§ THE SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to examine the Physicians who have attended His Majesty, touching the State of His Majesty's Health, since the Examination of His Majesty's Physicians before a Committee of this House in the last Session of Parliament, and to report such Examination to the House;—
§ Have, pursuant to the Order of the House, examined the Physicians accordingly: which Examination is as follows:
84§ Veneris10°die Januarii, 1812.
§ The Right Honourable CHARLES LONG, in the Chair.
§ Dr. MATTHEW BAILLIE, called in; and examined.
§ 2. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming to his Parliament in person, or of attending to any kind of public business?—A. The state of his Majesty's health is such as to render him incapable of coming to Parliament, or of attending to public business.
§ What is the state of his Majesty's bodily health?—His Majesty's bodily health, when I left him on Monday last, and generally of late, has been but little disordered.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—The errors of his Majesty's mind seem to be as strongly impressed upon it, as during any part of his illness; but his Majesty has within the last few weeks been able to relate anecdotes more distinctly than for two or three months before that period.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's bodily and mental health since you was last examined before a Committee of this House, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable, or improbable?—I think that his Majesty's recovery is highly improbable.
§ Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless?—I cannot state that his Majesty's recovery is altogether without hope, but I think it still extremely improbable.
§ On what do you ground your opinion, that his Majesty's recovery is highly improbable?—I think his Majesty's recovery is highly improbable, because his illness has continued for many months; and his mental health is in a considerably worse state than it was eight or ten months ago, because his Majesty is considerably advanced in life, and because his Majesty's present indisposition has assumed a more determined form than in any of his former illnesses.
§ Has his Majesty's present degree of mental infirmity taken place gradually, or suddenly?—The present degree of his Majesty's mental infirmity may be said to have taken place rather suddenly: he was in a much better state of mental health towards the end of June; early in July, his mind was impressed with all the errors which have continued since.
85§ Have you ever known an instance of any person exactly circumstanced as his Majesty now is, in point of mental health, recovering?—My experience in com-plaints of this general class is very limited: I have not known any case resembling very exactly, in all its features, that of his Majesty. The only person that I have known, about his Majesty's lime of life, whose mental health was deranged, did not recover.
§ At the time of the sudden change from better to worse in his Majesty's mental health, in the month of July, was his bodily health much impaired, and was his life in danger?—I cannot recollect the minute circumstances attending the derangement of his bodily health at that exact period; but the general impression which remains on my mind is, that his bodily health was not worse at that time, than it has been through the general course of his indisposition.
§ Were the paroxysms of mental disorder at that time such and so violent, or are they so now, as during their continuance to bring his Majesty's life into danger from their effect?—In some of the most violent paroxysms of his Majesty's complaint, he may perhaps be said to have been in some hazard, but it never appeared to me to be considerable: with regard to the present state of his disorder, I believe that his life is in no hazard whatever.
§ Can you state how long ago it is since you formed an opinion that his Majesty's recovery was improbable?—I began to be less confident about his Majesty's recovery, at the time of the Report of July; in the beginning of October I thought his Majesty's recovery very improbable; and now my opinion with respect to the improbability of his Majesty's recovery, is rather strengthened than weakened.
§ In your opinion, are his Majesty's faculties of perception and memory, impaired in any material degree?—His Majesty's perception and apprehension seem to me to be as acute at present as during any period of his indisposition; his memory seems to be impaired, but in a very inconsiderable degree. [Withdrew.
§ Dr. WILLIAM HEBERDEN, called in; and examined.
§ 2. is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming in person to his parliament, or of attending to any public business?—A. It is such as to render him incapable of coming 86 in person to his Parliament, or of attending to any public business.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?—It is very little re moved from his Majesty's natural state of health.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—His Majesty's state of mind is very much disordered.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and bodily health since your last examination before a. Committee of the House of Commons, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or improbable?—Improbable.
§ In what degree do you consider it as improbable?—It is highly improbable, but not in an extreme degree.
§ Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless—No.
§ Is it your opinion that the prospect of his Majesty's recovery is all but hopeless?—No. His Majesty, from the middle of July last till about the second week of December, appeared to me to be more uniformly disordered in his mind than he has been since that period; had the same degree of disorder still continued, I might perhaps consider his Majesty's condition as almost hopeless, but the subsequent improvement, slight as it has been, makes me think altogether more favourably of the termination.
