Medical Case Histories: Volume 1

Description

Bound, paginated manuscript volume, containing details of various medico-legal cases for which Thomas Scattergood conducted forensic testing. Pages are numbered: 1-268.


Most of the cases are dated and have titles; they contain detailed notes about the specimens provided to Scattergood, the experiments undertaken, and the results of his findings. There are often notes in the margins of each case, and many include related newspaper articles - some of which mention where Scattergood gave evidence at trials. Some of the cases have sketches of chemistry equipment set up for experiments, and some sketches of cells viewed under a microscope.


There is an index to the cases at the back of the volume. Bookplate for ‘Mr T Scattergood’ attached inside front cover, with ‘Park Square Leeds’ written in ink.


The subjects of the cases include:

• Cases of poisoning, by: strychnine, croton oil, arsenic, opium, lead, hydrogen cyanide, aconite, cyanide of potassium, arsenious acid, phosphorus paste, sulphate of zinc, nitrate of silver, laudanum, sulphuric acid, oxalic acid

• Examinations of flour and cape wines

• Poisoning of animals, including: horses, cows, dogs, chickens, pheasants, pigs, partridges, rats, rooks

• Attempt to procure abortion

• Cases of deaths from drowning, burning and injuries to brain

• Alleged deaths from vaccination

• Gunshot wounds

• Alleged rape

• Cases of murder and manslaughter


Notably, this volume contains details of the evidence Scattergood tested for the murder trial of Mary Ann Cotton (1832-1873). The cases are known as the West Auckland cases of poisoning by arsenic in the volume, and they cover testing on four cases: Charles Edward Cotton, Joseph Nattrass, Robert Robson Cotton and Frederick Cotton Jnr. They date between 26 Jul -16 Oct 1872 [pp.179-206]


Loose letters and note pages housed in a separate envelope at the front of the volume [17 items]. Includes:

• Page of case notes by H.E. Brameld, on a case of choking, 3 Dec 1875

• Press cutting on ‘Assessors in County Courts’

• Letter to Scattergood from J.B. Bennett, 21 Jul 1876, re a post-mortem

• Press cutting from the British Medical Journal ‘On the appearances presented by the bodies of two children exhumed at St Helen’s Auckland’, by R.T. Manson, 14 Dec 1872.

• Page of notes on chemical testing

• Two pages with a table listing each case in the book, with details on examination of starch

• Page of notes on two powders

• Letter to Scattergood from an unidentified writer, requesting medicine, 24 April 1875 [only first page]

• Page of notes on the contents of a jar of flour from the Epworth Poisoning case, May 1875

• Copy letter relating to testing a liquid

• Press cutting on the Social Science Congress in Liverpool

• Press cutting relating to a case for which Scattergood provided reports, on oxalic acid

• Letter to Scattergood from W.E. Shirley, relating to a case of poisoning

• Printed copy of regulations required by the Pharmacy Act, 1868

Provenance

Previously catalogued under the artificial collection SC MS Case notes.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

Material may be unavailable on conservation grounds. Access is at the discretion of the Conservation Officer.

Users are advised that this material contains detailed descriptions of forensic testing, medical examinations of individuals, and autopsies, often for serious criminal cases, which may be upsetting for readers.

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Physical and technical conditions

Spine cover is missing, exposing the binding. Covers are worn, with metal clasp.


Newspaper articles and inserts throughout can be fragile, some are torn from their attachments and are loose in the volume.