Morris v. United States

3 F.2d 588, 1924 U.S. App. LEXIS 2478
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedNovember 10, 1924
DocketNo. 59
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 3 F.2d 588 (Morris v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Morris v. United States, 3 F.2d 588, 1924 U.S. App. LEXIS 2478 (2d Cir. 1924).

Opinion

MANTON, Circuit Judge.

This libel is based on alleged failure and neglect of the master of the steamship Polybius to provide medical care or treatment when the appellant suffered a ventral hernia after a few days out from Southhampton on a voyage from Antwerp to New York City. It was found below that this hernia was sustained while appellant was in the service of the ship. No medical attendance was given to him during the balance of the voyage. The vessel made a call at Porto Delgada, in the Azores. The appellant says that he asked there for medical aid and to be relieved of his obligations to the ship, so that he might stop there and receive some medical care. He says that this request was [589]*589denied by tbe master. Tbe appellant shipped as a “work-away” at one cent a month. He was set to work, under the boatswain, cleaning up the vessel, painting, scraping, and carrying heavy boards, which were used as scaffolding. When the vessel was two days out, he was carrying two heavy pails of sugee, a mixture used for cleaning, and while so doing sustained a severe strain, with the resulting hernia. 'There is evidence that he did not have this hernia prior to this time, which affords corroboration for his statement and ‘supports the finding below.

After this day, he said he complained to the captain, asking for medical attention half a dozen times, without result. He refused to work, claiming that he was unable to do so because of his sickness. The Poly-bius remained at Porto Delgado five or six •days before resuming her voyage to New York. His testimony, if believed (it was not below), warranted the claim that he was ill-treated in so far as food, place to sleep, and obligation to work was concerned. A day out from New York he was asked to clean the smokestack in a storm, and for failure to do so was confined in chains. His confinement, according to his own story, was very cruel and inhuman. Indeed, if believed, it would bo such as would endanger his life. There was corroboration of this confinement by the captain’s waiter and the boatswain. The boatswain says he saw him at various times from 9 in the morning until quarter of 5 in the afternoon in a stooped position in the room referred to as the supercargo room. It was located in the bulkhead end • of the vessel, and required him to be placed in a semi-sitting position on a ledge between the bunk and the partition. He said his hands were manacled and fastened to a brass ring on one of the drawers, so that they were only three or four inches from the floor. The District Court has analyzed the testimony as to Ms confinement and has refused to believe it. We need not pass on the truth of this story, but the facts are irrelevant, even if true.

But he sustained a hernia, and received no medical care for it, and it appears, with-, ■out contradiction, that on the second day after his arrival in New York he went to the United States Marine Hospital where he was operated on and obliged to remain for three weeks in endeavoring to bo cured of this sickness. He afterwards developed thrombosis of the veins of his right thigh •on the outer surface, which appeared some three weeks after the operation of the hernia, when he got up and began to walk. This kept him in the hospital for seven months longer, with constant hemorrhages from the wound caused by the operation for thrombosis of the veins. It was accompanied by pain and is a permanent disability, which will prevent him from doing heavy work.

The argument is advanced that this thrombosis resulted from his maltreatment while on board the vessel. It cannot be doubted that, if he was defiant and subversive to discipline that must be maintained at sea, the captain had full authority to punish him. Section 7 (4) of chapter 153 of the Laws of 1915, 38 Stat. 1167 (Comp. St. § 8380). He was entitled to maintenance and cure while sick with hernia, and, of course, the same would be true of his illness from thrombosis, if. it were established with reasonable certainty that the injury or maltreatment on shipboard was a competent producing cause thereof. However, the medical testimony does not warrant the claim of the appellant that the thrombosis resulted from either. That testimony establishes that the mere position the patient assumed during the period of his confinement would not cause thrombosis, unless during that time he had received some trauma or contusion, of the thigh, which later led on to the formation of a thrombus. It was testified that the thrombus occurred a month later, and further:

“Q. And the poor circulation of blood for 24 or 30 hours, is that not a competent producing cause for the coagulation of blood? Include with that the fact that the man is suffering from a hernia. A. Thrombosis occurring a month later, I would consider that this predisposing element would be very trifling.
“Q. Do you know of anything of that kind in the hospital which would cause thrombosis a month later, or three weeks after the operation? A. Thrombosis is not an infrequent complication following an operation of any kind. #
“Q. What would be the effect of chaining a man, or keeping him in a position bending over, on a rupture of the abdomen? A. Well, it couldn’t have any effect on the rupture. It would be a very distressing thing.
“Q. Assuming that he was chained in that position, and that he was there for 24 to 30 hours; in your judgment, did that have any effect on the condition of his leg? Was that the cause of the condition that [590]*590you found in his leg? A. It couldn’t cause the varicosities for the enormous blood vessel tumor. It would be a very painful thing. I can’t say that it would do anything else, except cause pain, and very, severe pain.”
And further:
“Thrombosis is caused .from an infinite number of causes. * * * Stasis is a real cause; that is, the slowing down of the blood. Then there are added causes that come in, usually infection and injury.
“Q. Do you think that the stooping posture, taking into account your examination of this man, had anything to do with the thrombosis? A. I do not.”

The record does not disclose any testimony which would show that this injury or confinement would be a competent' producing cause for the thrombosis; but the contrary is shown. Under the circumstances, the appellee would not be obligated to maintain the appellant or to pay for the effort to effect a cure from this branch of his sickness. The'appellant, however, would be responsible for his cure and maintenance during the period he was ill with hernia. The Iroquois, 194 U. S. 240, 24 S. Ct. 640, 48 L. Ed. 955. There is no proof of either medical expense or hospital cost. He was treated in the United States Marine Hospital. .This is not a suit to recover damages for putting, the appellant in irons, or compelling him to do work while he was sick, or for giving him insufficient food. There áre no such allegations in the libel as pleaded. The libel in paragraph fifth reads as follows:

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Bluebook (online)
3 F.2d 588, 1924 U.S. App. LEXIS 2478, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/morris-v-united-states-ca2-1924.