SKIN GRAFTING ON A BOY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1716, 5 April 1913, Page 15

SKIN GRAFTING ON A BOY.

SACRIFICE BY SISTER AND ' BROTHER. LAW COURTS STORY OF A PHOS PHORUS BURN. ' In unexpected • demonstration of- tli< effect of phosphorus when placed an i boy's- pocket 'provided' an, entertalnihi story in Mr. Justice Darling's Court ii London on /March 19. " ' The; Essex County; Council und Mr Frank W. Lynch, a scienco master, wen defendants 'in an. action brought by'/Cyril Irederick; Shepherd, son of 3lr. Lane yhepheru,' an overseer in the cabk department of 'the General Post Office I ho plaintiff alleged that Air. Lynch hd( been guilty of negligence, and claimed damages lor aii ill jury • ho received through that negligence. Mr. Colani, K.C., who'appeared for the boy. said that his client was, 16 years ol ago. '■ On February 2i last year thirty boys in the County High School at Ilforil Were indulging in chemistry experiments in charge <ft Air. Lynch, with a view to showing the, action of phosphorus when exposed, to' oxygen. Instead 1 of handing the boys a piece of phosphorus each, the master told them to fetch it, and thoy scrambled up. to the desk,' taking"lUyaj a piece with their fingers. Plaintiff secured a small piece, which his companion said was too small for the purpose, so'the other boy went to fetch more, and plaintiff foolishly but innocently dropped the small piece into liis jacket pocket, and promptly forgot'it." , Successful Skin-Grafting. .They proceeded with. tlio. experiment, Wlieii .suddenly.'the"phosphorus : in the boy's pocket burst into flame and burnt the: b'oy'a hand and thigh severely. The master, said counsel, apparently lost his head, and told the boys "to "rub in 1 ' carron oil. Unfortunately they did "rub i t iu," with very serious results, for the toy's skin would, not grow afterwards. Attempts made to graft frog akin we're without result, but eventually pieces' of the skin of the plaintiff's brother and sister were grafted to the limb, which was now healed. But evek now 1 it might bb necessary to oporate further. It would be suggested, said Mr. Colam; that tho master had been negligent because lie did riot inform the' boys'(if the dangerous, and inflammable ■ nature of phosphorus, and was hot' vigilant enough to sco' : that' tho boys handled ' the substance properly. Asked by Mr. Justice Darling why ho put tlio piece,' of phosphorus"into"his pocket, plaintiff, a bright lady said lio wanted to . perforin' another '-'Aiperiitieht later on. " ' "" ' ' : ' "AVhat, outside?" asked the Judge. "No,' : iii class'," was the answer. Plaintiff having stated the"practice, was to put the eheuiical into, a glass jar, Mr. I£.C.'(cross-exanii2iiig) asked if there was, wjatei; in' the jar? " ' "No," was 'tlis. reply. ' "Tlien I'm wrong," admitted counsel, "jes,"- said his Lordship.. ''We'll put you in a lower-class." (Laughter.) Plaintiff; denied that two days before the accident lie. had fyeen told of the [lunger of handling phosphorus when it tvas. dry." "" ' " How to Make "Oracles,'.' , But you know that phosphorus, if •übbed on tho wall, 'will make luminous narks in the dark?—l didn't know this voiikL I knew mutches would. (Laugher.) , i Plaintiff also denied that he wanted to ako the'phosphorus home to play with.' Iq explained"that"they used tho pbiosjhorus'to make " "oracles" with." What are "oracles?" asked,:.the Judge. 'I didn't know (they were easily 1 made." Laughter.)!'i;, f "y? .The 'boy said,they rubbed the substance m paper, making outlines,'and then tho, iubstance caught alight and burnt -along ;hoso lines. - ■ ' ' Thomas Leslie If'Cririck, who ij;as, with ;ho plaintiff when' 'the disastrous' exp.erilient was "made, said ho recollected tho jtaintiff . saying': "Go and fetch another nece. I want this piece for myself." 'Ho iid. -not hear tho master warn tho boys )f the danger of phosphorus. • "You are learning ' chemistry?" asked ;ho Judge. "No; I was taking it," was (tho ambiguous reply. : Another scholar, Charles William Fox, ;r.id he obtained a whole stick of phosphorus from his master's desk. 