The Presidents of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society from 1805 to 1905 / by Norman Moore, M.D., fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

  • Moore, Norman, 1847-1922.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Presidents of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society from 1805 to 1905 / by Norman Moore, M.D., fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    occasioned by the simplicity and truth of Mr. Herbert’s Narrative, every part of which has been confirmed by the investigation, so far as it had advanced : and it will not be denied that the shape of the face, the forehead, an eye, and the beard, are the most important features by which resemblance is determined. “ When the head had been entirely disengaged from the attachments which confined it, it was found to be loose, and, without any difficulty, was taken up and held to view. It was quite wet, and gave a greenish red tinge to paper, and to linen, which touched it. The back part of the scalp was entirely perfect, and had a remarkably fresh appearance; the pores of the skin being more distinct, as they usually are when soaked in moisture ; and the tendons and ligaments of the neck were of considerable substance and firmness. The hair was thick at the back part of the head, and, in appearance, nearly black. A portion of it which has since been cleaned and dried, is of a beautiful dark brown colour. That of the beard was a redder brown. On the back part of the head it was more than an inch in length, and had probably been cut so short for the convenience of the executioner, or perhaps by the piety of friends soon after death, in order to furnish memorials of the unhappy king. “ On holding up the head, to examine the place of separa- tion from the body, the muscles of the neck had evidently retracted themselves considerably; and the fourth cervical vertebra was found to be cut through its substance trans- versely, leaving the surfaces of the divided portions per- fectly smooth and even, an appearance which could have been produced only by a heavy blow, inflicted with a very sharp instrument, and which furnishes the last proof wanting to identify King Charles the First.” Halford died in his house in Curzon Street, March 9,