§ In what has that slight improvement consisted?—It consists in a greater power of conversation, and in having laid aside some erroneous notions with which his Majesty had been before possessed.
§ Is it to be understood that his Majesty's mind is not as much impressed with the errors which had possession of it before, as he was in the middle of the month of July last?—The errors to which I allude, had grown up in his Majesty's mind between the middle of July and the end of August; from the second week in December, his Majesty's mind has appeared to me to be clearer, and freer from error, than it had been in the latter part of August.
§ Do the errors which existed in his Majesty's mind before the middle of July last, still continue to exist in the same degree that they did formerly?—The errors and general character of his Majesty's disorder, since the middle of July, have appeared to me altogether different from what they were in any previous part of his Majesty's illness; and though some ideas may still remain, which posseseed
87§ his Majesty's mind early in his disorder, the greater part of them have grown up since the middle of July.
§ You are understood to say, that those errors that have possessed the mind of the King, between the middle of July and the second week in December, were quite distinct from those that had possessed it previously to the middle of July?—Yes.
§ And you are understood to say, that those errors were removed, or very much diminished at least?—Some of them have been removed.
§ State whether the errors which possessed his Majesty's mind before the middle of July, still continue to possess it?—I believe I must go into some history of his Majesty's complaint, from as long ago as February last, to the end of April: his Majesty had appeared to be getting materially better in the months of April, May, and June, there was very little of disorder exhibited; early in July, there seemed to be a fresh accession of disorder, so distinct in its character, from his Majesty's previous state, that I look upon it as indeed a new complaint.
§ Did the old complaint continue to subsist along with the new complaint; or when the new complaint manifested itself in the mind, did the old complaint seem to be extinguished? When the new complaint arose early in July, though his Majesty was not well from his former disorder, yet I am not conscious that there were any particular errors, that at that time rested upon his mind.
§ Do any of the errors that possessed his Majesty's mind before the middle of last July, now possess it?—His Majesty's mind is still possessed with the same sort of false reasoning; but I am not aware, that for some time previous to the commencement of the present disorder in July, there were any false facts upon his Majesty's mind.
§ Then the error of his Majesty's mind, as you are understood to state, previous to July, was merely that of false reasoning; are you to be understood that that was the sole error of his Majesty's mind, previous to that?—I think for two or three months previous to July, that had been the state of his Majesty's mind.
§ Does that propensity of the mind still continue?—Yes
§ Did that false reasoning extend itself to many subjects, or did it confine itself to a few?—It was principally confined to a 88 few; but there were many subjects upon which his Majesty's judgment could not be trusted.
§ Does his Majesty's mind continue to be engaged upon those particular subjects, on which you say it was principally engaged at that period?—Yes.
§ When his Majesty's mind runs upon those subjects, on which you say it was principally engaged, is it subject now to the same false reasoning it was then?—Yes.
§ You have said, that you consider his Majesty's recovery as highly improbable; have you ever known any person circumstanced in mental health, as the King is now circumstanced, and of the same age as his Majesty, recover from an illness such as his Majesty's?—I never knew any person under the same circumstances of disorder and age as his Majesty.
§ How long have you been of opinion that his Majesty's recovery was highly improbable?—Perhaps from the latter end of August. [Withdrew.
§ Dr. THOMAS MUNRO, called in; and examined.
§ 2. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming in person to his Parliament, or of attending to any kind of public business?—A. I think his Majesty's state is such as to render him incapable of coming to his Parliament, or of doing any public business.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?—The present state of his Majesty's bodily health is tolerably good.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—His Majesty's mental health is insane.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and bodily health, during his present indisposition, as far as it has come under your observation, are yon now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or improbable?—I think his Majesty's recovery is improbable.
§ In what degree do you consider Ms Majesty's recovery to be improbable?—I think it to be very improbable.
§ Are you of opinion that it is hopeless?—Certainly not.
§ On what do you found your opinion that his Majesty's mental situation is hot hopeless?—His Majesty has no symptoms of fatuity; if his Majesty had those symptoms, I should certainly consider it as a hopeless case.
89§ Do you consider that in all mental disorders not accompanied by fatuity, there is always some hope?—I certainly think there is a chance of recovery.
§ In the course of your practice, have you frequently had hopes founded upon such reasoning realized?—Certainly.
