Page:Medical jurisprudence (IA medicaljurisprud03pari).pdf/492

 any primary cause giving any warning, have you never heard of people in perfect health being seized with an epilepsy or apoplexy?

A. Yes; apoplexy proceeding from repletion or the sudden bursting of a blood-vessel; epilepsy may proceed from a variety of causes partial or general, in the head or elsewhere; but very seldom I believe proves so suddenly fatal.

Q. Might not those have happened to Sir Theodosius Boughton?

A. There can be no doubt of the possibility of their attacking him, but I think there is no reason to go so far for a cause as to possibility, when this medicine as all the world knows will effect it.

Q. That is assuming as a fact that he took two ounces of laurel-water?

A. A much less quantity would be sufficient for the purpose, if we may credit Dr. Rutty's account.

Q. You collect that from the similarity of the smell?

A. We have nothing else to judge from but the similarity of the smell.

Q. Is not that the case with a variety of things; will not black cherry-water have that smell?

A. Black cherry-water is said to have the same smell, but it is now out of use; I don't suppose there is an apothecary in the island who has it, and therefore it could not be substituted by accident for the other vehicle.

Q. Will not bitter almonds have that smell?

A. Yes; and spirits flavoured with them are said to be poisonous to the human species.

Q. You ground your opinion upon the description of its smell by Lady Boughton?

A. Yes; we can ground our opinion upon nothing else but that and the subsequent effects.