Breaking a leg

[wsanto]

(02-20-2013 06:49 AM)J. Beckert Wrote:  While I favor the horse fall theory due to the physical evidence and the fact it guarantees a break exactly where Booth had one, I'm wondering if this wasn't over heard by a black person who then relayed it at some point to investigators. Blacks were not allowed to testify at the time, so no legal "weight" would be given to their statements. That would also explain why there's no source for it.

I was wondering about that very thing and going to ask that question. That is very interesting. Now could a white person testify to what a black person told them? That is, could Wood testify to what one of Mudd's servants told him? If not, that becomes a much more likely source for the "lost" evidence than a witness at Fords. I agree with Heath that Mr. Swann may also have been the source. Did he testify at the trial? One more question--was Mr.Davis, Mudd's farmhand a black man or a white man? Was he a witness?

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(02-20-2013 08:54 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I am not a doctor and do not know the veracity of this, but the web page here says things like, "Most of fibula fractures are not identified easily and some individuals live with fibula fracture with mild pain for long time" and "Patients with fibula fracture can walk with minor discomfort as the fibula bone bears less body weight."

There are different types of fractures.

Stress fractures are the most minor and are hardly fractures at all. People can walk on these even in weight-bearing bones with minimal to moderate discomfort. These usually do not require casting because there is no movement of the fracture line and the body can heal this injury with just time.

Simple and Compound fractures are more severe and require immobilization either with casting or surgical reduction and fixation.

If someone suffers a simple or compound fracture of a weight-bearing bone in the leg or ankle this would usually stop them in their tracks as they would not be able to bear any weight on the fracture. Also, if one breaks their fibula at the level of the ankle joint (where it articulates with the bones of the foot) that would also be hard to overcome.

But a fracture of the fibula a few inches above the ankle could be overcome and very often is walked upon for some time if the person has a relatively high pain threshold. Of course, this fracture, over the course of time, will become increasingly inflammed and more painful and, if untreated, will typically not bear weight.