McDonough v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.

The facts are adequately stated in the opinion of the Supreme Court, ubi sufra. The appellant, petitioner, in a workmen’s compensation proceeding, was in hospital under treatment for an injured hand due to a previous accident. The treatment required the injured hand to be bandaged, and the bandage to be kept wet with alcohol. The attending physician warned appellant not to smoke, and went so far as to instruct the nurse not to let him have cigarettes or matches. Nevertheless, in some way be obtained both, and in lighting a cigarette the wet alcohol bandage caught fire and the resulting burns…