Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-24
SUPERIOR COURT
ouit 81 Asher N. Durrijl W. Or. ,. Z,
Hurd Commenced To-day

Aurd Commences To-day
WateFville, Nov. -.
Court came 81 1880 this morning
on account Of the electric cars being
late from Aususts. The farst cess for
the jury Wa Asher y. Husrill Of Ca
naan W. Or. Benjamin p. Hurd' Of
Waterville. Sleepers and Boyle ap-
peared for plaintiff and Perkins and
Robinson for defendant. This action
was brought to recover damages for
alleged improper and unskillful treat
ment Of plaintiff by the defendant.
Mr.. Sleeper. took up nearly three
quarters Of an hour in his opening IL
the case. During the latter part of
his opening he made q drawing on the
board Of the genital organs and ex-
planned the plaintiffs position by the
help of his drawing. About all Of
the day was taken up, after the OPEN
Ing, by the testimony of Mr.. Burrili
and his wife. A former nurse was
called before Mrs. Burrill took the
stand, but occupied but a few mo-
ments time. Mrs. Burrill had not
completed her direct Testimony at the
time Of adjournment.
Mr.. Burrill testified that he was
~ years old; that In the spring Of
1917 he had pain in his chest. as he
had been exposed to cold and wet in
hunting woodchucks: and that he had
had a series of colds all winter. At
that time. about May ., he called in
DR.. Cara of Skowhegan. May Is he
called in DR.. Young, and later called
in DR.. Moulton Of Hartland. Each If
those doctors was called once, and he
said they told him he had bronchitis.
About June Z DR.. Hurd was called
in as plaintig said he had scalding
sensation when urinating. He said
the doctor told him that he rad slight
urethritis which would soon clear up.
The witness then went on to des-
cribe the use of the instrument left
by DIR. HurdP the defendant, and the
result. He claimed there was some
infection in the anterior part OF the
genital organ. and that the use Of
the instrument. az he was directed to
use it by the defendant. pushed the
infection back and caused more
trouble. On June % plaintiff said that
defendant operated on him at his
home and used q cystiscope. On
cross-examination he admitted that
he did not know at that time the diff
ference between an examining and
an operating cystiscope. He said. con-
tinuing on direct. that three to i've
days after the operation he broke
down with q discharge from his pri-
vate organ.
From this point the witness went on
and told Of the progress of his disease,
and the doctors he had employed, the
trips to Portland and Boston. and the
time spent in different hospitals. He
finally had further operations per-
formed. and after the last operation he
began to get some relief, but Is not
able a. yet to do any work On direct
and cross-examination it was brought
out that he had been seen by 20 ply
sictans from the time DR.. Cara came
to see him In May until his ANAL oper-
alton.
Mrs. Burrill testified az to the health
OF plaintiff and as to the conditions in
the room at the time of the first ex-
animation or operation. She said that
there was no hot water heated that she
knew anything about: that the instru-
ments were not stsrilixed. that the de-
fendant did not wash his hands and
that he wore no gloves. She said
that shortly after the operation her
husband passed a quantity of blood,
and a little later another like guam
tity as the hrst. about two-thirds OF
cupful. She told how her husband
struggled while the ether was beins
administered. and that they finally
had to use chloroform to get him quiet
and then went on with the ether. Mrs
Burr;ll also gave history Of their
trips to Portland and Boston. and
about the employment Of different ply
stcians. Her direct testimony was no,
finished at the time Of adjournment.
There 10 large array Of witnesses
in this case. many OF them physicians
and surgeons. ard the case will prob
ably not be finished before the end OF
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