Now let us come to your symptoms. You say you have always found the brain highly congested?--By the stoppage of the circulation in the system.
Have you not found in some cases that the brain was not congested?--No; I think in every case there were more or less congestion.
Is that greater in proportion to the length of the paroxysm?--No; it is greatest where the animal was young and in a full state of health.
Have you ever seen any case of traumatic tetanus?--I think two in my own practice, but I have seen a few others in hospital.
Have you ever seen a case of strychnia in the human subject?--No, I have not.
I understand you to say that, in your opinion, this was a case of epilepsy with tetanic complications?--As far as I can judge from hearing the evidence in Court.
What does epilepsy proceed from?--Nobody can answer that question.
You have no theory upon the subject?--I have not exactly arrived at any distinct theory, not quite as distinct as strychnia or tetanus. I have seen one case of death from epilepsy. The patient was not conscious when he died.
Can you find me any case in which consciousness has preceded death?--I cannot recollect.
You have studied on purpose for these cases?--No; I am pretty well up in most branches.
Being so universally proficient in the science of your profession, do you know of any single recorded case of consciousness at the time of death?--I do not from my own knowledge. I have heard what Sir Benjamin Brodie said on this subject.
You mean deliberately to state that you believe this to have been from epilepsy?--I do state so.
Without being able to refer to any cause whatever as producing the disease?--When I have told you before that deaths often take place in idiopathic tetanus without leaving any trace behind, I think I may say----
That is idiopathic tetanus?--They are all of the same class. I think all forms of convulsions arise from a decomposition of the blood, and, if a person has probably an incipient tendency to disease of the brain, that it always may be affected, and that the decomposition of the blood might set up the diseased action.
Do I understand you that mental excitement had anything to do with this?--I do not say it had. I said it might have caused it.