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(i) Damages must be full and adequate. The main principles of the law on compensation for injuries were worked out in the 19th century, when railway accidents were becoming common, and all actions were tried by jury. So the law was set out in directions to the jury, which were clear and simple. Although these cases have an antiquated air, it is still useful to refer to them.

The necessity that damages should be 'full' and 'adequate' was stressed by the Court of Queen's Bench in Fair v. London and North Western Rly Co. (1869) 21 LT 326. In this case the plaintiff was a clergyman aged 27, earning 250 pounds a year and with good prospects. He was involved in a railway accident and sustained a spinal injury which resulted in paralysis of the lower limbs and impairment of the senses. The jury awarded to him 5,000 pounds general damages. 5,000 pounds would represent a very large sum in 1869, more than 100,000 pounds today. Nevertheless the court declined to order a new trial on the ground that the damages were excessive.