Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-12
here. He testified that the slipping or

there. He testifiedN that the slipping or
creeping of the straps is thing to
expected He had bandaged the foot
and leg but had put no strap around
the ankle. He had put adhesive straps
on the foot to make an extension. On
another visit made. March s, he had
applied a plaster cast covering the foot
to a point just below the ankle. At
the time it was applied there was no
sore on the heel but few days later
DR.. Odiorne had noticed the sore. 1t
was caused, he testified. by allowing
the foot to be with the heel resting on
ue bed He had talked to Mr.. Merrill
about the weights being off at times
in the presence of DR.. Simmons and
John Hubbard, and he had spoken of 1t
to Mrs. Merrill when Mr.. Weeks was
present. Witness testified that upon
May he and DR.. Simmons had broken
and reset the leg and there was then
only a fibrous union. Before this
operation witness and DR.. Simmons
had both advised MIR. Merrill to go to
a hospital but Mr.. Merrill had said
that he didn't propose to have any
thing done so he couldn't ease up on
the weights. Witness had asked the
Merrills to obtain a nurse and had
never told them that the nurse was
not necessary. On July 5, 1913. he told
them that he was through and he ad-
vised Mr. Merrill to go to hospital,
offering to get him free bed. Wit
ness testified that Mr.. Merrill had said
regarding the nurse that no nurse
could keep the weights on If he wanted
~ 49, NarrsIl no 10
considerable talk about getting up on
clutches but witness had advised him
to wait until the proper time. That
time did not come while DR.. Odiorne
was tending the case.
Upon cross examination by Attorney
Heselton the defendant testified that
he made four or five calls during the
first two weeks after his first call
Witness said 1t was common frac-
ture, that required nothing except
ordinary skill, but that it was a frac-
ture that is very likely to slide by un-
less carefully watched When DR..
Odiorne had first gone to the house he
found Mr.. Merrill's leg treated by an
extension with external and internal
long splints to hold the bones in posi-
ton. When ne found that the bone
was slipping by he pulled it down. He
also applied weights and left instruc-
tons regarding these weights.
Defendant testified on ss-exami-
nation that the wound at the side OF
the leg healed in about Il weeks He
described Hodgdon's treatment of a
broken leg, a treatment which he said
was rarely used. and he described the
cast treatment He first knew of Mr.
Merrill breaking his leg in the fore
noon of Feb IA. 1913 Upon his second
visit to the patient witness had found
a displa cement Of about an inch and
a half and he had thought it was due
to interference with the weights. And
he testified that he had warned them
that the man would get poor leg II
the weights were not let alone. Wit
ness could not tell what caused the
scars on the plaintiffs leg above the
heel and he said they were not there
when he was on the case. Mrs. Mer-
rill had called his attention to pus
coming from the sore on the heel. The
boot was allowed to remain on. how
ever, and the DOCTOR Adu uAeSSeu Nho
foot each day. He had never suggested
the taking off Of any of the flatirons,
which were used as weights. On one
coca sion the doctor had been accom-
panied to the house by his brother-in-
law, Mr. Carey, and he had asked Mr.
Carey to remain in the kitchen. where
he could hear what was said. About
that time Mr.. Merrill had told the
doctor that he would hold him respon-
sible for the leg and the defendant
thought likely that there would be
Irrigation. When the leg was taken out
OF the splint it was two inches shorter
DR.. Odiorne testified rnat he had not
measured the leg lately but he thought
the leg might be four inches shorter
now.
Iron redirect examination the de-
PENDANT testified that on one occasion
he found one Of the flatifons of and
he had been told that they needed the
iron to use in the household. The doc
tor had substituted a last for the nat
iron. ....