Bell v. Merchants' Cotton Oil Co.

The question in this case is whether the Employers’ Liability Act allows compensation for the loss of only one phalanx of a finger. The district court allowed compensation for the injury, under subsection (e) of section 8 of the statute, being Act 20 of 1914, as amended by Act 243 of 1916, by Act 38 of 1918, by Act 247 of 1920, by Act 43 of 1922, and by Act 216 of 1924. The Court of Appeal reversed the judgment and dismissed the suit.

Under subsection (d) of section 8 of the statute the compensation allowed for the loss of a first finger, called the index finger, is 65 per cent, of the weekly…