
The hearing was resumed at 3.15
P. M.
DR.. Bertrand G. Ridlon of the Ma
tional Home was at this time called for
the defence by consent of the county
attorney, and submitted the hospital
record of George Durham, showing
that he was subject to arithmea, tachi
cardia, or heart Storm, and sterosiss
of the nitral valve of the heart and
chronic bronchitis.
Questioned by the county attorney,
the witness stated that a part of the
examinations of Durham had been
made by himself the witness.
Er. Gilbert NJ. Elliott of Brunswick
testified that he had been in practice
L. years. Was graduate of The
School of Physicians and Surgeons Of
New York state. Is now demonstration
of anatomy of Bowdoin College. He tes-
tilted as to the reception of the body
of Durham at Brunswick He read
notes Of the autopsy, Identical with
those submitted in the forenoon by DR..
Davies.
From that examination what de
1uction did you draw" asked County
Attorney Reane.
I'VE drew the deduction that death
was due to congestion of the BRAIN
And now, doctor, what, in your
opinion was the cause of that conges-
tion?"
THE further deduction would be that
the congestion was due to .atromatism,
some injury, some violencA'
The witness was cross-eXamined by
Attorney Williamson, who questioned
closely as to the condition of the
brain. The meninges surrounding the
W hole brain were more or less con-
gested.
Questioned as to the finding of al
cohol in the stomach, the witness was
asked what that would indicate.
1T would indicate that the man had
had drink at some time within "a
hours,i replied the witness.
Were there any of these marks
which could not have been made by a
nan failing on the face?'
Yes. one of the spots over the eye
could not have been made by falling
on his face
"Well now doctor, couldn't a man
have fallen onto that coalhod and in
flicted the wounds which were found p
"A man could not have fallen onto
coalhod and broken his nose cross
wise ard at the same time inflicted
wounds on the top of the head"
The witness said that in the case of
= man dying in the position in which
Dunhan'a body was found. the vessels
of the lower part of the brain would
not necessarily become congested.
Attorney Williamson quoted from
Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence. show
ing that in d similar case an eXanlina-
ton Of the body could not lead to a
deduction as to the cause of death. The
witness reiterated his previous state
ment that death was due to conges-
ton Of the brain.
The left eye was swollen as if the
eye itself had met with violence.
Questioned by Attorney Beane the
witness said that in his opinion the
purple streak which ran from the
abrasion ovef the eye down to the base
of the brain could not have been
caused by alcoholism alone.
Dennis l.. Burke of Chelsea was the
next witness. Knew George Durham
for past eight or nine years. Saw him
alive two weeks ago. Saw his body
last Saturday morning. Found the
body between $50 and 3 o'clock Satur-