Report of the trial. The people versus Dr. Horatio N. Loomis, for libel : tried at the Erie County Oyer and Terminer, June 24, 1850. Justice Mullett, presiding. John Treanor, Leander J. Roberts, associate justices / Reported by FrederickT. Parsons, stenographer.
- Loomis, Horatio N. (Horatio Nelson), 1807-1881.
- Date:
- 1850
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the trial. The people versus Dr. Horatio N. Loomis, for libel : tried at the Erie County Oyer and Terminer, June 24, 1850. Justice Mullett, presiding. John Treanor, Leander J. Roberts, associate justices / Reported by FrederickT. Parsons, stenographer. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![not intend to justify on any thing except the ex- posure.] Objection overruled. SECOND DAY. Doct. Peter B. Brown, re-called by District Attorney, says—I was 25 years old Ia6t September. I am now a practising phvt-ician. Doct. Geo. A. Hkwson, called by defendant— I reside at Naples, Ontario Co. I am a practi-ing physician. I attended the last course of Lectures at Buffalo Medical College. I was present at the case of Demonstrative Midwifery ihat took place at the College last winter. Pro). Wh te was the Demonstrator. I witnessed the labor after the child's head protruded from the os externum The woman was at ihat time on the bed, lying on her left side ; her back towards the class. Her legs were drawn up against the abdomen somewhat. As the head presented externally, her clothes were raised up somewhat. Tlv. head was exhibited— the top of the head was just about presenting fair- ly. I saw the whole process from that time of the labor and delivery. From the first external pre- sentation till delivery it was from 2 to 5 minutes. I saw the umbilical cord severed—saw the ligatures tied previously. Cross examined—When I attended this Clinique I was in the graduating class. During the time that preceded the labor, Prof White explained to the class the manner in which the child would be presemed. It was a presentation we do not often meet with—the face of the child was anterior—the reverse is oftener the case. From the knowledge I have from the books, these cases are as one to 15 or 20. The scientific name of this presentation i6, the occiput t> the right, posteriorly. Examina- tion by the stethescope had been made by the Pro- fessor to the class. Prof. W. stated to the class that this would he the manner of the presentation. The woman, while I was there, up to the time of the presentation, was entirely covered. When the stethescope examination was made, the- woman was kept covered. The examination was made through the clothes. I don't recollect of seeing any portion of her person up to the time of the presentation. Don't remember whether the clothes were put over the woman as soon as the head was born or not. They were put over her as soon as the child was born. I saw the entire child when taken out. I think the woman was covered when the umbilical cord was cut. I did not see that she was uncovered, except when the child was born — from 2 to 5 minutes. Did'nt see any of the front part of her body. As the clothes were raised. I saw something in the form of fle^h and blood ; what it was I could'nteay. Prof. White delivered the child—he was using one hand. I don't rec 1- lect whether one or both hinds suppoited the perineum. He had a napkin in his hand. The woman was covered when the placenta was de- livered. The room was in the basement of the College, and the size is 12 or 15 feet by 18 feet They were perfectly quiet in the room. The best of order was preserved in the room. Don't recollect any talking except between Prof. White and the nurse. The janitor's wife was there and acted as nurse. I had never seen a case of labor before. Have been in practice since. Have had no cases of Midwifery since. My age is 24. Direct Resumed—1 mean to be understood, that Prof White predicted the presentation of the child from the use of the stethescope. The stethescope was used some 10 days be'ore, and from listening he predicted that such wou'd be the presentation. I don't know that he had made a manual examination. 1 used the stethescope 10 days before. Prof. White commenced t'te aus- cultation—the class then heard, one at a time I think the prediction was founded on the position in which he found the b' ating of the foetal heart most audible. The stethescope was not used just before birth. 1 went there about 9 o'clock in the evening. I didn't see the woman till about thirty minutes before birth. Before that time I was in the janitor's room and up stairs. [Defendant's Counsel offers to prove that in one of the rooms of the College, the students, while waiting to be called, regaled themselves with beer and whiskey, and with lascivious conversa- tion, and that some of them insisted they had rather assist at the conception, than at the delivery, and that the whole thing was the subject of libidinous jesting.] Offer rejected by the Court, and decision ex- cepted to by Defendant's Counsel. [The Presiding Judge here stated, that he wished to reconsider his decision of yesterdav, that the Defendant could not show that the article in Com'! Advertiser, on Demonstrative Midwifery, was approved by Dr. White, before publication, and said that Defendant might now prove that fact.] James O. Brayman, called by Defendant—1 submitted the article on Demonstrative Mid- wifery to Dr. Wh'te, before publication. I wrote it at my room in the evening, and on my way to the office next morning, I met Dr. White, and showed him the article. He read it and ap- proved of it. I wrote the article at no one's request. The reason of my writing it was, that 1 had at- tended some of the lectures at the College. I saw the woman. I went with Prof. White to see the woman—did not not see her at that time. This was after the delivery, and before the article was written. Cross Examined—My meeting with Prof ssor White next morning, alter the article was wr tten, was casual and accidental. I did not write it at Prof. White's suggestion—I had before talked of writing an article—Prof. White said he wished I would get the facts from some one else, and I did so. I showed him the article, because I wanted to ask him about a technical term 1 had used. Doct. Hugh McKknnon sworn, says—I am a practising phvsician—I reside at Middleport, Ni- agara county— I graduated at the Buffalo Medical](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21137638_0012.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
