Part 21 (1/2)

HATSELL, BARON--But did you so or no?

DIMSDALE--Yes, my lord, we had some words about it.

JONES--Swear Dr. Coatsworth. (Which was done.) Now, my lord, we call these gentlemen that are doctors of skill, to know their opinions of them that are found floating without water in them, how they came by their death.

DR. COATSWORTH--I have not seen many drowned bodies to make observation upon; but it is my opinion, that every body that is drowned, is suffocated by water pa.s.sing down the windpipe into the lungs upon respiration; and at the same time, the water pressing upon the gullet, there will be a necessity of swallowing a great part of it into the stomach; I have been in danger of being drowned myself, and I was forced to swallow a great quant.i.ty of water. If a person was drowned, and taken out immediately, as soon as the suffocation was effected, I should not wonder if there were but little water in the stomach and guts; but if it lay in the water several hours, it must be very strange if the belly should not be full of water; but I will not say, it is impossible it should be otherwise.

COWPER--I desire to know, whether this gentleman attempted to drown himself, or was in danger of being drowned by accident?

DR. COATSWORTH--It was by accident: I was pa.s.sing up the s.h.i.+p-side, and took hold of a loose rope instead of the entering rope, which failing me, I fell into the water.

COWPER--But you struggled to save yourself from drowning?

DR. COATSWORTH--I did so; I have seen several persons that have been drowned, and they have lain several days, until by fermentation they have been raised; but I never made my observations of any persons that have been drowned above six hours.

JONES--Did you ever hear of any persons that, as soon as they were drowned, had swam above water?

DR. COATSWORTH--I have not known such a case.

COWPER--Did you ever know, Sir, a body that was otherwise killed, to float upon the water?

DR. COATSWORTH--I never made any observation of that.

HATSELL, BARON--Dr. Browne has a learned discourse, in his _Vulgar Errors_, upon this subject, concerning the floating of dead bodies; I do not understand it myself, but he hath a whole chapter about it.[46]

_Then Dr. Nailor was sworn._

JONES--We ask you the same question that Dr. Coatsworth was asked, What is your opinion of dead bodies? If a body be drowned, will it have water in it or no?

DR. NAILOR--My lord, I am of opinion, that it will have a quant.i.ty if it be drowned; but if there be no water in the body, I believe that the person was dead before it was put into the water.

COWPER--I would ask the doctor one question, my lord, Whether he was not a constant voter against the interest of our family in this corporation?

DR. NAILOR--I never did come to give a vote but sir William Cowper, or his son, opposed me, and said I had no right to vote.

COWPER--I would have asked the same question of the Dimsdales, if I had remembered it; they are of another party, as this gentleman is.

HATSELL, BARON--It is not at all material, as they are witnesses. Then call Mr. Babington. (Who was sworn.)

JONES--Pray, what is your opinion of this matter?

BABINGTON--I am of opinion, that all bodies that go into the water alive and are drowned, have water in them, and sink as soon as they are drowned, and do not rise so soon as this gentlewoman did.

COWPER--Pray, what is your profession, Sir?

BABINGTON--I am a surgeon.

COWPER--Because Mr. Jones called you doctor.

HATSELL, BARON--Did you ever see any drowned bodies?