The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-02-27

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Then with SAW he removed the dead por-
tons of the inferior maxilary bone. The
sponges pressed the wound, were every mo-
ment removed filled with blood, which
flowed very freely. The operation lasted
twenty five minutes. Tie Able was calm
and did not even knit his brow. 1t was
only when deep sigh broke from all pres
cnt, rs they stood around the bed, breathlcss
| with fear and attention, and when Depuy-
trcn said to him. 1t is all over" that the
ALbe turned slightly pale.
Dupuytrcn dressed the wound himself
81 think all will go well now," said he in
friendly tone, "lave you suffered much!"
81 endeayorcd TO think of other things"
replied the priest
In 4 few minutes he fell asleep. Dupuy-
| trcn examined him moment in profound
silence. He then drew the white curtains
round the couch, and continued his visits
through the olher wards of the hospital
The priest was saved.
Every morning, when Dupuytren arrived,
by strange ntraction of his habits, he
passed the first beds and commenced his
visit with that OF his favorite patient. At
tcrwardS, when the Able could get up and
walk few steps, Dupuytren, when the
Clinique was over, would SO to him, and
make the patient take his arm, and suiting
his step with that Of the convaescent, they
walked round the room together.
To those who knew the harshness with
which Dupuvtren habitually treated his pa
'ients, this change OF conduct was inexplca-
ble.
When the ALbc was in a condition to
, bear the journey he took leave of the Sisters
and the Doctor, aud returned to his parish
toner's.
Some months afterwards Dupuytrcn, OH
his arrival at the lIotel-Dieu, saw his pa
tient, who had been awaiting his arrival in
the Sale Saint Agnes, advancing towards
him. The Ahbe WAS still dressed in black,
but lie WAS covered with dust, and the con
dition of his shoes showed that he lad
walked a long distance. lie carried under
his arm a long osier basket. Dupuytrcn
received him in q most cordial manner and
after assuring himself that the operation had
been attended will, no unfavorable results,
he asked him what had brought him to
| Paris.
Doctor" replied the Able, "this is the
anniversary u! the day you operated on me-
| could not let the 9Th of May pass away
without coming to see YOU, and wished TO
. bring You a little present. l have put in
my basket two Of my best pullcts, and some
, pears, such rs YOU haze never seen in Paris.
You must promise me you will taste them"
| Dupuytrcn shook linn aiiectonatcly bv
! the hand. lie invited the good old man
| to dine with liim-but the ALbe refused, al
! though with deep regret, as his time was so
much occupied that it was necessary he
should return to y. at once
! For the following two years, on the 9th
of May, Dupuytren saw the little priest ar
rive with his pears and his pullets. The
Doctor received these visits with sort of
emotion.
About this time Dupuytren felt the first
attacks OF that mala,ly, before which Ills
science, immense though it was, was obliged
to yield. lie left for Italy, but without any
hope of being saved BY the journey. which
the faculty had persuaded hinlto undertake.
When he returned to France, in the month
of March, his conditioned appeared to be
amcloratcd, but this improvement was only
temporary, and he knew it well. lie saw
lie must die and counted lis moments.
His character became more inexpensive
and more sombrc as he approached his f;,-
tai end.
Perhaps those last sad llours-that moral
soitude-tliat isolation which he had SO
cruelty prepared for himself, and (which
! placed him face to face with death, gave him
a solemn warning.
Suddenly he called NJ, his adopted
son, who was watching in an adjoining
room.
"M--," said he, "writc."
" y Monsieur cure Of the parish of y,
near Nemours (Seine ct Marne.)
"My dear Able,
The Doctor in his turn has nce,l of YOU
come quickly-perhaps you will arrive
too late." Your friend,
"DUpUYTREN."
The little Able obcyed the summon i'm
mcdiately. lie remained long time shut
up with Dupuytrcn. No one knows what
passed between these two, but when the
Able left thesick mau's chamber, his ewes
were humid, and his features shone with ex.
ultation.
Thesnext day Dupuytrcn called the Arch
bishop of Paris to his bedside.
y was the eighth Of February, 1885.
Dnpuytren was dead.
On the day of the funeral the sky since
the morning had been covered with grey
clouds. A fine, continuous rain, mingled
with snow, fell upon the immense and silent
crowdsthat filled the Place Sainte Germaine
rAuxerrois, and the largo court attached to
the great surgeons house. The church OF
st. Eustache could scarcely contain the cor
tege.
The little Abbe followed the procession
weeping.
We cannot better conclude this sketch
than by the following from the "Cyclopo.
dia of Biography"
| WiliamsDupuytren, Baron, was born = at
Pierre Bnffere, l777, died at Paris, ss5.
He was one Of the most distinguished sur.
geons of modern times, and an eminent ex.
ample of the beneficial results ofthe system
Of public competition Established in France,
BY bis industry and talents he beeame. sur.
geon to- the Hotel Dieu at twenty six, and
Professor of Surgery atsthirfy5lree'y y SHe