Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-20
HEAR ARRAY EXPERTS


A technical barrage, laid down by
several physicians summoned oy
the defense, and supported by hu-
merous X-ray pictures by diHerenl
Roentenologists at various times &c
cupied much of the day Monday In
the $4,000 suit for damages brougnt
by Thomas E. Waters of this city
against the S. d. Warren Company
as a result of injuries suffered when
he was hit by falling bolt OF pup
wood as he was working at the load
ing plant of the company at Ken
'nebec Siding.
Using several of the same A-ray
pictures that had been used by eH-
perts for the plaintiff in showing
that Mr.. Waters was suffering from
compression fracture of the nfth
and sixth cervical vertebrate" or in
common parIance a "broken neck,
|, these experts declared in their beilel
he was suffering from a case OF
"arthritis" which Is often called
rheumatism. This they declared TO
be an irritated condition of the
Joints which in the case OF spinal
arthritis causes an emulation" OF
certain lime bearing fluids into the
affected parts in an attempt on the
part of nature to relieve the condl-
ton and in extreme cases this ex-
udation may be so extensive that
when it hardens and forms new
bone, as it usually does. the back
bone becomes one piece, lacking the
flexibility which characterizes the
normal spine.
It Is only in extreme cases, how
ever that such a condition results IN
this growing together of the entire
spine, although in many cases 1t
may unite one or two of the verte-
brae in this manner. 1t was also
brought out this time by the plain
tiff that in some cases where this did
not occur, the arthritis might cause
sufficient pain so that to alleviate 1t
it might be advisable to assist this
process by bone grating so that two
or three of the vertebrate might be
made rigid.
The first of these experts, DIR.
Herbert w. Hall, of Augusta. X-ray
specialist at the Augusta General
Hospital, testified substantially as
did DR.. George r. Campbell of Au-
gusta, DIR. Edison s. Cummings of
Portland, an Xray specialist, DR..
Charles H. Hunt of Portland and Dr.
w. H. Harris of Augusta. He said
that from his examination of pic
lures taken by himself on several
occasions and those of other Roen-
tenologists he had been unable to
demonstrate" ay compression frac-
ture. He interpreted the condition
which experts for the plaintiff had
declared to indicate a compression
fracture, as showing a case of
arthritis. stating that there was ap-
parent to him an attempt on the
part of nature to RICH conditions by
! this emulation, new bone growth be-
ing apparent not only at the two
vertebrate named but around several
others. In his opinion the arthritis
antedated tn accident.
There was a slight disagreement
or experts on several minor matters
but the general tend of their testi-
mony was as above noted. DIR.
Cummings testified that blow to
cause a compression fracture nee
essarily have to come from the TOD
down, or from the base up, and that
ne could not conceive how a blow
from the side or back could cause a
compression fracture without dam
aging the spinus processes or similar
portions of the vertebrate situated
on the sides and which are more
fragile than are the bodies of the
vertebrate. He also declared that it
was not possible for the emulation to
cause paralysis and said that there
was a possibility that the exudatfon
present In this case might in part
pc due to tearing of the ligaments
from the bone, carrying with them
small portions of the bone.
DR.. Hunt declared that the symp-
toms such as described by Waters.
namely pain in the side of the head,
ana lack of feeling in the ear would
not be caused by a trouble in the re-
g1on OF the fifth or sixth cervical
vertebrae, but by an irritation of
the third cervical nerve. The nerve
which would be affected by the trou.
bl at the point of the alleged COM
pressed fracture would cause pain in
the ar mhe stated. There was a
possibility that the injury caused by
the pulp log might have aggravated
the athritic condition and that there
might have been a tearing of the lig-
aments attached to the vertabrae
which might break away a portion of
the bone. Those who had examined
the plaintiff stated that they believed
that he could work at this time.
To illustrate the points brought out
by the defendant a screen, especially
constructed for viewing X-Ray pic
lures, was brought into the court
room and DIR. Hall brought in
specimen Of cervical vertabrae also.
Other witnesses who were called
upon testified with regard to the op-
Grafton of the loading machinery at
Kennebec Siding. Howard McFar-
lane, superintendent Of the plant at
the siding. was called back for cross
examination in the morning. He
said that they had different ar
rangement of the conveyor at the
time of the accident than they have
now. Among other things they now
have an iron plate over the hole be-
tween the conveyor and the chute
and have put up Stats near the end
of the conveyor. He said that IL
stick came out of the hole it could
not drop vertically until it had
cleared about two feet and a half of
timbers to the side Of the chute.
Peter Thibodeau worked on the
loading platform at the time Waters
was hurt. He was busy levelling off
the logs as they fell into the rack
ear. using long pole for the pur-
pose. He declared that some times
one Of the logs would fall across an
other and a third log would hit one
end of it in such a way that it was
thrown out of the car. He watched
it closely all of the time on that ac-
count and on cross examination stat
ed that the log which hit the plain
if did not come from the rack car.
Roy Carter of Lynn, Mass, testi-
fed with regard to the condition of