§ Have you ever known a patient circumstanced as his Majesty is, as to mental disorder and period of life, recover?—I have known patients older than his Majesty recover.
§ With the same degree of mental disorder?—Not with the same degree of mental disorder; I have seen very few cases of persons so old as his Majesty.
§ Do you conceive that the peculiar situation of his Majesty, circumstanced as he is, with regard to his regal dignity, has any effect upon his distemper?—I think there is a vast deal of irritation about his Majesty, which is seldom seen in patients in general.
§ Do you conceive that any degree or portion of his Majesty's disorder, is ascribable to his being a King?—I think certainly that the anxiety and cares of government may possibly have contributed to the disorder.
§ At this moment do you think that the sense of his own situation as being the Sovereign of the country, has any effect one way or other upon the state of his mental health?—I should think not.
§ Does his Majesty shew any anxiety on the subject of public affairs?—I have had very few opportunities of seeing his Majesty; during my presence with him, I have not observed any thing of the kind.
§ Do you conceive that his Majesty's station has, or has had, or is likely to have any, and what effect upon his mental disorder?—I conceive that his Majesty has not suffered from his high situation, as far as I have had an opportunity of observing, during my attendance.
§ Do you think that the reflection, upon his own regal state, when his mind is in a state of progress towards recovery, might have any effect either in retarding or accelerating that recovery?—I think it might have some effect in retarding that recovery.
§ How long ago is it since you first saw his Majesty?—The first time I saw his Majesty was the 9th of October.
§ Have you seen the King regularly from the 9th of October?—I have been at Windsor ten different times; the first seven weeks I was there once a week; went on 90 the Friday, and came back on the Saturday; the three last visits once a fortnight.
§ Have you witnessed any improvement in the King's mental state latterly?—I am not aware of any improvement. [Withdrew.
§ Dr. SAMUEL FOART SIMMONS, called in; and examined.
§ 2. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming in person to his parliament, or of attending to any kind of public business?—A. it certainly is.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?—Upon the whole, very good.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—A state of great derangement.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and bodily health during his present indisposition, as far as it has come under your observation, are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable, or improbable?—Improbable.
§ In what degree do you conceive it to be improbable?—It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to say.
§ Are you of opinion that it is hopeless?—I am not.
§ How long have you attended the King?—From the 9th day of October.
§ Upon what do you ground your opinion, that the King's recovery is improbable?—On the different attacks, and the repeated attacks, his Majesty has had; his age; and what I have observed occasionally of the symptoms of the disease under which he now labours.
§ Did you ever see any person as old as his Majesty, and labouring under the same degree of mental derangement, recover?—Several.
§ Did you ever see any person as old as his Majesty, and who had so long laboured under the same degree of mental infirmity, recover?—I have seen persons as old as his Majesty recover, after, I think, a longer duration of the disease than the present attack.
§ After as many repeated attacks as his Majesty has had?—With respect to the number of attacks, I have had occasion, in hospital practice, to see persons who have gone through a long life, occasionally subject to attacks of this kind; I have known persons attacked ten, twelve, or more times, and recover from each of those attacks.
§ And die of age at last?—Yes.
§ Not in a state of insanity?—I cannot 91 immediately recollect instances, bat I believe I may venture to say, that I have known some die of other disease, and not in a state of insanity.
§ Their last attack having come upon them at the age his Majesty has now attained?—That is hazarding a great deal; it would require time and reference to records to answer that question; but I certainly have seen patients as old and much older than his Majesty, recover from attacks of this kind.
§ You say that you consider his Majesty's recovery as improbable?—I do.
§ You say you have known persons as old as his Majesty, and labouring under an equal degree of mental derangement, recover?—Yes.
§ Then why do you think his Majesty's recovery improbable?—Because the number of recoveries of persons of that age is very small in comparison with the number of recoveries of those that are younger, the instances of recovery become less in the advanced periods of life. In St. Luke's hospital, we find that to be so much the case, that for the last three years, it has been resolved to admit no person above the age of seventy; before that, we were not restricted in point of age; and in the course of about thirty years there have occurred (for I looked over the Reports) about seventy-eight instances of persons of seventy years and upwards who had been admitted, and of that number only about sixteen had been discharged from the books of the hospital as cured: whereas, taking the whole number of patients during that period, the number amounting to above six thousand, about one half or very nearly half have recovered, but only one patient in five of that advanced age have recovered.
