Page:A History of the Indian Medical Service, 1600-1913 Vol 1.djvu/117

Rh there being symptoms of poyson, Doctor Buckley, the Chirurgeon of the Hospitall, was ordered to open the Corps and make his report.

"The Attorney Generall is ordered to prosecute Samuell Browne, and his Servants concerned for the Death of Mr James Wheeler, so soon as it can be done.-Nath Higginson.

"Yesterday at 8 a clock in the forenoon Mr James Wheeler was buryed, with the solemnity accustomed for one of his Station.

"May it please your Hon' with the Worshippfull Councill. According to your orders I did on Munday the 28th instant in the afternoon open the dead body of Mr James Wheeler about five hours after his death, and upon viewing the Viscera or Bowells found them not much altered from their naturall temper and Colour. The parts that seemed to suffer most were the stomach and gutts, which were a little inflamed, and almost wholly bared and stript of the mucous or slimy covering with which those parts are commonly invested. The Lungs allsoe were a little inflamed, the blood that I gathered out of severall Vessells all appeared blacker than usuall. But the suddenness of his death, and the severe symptoms he laboured under before he dyed, were greater arguments of Poyson received then anything I could trace out by dissection. This from, Sir, Your Honrs &ca most humble & obedient Servant. Edward Bulkley."

Browne and his servant were committed to custody. Browne was tried, and acquitted by the Grand Jury, "who brought in the bill Ignoramus." There was some dissatisfaction at this result. Many thought that a case of criminal negligence had been made out.

In 1694 Browne was deputed to attend the Nawab Qasim Khan for wounds, which he did with success. In 1695 he was again in trouble for challenging Dr. Blackwall to a duel, when drunk; and in April, 1696, for assault on a native, as recorded in Cons. of 27th April, 1696.

"Cons., 27th April, 1696. Complaint having been made by Madremtala in a letter received by the Governor last night, that Dr Brown had gone to the house of Ananta Terterra his Junkameer of Vepery, and carried him away by force, and robbed him to the value of six thousand Pagodas as by a list sent. Dr Brown being sent for gives this account. That on Saturday having rid out to Egmore in Company, in their return by the Vepery Choultry the Moor Peons called him names; and he riding up to them to demand the reason, there followed more aggravating words and they beat him. When he came home, being informed where the Chief man of the Choultry lived, he took his sword and pistol, and being followed by his boy with another pistol, and his horsekeeper went to the house and by force took out Ananta Terterra, and brought him to the Bridge Gate, where understanding that that was not the man which had abused him, he let him go.

"Ananta Terterra doth also further complain that Dr Brown broke his face with a pistol, pulled his beard, &c., and that he was robbed to the