WAIT V. COLLIS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 5 November 1880, Page 2

WAIT V. COLLIS.

The hearing of the case brought by Dr. Wait against Mr. E. Collia for the recovery of money owing for professional services and ftiedi.cines, was continued at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. Mr. again appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Hisiop for the defendant. The. defendant's oase was continued. Dr. Fleming gave evidence that he had examined Mr. Collis recently, and had fonnd the left leg very considerably | shortened. The shortening was from to Ifin. The foot waa everted. The trochauter-major waa drawn upwards to a corresponding extent with the shortening. The left hip presented a more flat appearance than the other. In moving the thigh bone he found that the greater trochanter described a greater curve on the injured side than on the sound side. The head of the thigh bone seemed to have a more thickened and a larger feeling than on the other side, and the thigh was fixed upon the body. It appeared to him that the only thing that could have caused the shortening was a fracture at the upper part of the thigh bone, He did not think the symptoms eould have been the sanig had the shortening resulted from contusion without fracture of the I bone. In forming his opiniou as to the probable cause of the shortening, he inquired into the history of the case. He i had applied test. Had he been I called in in a case similar to that of Collis, | and learned the history of the accident, he would have suspected that a fracture had occurred. He would have expected | shortening, and would have examined the leg. It was not always possible to get shortening at the first examination. Roughly, a measurement might first be taken by putting the legs together and taking care to have the whole body in a line He would view fracture in the leg as the result of a fall upon the foot, and the fracture would probably be in the qppey part of the leg, as it was thepe that the shock was generally felt ijiast. Having ascertained the site of the fracture, he would endeavor to obtain crepitus, which wa3 not always obtained in capsular fraoture. In order to obtain crepitus where there was shortening, it would be necessary to extend the leg. This might be done by pulling on the leg, bringing the broken parts together, and rotating the limb. It was impossible to reduce shortening unless the leg was pulled, and crepitus oould not be obtained unless the broken surfaces were brought together. Without Nelatone's test, it was impossible to ascertain if there was shortening by applying the tests formerly in use—by using a tape for measurement. Supposing there were contusion of the hip joint, he would keep the patient completely at rest, and apply fomentations, ans suoh other remedies as the particular case might require. If he found that at the end of three weeks the limb was still useless, he would suspect that there was something more the matter than he at first believed. He would not at any time be satisfied with a rough test to ascertain if there was fracture. He would, if unable to satisfy himself as to the nature of the injury, make 9, further examination, and if still not satisfied he would seek further advice. Shortening of the leg might result from other causes than fracture, but they were slow in occurrence. Apart from the history of the case, he would not like to say that: , there was a means of telling definitely the cause of shortening. This was speaking generally. In a thin subject it might be possible to feel the fractured

part owing to the bono having thickened and sot the doubt at rest. Colli ß ' L was wasted, and thore was somo thicken, ing of the bone. To Mr. Newton : "Witness said ho v? a « a licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Ho had treated several cases of fracture of th a neck of the femur. This was a, frequent injury. He had examined Collis nvj Co within the past fortnight. His foot Wa , decidedly everted, but lio could not say t 0 what degree. It might be at first diHicult to distinguish between severe contusion and fracture, but not afterwards. There might be apparent shortening even j n contusion. Sudden shortening at first j s generally regarded as conclusive proof of fracture. The absence of shortening first did not render it impossible to dig. tinguish between fractftre and contuaifxi because in the majority of cases of ture crepitus could bo obtained. If there was no shortening and crepitus could not be obtained he would conclude that there was no fracture. He considered it advisable, where crepitus was suspected, to ü ße every means in his power. It would be difficult after six weeks to get crepitus although there was no union. The Court here adjourned until two o'clock.