§ Is not the state of his Majesty's constitution and general health remarkably strong, considering the period of his life?—His Majesty's constitution is so good, that I should rate him as a man of sixty, in point of health, now at this moment.
§ Have you perceived latterly any symptoms of improvement in his Majesty's mental health?—I have thought, for the last month, his Majesty detailed anecdote, and seemed inclined to listen to what was said to him by those about him, rather more than he did at the beginning of my attendance.
§ Do you consider that as any material symptom of improvement?—I have thought it rather a favourable sign.
92§ Do the symptoms of his Majesty's present disorder differ in any respect, and in what, from those which you had an opportunity of observing when you attended his Majesty in his illness in 1804?—The state of his Majesty's ideas is very different from what it was in 1804; the fact is, that the symptoms of mental disease must be in a great degree the ideas of the patient; it is not like a bodily disease, you can judge of the state of a man's mind only from the ideas he gives forth, and they are in many respects very different from what they were when I attended his Majesty before.
§ Do the differences which you observed in his Majesty's present and past state lead you to form conclusions more or less unfavourable to his ultimate recovery?—More unfavourable.
§ Have you ever discovered any symptoms of fatuity in his Majesty's case?—I have not.
§ Do you, on account of the absence of that symptom, think less unfavourably of his Majesty's recovery?—More favourably.
§ Have you been in the habit of classing the different descriptions of mental disorder?—That is a matter of so much difficulty, that I have not attempted it any more than the common distinction of mania and melancholia; low spirits, and high spirits, or more or less of irritability.
§ Do you conceive the loss of sight in his Majesty would have any effect in retarding or accelerating his recovery, or rendering it more or less probable?—The number of cases of blind persons that I have met with, who have been insane, has been extremely small; they do not amount to more than seven or eight; they have been all of them unfavourable cases; and it is difficult to say what effect blindness may have, with respect to the treatment of an insane person; in some points it may be favourable, but in general one would suppose it was rather unfavourable. You cannot guide and manage the patient so well as if he could see.
§ Do you mean by unfavourable cases, cases in which the patients did not recover?—Yes.
§ Do you conceive that the reflection upon his regal state, when his Majesty's mind is in a state of progress towards recovery, might have any effect whatever in retarding or accelerating that recovery?—His Majesty has appeared to retain a consciousness of his regal state, and that seems to have given a peculiar feature to 93 his disorder, and makes it in some degree different from that of an ordinary case; but I should find it very difficult to say how far that would retard or promote his recovery; it makes the case rather more difficult to conduct.
§ Have the goodness to state, whether you consider his Majesty's perceptions as clear and distinct?—His Majesty's perceptions, with respect to any objects that are presented to him, are correct; but he has a number of ideas floating in his mind that are extremely erroneous: but he judges of the objects immediately around him, his food and those things, with great precision; speaks of the goodness of a dish, whether he likes it or not, and knows every thing presented to him; so far his perception is correct.
§ Does his Majesty's memory appear to be at all affected?;—His memory is firm and good.
§ Do you draw any inference from that circumstance, with respect to the probabilit yor improbability of recovery?—That is certainly a favourable circumstance. [Withdrew.
§ Lunœ, 13°die Januarii, 1812
§ The Right Honourable CHARLES LONG, in the Chair.
§ Dr. Sir HENRY HALFORD, Bart. called in; and examined.
§ 2. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming in person to his Parliament; or of attending to any kind of public business?—A. It is such as to render him incapable of coming to his Parliament or attending to any kind of public business.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?—Not good, by any means.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—Extremely disordered.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's bodily and mental health, since your last examination before a Committee of the House of Commons, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or improbable?—Improbable.
§ In what degree do you consider it as improbable?—Very improbable.
§ Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless?—No.
§ On what do you found the opinion, that his Majesty's recovery is not hopeless, though very improbable?—It is Very improbable, from the character of his present 94 symptoms; from the duration of the disorder, and from his Majesty's advanced period of fife; but above all, from the influence of his Majesty's peculiar situation and circumstances, upon his irritable constitution: but his Majesty's faculties of perception and memory are not impaired. When did you first form an opinion that the recovery of his Majesty was very improbable?—In the beginning of July last I thought it improbable; and the continuance of his symptoms since that time has made it very improbable, in my opinion.
