Part 15 (2/2)
”Oh, certainly, if your Honor thinks so, we will call him. He was omitted under the presumption that his evidence would be redundant, and add unnecessarily to the costs.” Mr. Dudley sat down much pleased at his victory, and older lawyers nodded approvingly at his skilful presentation of the law. Dr. Fisher, being in court, was then asked to take the stand. Mr. Munson examined him with evident reluctance.
”You attended Miss Sloane in her last illness, Doctor?” he began.
”Yes, sir!”
”From what disease was she suffering?”
”Diphtheria.”
”Any other disease?”
”Not to my knowledge.”
”Then of course you saw no symptoms of Bright's disease?”
”Well, my attention was not called to any such trouble.”
”Be kind enough to give us a direct reply. Did you, or did you not, discover symptoms of Bright's disease?”
”I cannot say that she did not have that disease, but she made no complaints which made me suspect it.”
”Exactly! You did not suspect that she had Bright's disease, until you heard it suggested here during this trial. Is that about it?”
”I did not consider it at all.”
”Now, then, I believe that you called Dr. Meredith into the case?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Why did you do that?”
”Because, despite the efforts of myself and Dr. Medjora, the girl did not improve.”
”That is to say, you found yourself incompetent to control the disease?”
”I felt that I should have a.s.sistance. It is common practice to call a physician in consultation when a disease becomes uncontrollable.”
”He is usually a man who has special knowledge, is he not?”
”Yes, sir.”
”And you considered Dr. Meredith such a man?”
”Yes, sir.”
”That is to say, he had more knowledge of this disease than you yourself?”
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