The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-07-06
The Surgeons Revenge.

The following deeply interesting story was re-
lateo by DIR. Gibson in one Of his lectures before
the medical class of the UniAersity oi pen-ylvana
The hero Of the story is Vesale, one Of the most
emlnent of the Italian surgeons:
| Andre Vesale, says the manuscript first saw
the light IN the city Of Brussels in the year 1914
His father was an apothecary; attached To the
service the Princess Margaret, aun, Of the En-
peror Charles v. and governess nf the low coun-
/ tries
Up to the period when Vesalc first rendered
himself conspicuous the anatomy of the human
body was so imperfectly understood, as scarcely
to merit that the form of science should b. applied
/ TO the dim and confused idea relation to it, We
sales was the first to break through the trammels
with which ignorance and bigotry had crippled the
march Of science surmounting with admirable
courage and constancy the disgust, the terror and
even the peril inseperable fiom this description Of
labor. in which he had devoted himself he was to
be seen whole days and nights in the cemeteries
surrounded by the festsrng remains Of mortality ;
or gibbets, and disputng with the vulture for its
prey. in order TO compose perfect skeleton from
the remains Of executed criminals left there TO be
devoured by the cnrrion bird
1t was during soiourn at Basle after his return
from Italy, that Vesale first beheld the house of
Hans Holden the painter Isabella Van Steen.
wyrk, the daughter Of merchant at Ilarlcm. who
destined TO exercise influence over his future
life. He was scarcely twenty-eight years OF age,
9 already had attained the summit of well directed
y ambition
, The family Of Van Steenwyrk was n wealthy
and honorable one far superior 10 that Of Nesale
but the distinguished position the latter had ac-
qured for himself entitled him to aspire TO an al
lance even more exalted. The son Of the Prin
cess Margaret's apothecary would have been re-
jccted by the rich Harlem burgher, the Emperor,
first physician accepted by him as the eligible
; soninlaw. The marriage sslemnized, Nesal, ac
. companied by his young bride, set off for Seville
u where Charles then held his court,
: She loved her husband, though there was SC
much awe mingled with her affections a- to throw
+ an appearance Of constrant over her dcmeanor
towards him, even in the privacy Of her domestl,
5 life. The very nature Of his profession and occu
: patton was calculated 10 increase that awe, anC
u even tn create some degree Of repugnance, in !
shrinking mind which nothing but strong affection
II would overcome. Isabella's nature required skill
o ful drawing out and tender fostering. Nesalc
" unfortunately mistook her tmdty for coldness
and returned it accordingly this led to estrange
Is ment on her part. which he attributed TO dislike
and jealous distrust at last took possession Of hi
u soul
u Amidst the galleries uf Seville, where for
u woman to be young and attractive, was to com
! mand the attention and authorize the devotion .
the other sex, it difficult task to tn,
" susceptibilitics of n suspicious husband.
H. Nesalcs house became the resort Of all that wa
= noble and gallent in Seville, and he for tim,
believed his own scientific conversation to be thu
u attraction. At first the Young wife showed he
usual calm indifference to the admiration that fol
lowed wherever she was seen but, at last, some
y , one particular person appeared or his name Wa
Il mentioned, betrayed that there did not exist
"a being who had discovered the secret ofcausing til
u: blood to flow more tumultuously through he
o' veins. That person was Don Alver de Soils, an
: :, rs he was young, handsome, gay, and the mo:
is innocent gallant in Seville the suspicious Of VI
sale were painfully aroused. He took silent not
Of the unusual emotions that agtated Isabel
whenever that nobleman was in her presence
The gallant conduct of Don Alver was calc,
NJ lated to battle suspicion, being marked by indi
NJ ference This would have misled the vigan
I'd husband, had he not on one occasion, when hi
IN back was turned towards Don Alver, perceive
I'd him in an opposite mirror, fix his kindlng eyes "
o. on Isabella with an expression not to be mstakel
es while she grew red and pale by turns, and then
II though unable to surmount her agitation rose an
left the room. Shortly after. Ncsale received a
c annymous note, saving to your wife an
N Don Avert de Soils, and be not deceived bv ~
ee pearances They orly want fitting opportunlt
II to cishonor YOU Even now he carries about lii
m the gloves she dropped him at mass
10 Vesale shut hims,lfup to pcnders over The mos
Va effectual means of avenging himself His rcsol,
or ton was promptly taken. He had cstabli>he
Il. schools of anatomy at 81. Lucar and Cardova-
n obtained the emperors permission tn visit then
r. quilted Seville, ostcnsbv for that purpose, bt
m. returned the same night and concealed himself
ut a tenement belonging To him at some distanC
- from his abode in Aicazar, which was devoted I
IN the double purpose of laboratory and disScc,,
nd room. lie had taken no person into his coniidenc,
O. he was alone in his vengnnce and he listened |
10 his own counsel. At dark on the following ever
T. ing he issued forth, mutled To the eyes in ",
at mans mantle and hood, and left y note at Dc
fe Alyers habitaton, containing an cmbrodcrc
~ glove OF lsahella's md these words; -
r. Il have obtained the KEY to Nesale's iahur,tor
Sc durin his absence; be at the gate an hour aits
" midnight, and you shall be admitted on pronoul
y cling the name ISABELLA"
The assgnatiqn was promptly kept by D,
,d Alvcr At an hour past midnight he left I'll
id house alone; but he never returned Width,
n. ho had gone none could say nor could any ira,
I'd Of him be ever discovered. 1t was supposed l
or must have missed his footing and fell in the Ga
To delquiver, near which his abode was situated
and that his body had been swept away by III
al waves into the ocean.
nd Such an occurance was calculated 10 produce
h. great sensation in theplace were it had happened
=. and Ncsale recalled. three weeks aite by Il
,y illness of his wife, found the disappearance Of Dc
nv Alver the theme Of every tongue--1hc altere
,b appearance of Isabella was attributed by Vesa
nv to grsifor tho mysterious absence of Don AlveI
e. and the conviction took from him all pity for Ia
he suiferings.
ye 1t chanced TO be the festival of Santa Isabel
ie and to do honor to her patron saint, and to eel
brate the return Of her husband, Isabella put
re- her wedding Dress and seated herself by an op,
n. easement that overlooked the Alver gardens 81
d. watched for his coming. But whilst her eyes W
ia. vainly fixed upon tho path by which she expect,
n. him to appear, n hand was laid upon her sholdc
Mt and turning round she bcheld Vesale standing |
A. her side
e. II have ordered the supper to be laid in n
(, study" said he, and taking her hond, he led h
n. away to the room in question. dismissed the a
nd tendant and closed the door. Everything wo
ct n festive air; yet the rcpast was cheerless.-
mt Preceiving that she tasted nothing Ncsae pour,
,fc few drops from vial of elixir in cup ui Nal