§ Do you expect that his Majesty will recover?—I do not expect that he will recover.
§ Is his Majesty in a state to converse upon public affairs?—Certainly not.
§ Has there been any period since your last examination, when his Majesty's life has appeared in immediate danger?—No.
§ Is there any such danger existing now?—I think there was not when I left Windsor on Saturday; but I have reason to think that within the last four and twenty hours the King has not been so well.
§ Had any fresh accession of disorder taken place before you left Windsor on Saturday, or had you reason to apprehend that it was coming on?—His Majesty was under circumstances to make one rather suspect that it was coming on, than that it had established itself.
§ Could you ascribe the aggravation of the symptoms that was coming on, to any particular cause?—No.
§ Is his Majesty's bodily health more impaired now than it was six months ago?—I do not think it is.
§ Is his Majesty in a worse state of bodily health than he was when you were last examined?—No.
§ Have you observed any signs of amendment in his Majesty since the beginning of December?—There have been several occasions on which the violence of his Majesty's disorder appeared to be so far abated, and his mind seemed so far cleared up as to admit of his detailing anecdotes of past times accurately, but not to exercise a sound judgment on present circumstances.
§ Since the beginning of December, has his Majesty shewn generally more disposition to conversation?—His Majesty has frequently shewn himself rather more capable of conversation.
§ Has his Majesty, in any of those conversation to which you have referred ad- 95 verted to the circumstances of his own situation?—Yes. By watching the turn of his Majesty's thought, and the remarkable energy of his expressions, it is obvious that his mind has been deeply stricken by the supercession of his authority. I think it is important to state this, because it has a greater weight in determining the opinion which I have formed as to the great improbability of his Majesty's recovery, than the particular symptoms of his com plaint. [Withdrew.
§ Dr. JOHN WILLIS, called in; and examined.
§ 2. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming in person to his Parliament, or of attending to any kind of public business?—A. His Majesty is incapable of doing either.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?—His Majesty's bodily health I have thought somewhat improved since I saw his Majesty first, which was the 9th of October; bat not within, the last week.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—There is a very great degree of derangement, and particularly bordering on insanity, having very much the symptoms of insanity; at the same time rather unusually and occasionally with delirious characters.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and bodily health during his present indisposition, as far as it has come under your observation, are you of opinion, that his Majesty's recovery is probable or improbable?—Very improbable.
§ Are you of opinion, that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless?—No, certainly not hopeless.
§ On what do you found your opinion, that his Majesty's recovery is not hopeless?—I think it has not arrived at that fixed point, at which cases generally are hopeless; it has not so decidedly that fixed character of insanity to render it hopeless.
§ Do you expect that his Majesty will recover?—No; I do not expect that his Majesty will recover.
§ When did you leave Windsor?—This morning.
§ What was his Majesty's state at the time you left Windsor?—A very indifferent state.
§ Is it worse than it was last week?—Yes; I think, it is certainly worse than it was last week.
96§ Has there been any aggravation of symptoms within the last three days?—I think there has; they have bordered more on the symptoms of delirium, perhaps not to a greater degree than I have seen since the 9th of October, but, as compared with ten days or a fortnight before, there was then a better appearance. From the 9th of October to the 23d of November, I saw his Majesty only three days.
§ How often do you visit his Majesty now?—I have been resident at Windsor ever since the 18th of November, with the interval of the last week; I returned on Saturday.
§ There appears, in a Report presented to the House of Commons from her Majesty's Council, to have been the correction of an opinion given by one of the physicians in his first examination; were you the physician who so corrected your opinion?—I was.
§ Were there any grounds upon which you could form a different opinion from that which you gave in your first examination, before the second took place?—I do not know, with regard to my own feelings, that I formed a different opinion; but I found that I had not used a word with its proper import, being perhaps in the habit of using the word despair' in a more light manner than I ought to have been: I did not mean that I did despair totally; but one is perhaps apt, when speaking to the friends of a person who ask whether they shall remain longer or not, or whether you despair, to say, I conceive a person may recover, but I cannot be without despair, or I cannot help despairing; but on hearing read the words I had used, "I cannot help despairing," with an emphasis laid upon them, I was struck with them as conveying a meaning much stronger than I intended. I had not been in the habit of attending the Queen's Council.
