Mrs Duel—— was present when the ’s was confined on the 24th of October, 1842; was called on the 22nd. at 11 o’clock at night. called upon witness to borrow a syringe, said that was sick, and that he thought her child had been dead two or three days: when witness came, was in considerable distress; thought she was ready for parturition, and would be delivered by three pains more. resorted to unusual means. Witness remonstrated against his course, to let nature have time; while screamed, “do let me alone! you will kill me! do let go!” but was then plying his hand, and said he could not, for something would go back: had given ergot and pepper, said the child was wrong, and must be turned before it could be born; that it was necessary to keep up initation in order to create pains and hasten delivery. Witness proposed to have some one else called[.] opposed it, but finally consented. Witness saw patient next day at 11 o’clock, and she seemed free from pain.

Mrs [Patty] Sessions—— attended , ’s wife, as an accoucher, last October; was there when witness arrive, shook her hand and held it fast some time; said he had sent for witness because he had a very bad case; the child was wrong and dead; that the membrane was broken, and the amnion fluids escaped, and the child turned; had sent for witness because her hand was small, and she could turn it. Witness asked what he had done; he replied nothing. What have you given her? he answered, nothing but a little nervine and cayenne pepper; however he admitted he had given one dose of ergot, of eleven grains; had ergot of witness the previous week. Witness proceeded to examine , ’s wife, and by touching the child’s ear, discovered it was a natural presentation; and by examination of the fontanella found the child was alive by pulsation; and that instead of the amnion fluids having escaped, they had not gathered. Witness also discovered three ruptures on the tincæ Os; and fresh blood upon the s under garments, and the bed clothes, as though bloody fingers had been wiped thereon. The color of the spots was different from hemorrage at parturition. On the evening of the 24th of October, witness delivered of a living child, which according to its small size was <​rather​> a premature birth. When witness visited the day previous, there were no regular pains. told witness, since her confinement, that ’s treatment to her had caused a weakness in her back, that she could not hold her urine, and had been troubled with the piles, also, all of which she believed resulted from the injuries she received from ; and witness believed it was so too; has practised obstetrics 30 years, and has never seen a physician conduct towards a woman [p. 1492]