'He saw 3arron oil being rubljed into the plaintiff's ' thigh. Mr.. Lynch was' therej ind Mr. Porter, another master, coming m at tho, time, 'said: "Good heavens! lou 11 rub the poor boy's skin off. Wha'i idiot told you to rub. that in?" Witness' afterwards stated that he obtained three sticks of phosphorus, as he wanted thorn for experiments afterwards', lie thought the master "knew the boys took phosphorus for'experinients on their account.' '"Ho did not' wait'until the master's back was turned till 'ho took hi< (Laughter.) '" " His Lordship: If he had seen you, you would probably havo' had more stick.' "Born in Sin," When ' plaintiff's case had concluded Mr. Shearman" submitted that there was nothing against the County Council to go to ithe jury. "-Boys, are born in sin," remarked the Judge, "and they are by nature mischievous, and will rather do wrong than right, All these things one is expected to know about boys, and that is one of the'reasons why they are sen£ to school; , and they are supposed, to, become better when they grow up. (T/aughttr.)" I : fcannot withdraw tho case, frpni the jury." Mr. Shearman''.proceeded'to urge that there was no negligenco on .Mr.. Lvnch's part, and that the Jx>y brought "the mieb'uiself ; ;.'Boys ha ve » habit of ihingii," ' - proceetjfcd ■ counsel, and they do not. think that is' wrong. But I submit that vlien he put this'piece j)f, phosphorus in- his pocket plaintiff fa Ayrong, and has been, therefore, guilty,'of contributory ' necflijenoe. . ■> - - • , Mr- , F : W- lynch, the defendant, said he had been engaged in teaching chemistry lor five years.' He wont to the Ilford scliool a week previous to the incident in auestioil, aijd was not familiar with the Hoys when the accident happened. But two days previously he had told the boys , shepherd included) that phosphorus was very inflammable when allowed to .get \varm ami exposed to tho air, and Tie ivoulq not have countenanced for a moincut one, of the boys taking any of the phosphorus and placing it in his pocket. Ho did not suggest to any of the boys 'TT ii y s fl°"W'"rub in" the'ca'rron oil. .Mr. 1. L. Porter, senior chemical master at the school, said ho "always told jh». -bpys that every' s'ubstauco used" in. the laboratory was 'dangerous 'unless Used jecovding to instructions, ; He denied that pupils were allowed to conduct experiments ipth -chemicals 'own iccount alter lessoils were over. ' The Judge: I"wonder what would hry :ome of tho building if he did, (Laughter.) . Witness -explained that "oracles""were rfton made by tho boys with nitre or saltpetre. ri;e word "oracle" came ' from lieecliam's advertisement, ho addd. ' His Lordship: I don't know it. -I'lie caso was thoii adjourned till next jay. ■ ' "Will it Light Now?" . When'' tho. hearing was resumed, the exhibit which 'interested the Court was produced »by Mr. Porter, the head scienco master at the school. He explained that the phosphorus would burst into flnmo when the temperature reached 93 degrees i-ahrenhe.it. ! "WiH it light npw?" asked Mr. Justice Darling. . ' "I all depends on the temperature of tho Court/' \ycis the reply. "We'll soon see what that is," said his lordship, leaving his seat and walking to a thermometer. "It's 53 degrees here. Much too cold!" (Laughter.) Before he left the witness-box, Mr. Porter protested-against the statement of a witness on tho, previous day, to the effect that wjien he saw boys rubbing carron oil into the burnt hip he cried out: "What idiot told you. to rub that in?" He said entiling of the sort^ , Mr. A. E. Diclceiis, the headmaster oi the school, said lie saw, Shepherd aftei the accident, and fhe hoy then stated thai he knew her was doing wrong in piacinf the phosphorus in his pocket. .. "It.would.be.a very dull.boy who die: not know the qualities of phosphorus?''

asked Mr.. Shearmau, K.C. .(for the . d<h fendnnts). ; "Yes," was the.reply. "And Shepherd was a smart lad." Tho Judge said tho question was whether warning or caution-had been sufficiently given. . "I .was never at a public school or any other school," ho proceeded,' "but I know that boys in public schools aro not looked after day' hud night like boys., aro in tho French ElysCo schools." (Laughter.) ; Addressing tho jury for the defendants, Mr. Shearman said there was once a lunatic who brought an action' against the 'authorities of lin 'asylum'because ho had jumped out of a window and cracked his head. ."That crack did not cure tho unreasonableness which caused the lunatic's incarceration," added counsel, amid much, laughter. "That very (ase was- tried •in "these'' Courts." The Judge, in his summing-up, said it had "been lield that a schoolmaster was bound to take as much caro of his boys as a. careful father would, and to_ tako notice of their tendency to do mischievous things. That meant that they were to Consider whether it was negligence not to givo a. warning continually to boys. Ho would not think of telling a grown-up man not to play with matches. "Ona of tho advantages of being grown up," lie lidded, "is that you are relieved of a great deal of tedious and tiresome advice." . , „ , The jury found for the, defendants, and judgment'was entered accordingly, with costs. ': '