§ Did you mean more by saying you despaired of the recovery, than that you did not expect a recovery?—No, I did not.
§ You attended the King on former illness?—Yes.
§ Is his mental state worse now than occurred at any time during those previous illnesses when you saw his Majesty?—Very considerably worse than I had seen his Majesty before.
§ You stated, that you were called in on the 9th of October; has your attendance upon his Majesty been pretty constant sine that time?—From the 9th of Oc- 97 tober I saw the King only to the 12th of October, and was called in again on the 18th of November; since which I have attended his Majesty regularly.
§ Since your attendance became pretty constant, have you ever witnessed any thing approaching to a lucid interval in his Majesty's case?—I have seen several times in which the King could hold conversation extremely well for a short time, but his Majesty was always liable to the disorder pressing, upon the mind again at any moment. The King has held certainly good conversations.
§ Do those conversations appear to you to be of a favourable tendency?—Certainly one cannot help having a hope from hearing those conversations, but it requires to get to a further advanced point to be able to say that it is really an amendment; it is often what takes place when derangement is gradually ceasing.
§ Then the derangement of the King's mind is not such as to leave you without hope at any moment?—It had yesterday much of a feverish tendency; it was more difficult to interrupt the King from the influence of disorder on his mind; but there is generally a capacity in the King to answer any sort of questions.
§ Since your attendance upon his Majesty, has there, in your judgment, been any appearance of progressive improvement?—I can hardly so well call it progressive improvement, as occasional; there were many days on which there was a great degree of quiet that has taken place at different times since the 23d of November.
§ Is your opinion upon the improbability of his Majesty's recovery as strong now as it was on the 9th of October?—It is.
§ Do you consider his Majesty's disorder, in general, nearest allied to delirium or insanity?—For the most part, during the greatest part of the time I have seen his Majesty in his present indisposition, it has been nearest allied to insanity. [Withdrew.
§ Dr. ROBERT DARLING WILLIS, called in; and examined.
§ Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him incapable of coming in person to his parliament, or of attending to, any Wind of public business?—His Majesty's state is not such as to enable him to come to his parliament, or to attend to any kind of public business.
§ What it the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?—The, present state 98 of his Majesty's bodily health is by no means good, though it may be considered, generally speaking better than under the circumstances of want of air and exercise might have been expected. This morning, his Majesty is in an extremely agitated and nervous state, which has been increasing for some time past.
§ What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health?—The state of his Majesty's health is worse at present than it has been at any time since his attack.
§ Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental health since your last examination before a Committee of the House of Commons, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable, or improbable?—Extremely improbable.
§ Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless?—I do not think it impossible; but I really hardly know how to apply the word hopeless in a medical sense, it is only applicable to a state somewhere between extreme improbability and" impossibility, but that is a state which is so extremely difficult to ascertain, and in the greater number of instances will be as transient, that I hardly know how to apply the words. I do not think it impossible, but it is in my opinion all but impossible.
§ When did you first form your opinion, that his Majesty's recovery was extremely improbable?—I began to have a very indifferent opinion of his Majesty's state, soon after the beginning of the paroxysm in July; and as the symptoms have never given way in any respect, my hopes have continually decreased.
§ Is there any thing peculiar in the aggravated symptoms which have shewn themselves within the last three days?—Nothing peculiar; nothing that we have hot seen in several aggravated states before.
§ Are the symptoms themselves more aggravated than they have been at any previous time?—No; I have seen his Majesty in the same state several times
§ Are the symptoms which have appeared within the last three days, such as to endanger his Majesty's life?—In any other individual I think they would; but I have so repeatedly seen the King in the same state, and have seen them give way afterwards, that I can hardly say that I consider his Majesty's life as in danger from those symptoms.
§ Referring to the answer given to the third question, respecting the state of his Majesty's mental health, did you mean to convey to the Committee that his mental 99 health is now worse than it was after the paroxysm came on in July?—I think it is.
§ Do you mean to confine your answer to that question, merely to appearances within the last three days?—No; nothing has taken place within the last few days to increase the mental symptoms. The mental symptoms have regularly increased since July; they have never diminished.
§ Has there been no abatement of symptoms, at times, since the beginning of December?—No abatement of the essential symptoms. [Withdrew.