Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-19
A HOSPITAL HERO

the blazing lights in the butchers shops in
Clare Market waved about like Internal ban
ners. The policemen stood stifay ND in the
dOOrwsys for shelter; and we who were snugly
ensconsed In the hOuse-surgeon's room of old
St- Barn&oas, were perhaps the only people
perfectly comfortable in the parisb Of 81.
Clement Danes. Our party consisted of Brown
(we'H call him Brown myself and a small
thin man, called Jourdan. How small and
fragile he looked as he sat on the arm of the
old horse-hair sofa, discussing with Brown and
myself question in physiology. How red the
spots grew over his cheek bones, and how his
cough ratified as he called Muller, Kolhker
and ScrOeder Won der KOlk to witness that he
was right, and We two signally and niserably
wrong
- Veil "a ha !, - ..;d .,,.s, ..u,.b
wind bowls 1t must matter but little to these
poor neighbors OF ours under the Adslphi
aTcnes whether their sensOry nerve fbres can
be traced upward from the pOsterior columns
OF the cord or not. For my own part, don't
believe a"
What" shrieked JOurdan, "when Wagner
has demonstrated that
"Oh, please, SIR" said a nurse, bouncing
into the room, that man in the Top-W ard has
got out Of bed, and is jumpin mad"
. ell, make him go back again.
I" L can't, sir. He's got the crutch from the
patient In the next bed, and daren't 20 near
him."
" Heigh ho' said JOurdan, s.it's always thus
In our profession. We just taste occasionally
the sweets of scientific discussion, when we
have to leave them for the disgusting practical
applications"
Up stairs we went, past wards were the suf-
fererS were most of them forgetting in sleep
the distresses to which they would presently
awake All was quiet in the old hospital, save
the howl OF the wind and Jourdan's cough
"Confound the pedantic little chap thought
to myself, "he III weaken that operation case"
One more stairs to climb, and we reached the
Top Ward, where there was unusual excite
ment; the patients sitting up in their beds; the
poor rfellow with be art disease, the consumptive,
the drOpSical patient, all watching n tall stall
wart figure standing in flannel night-gown,
with his back to the fire, leaning with his chin
on crutch, and evidently in deep thought.
Directly he saw US he ShOuldered the said piece
Of timber, if not to show how fislds were won.
to give as good representation as circum-
stances would ALLOW Of how he intended win
ming the field on the present occasion Wisk
came the handle over my head, as ducked
and escaped the blow.
My good man." said Brown snoy do 90
into bed Is there anything L"
Wlsk came the crutch over our heads and as
we ducked, the msniac leaped rapidly past US
from bed to bed, gained the door and ere We
had time to intercept him, he was in the pas
sage.
In the ceiling Of the passage Just outside this
door was trap which led out upon the roof
it was not far from the floor. With the actiyi-
ty OF madness he leaped, caught the edge of
the trap, swung himself up, and was upon the
roof. We looked at each other.
. Here's business, - saws Brown che III he
down in the street in a twinklng, for he'll
never stand against this wind
- hat mess we shall get into,' was nv
selfish thought. We got pair of steps, and
getting up them put our heads out Of the trap
The moon was shining bright, but the wind
Al III IL. -
neys; and now and then tile detached would
slide down the roof and drop into the street
BY JOve, says Brown. "he must have fal-
len; l can't see him anywhere. Let me look
All, there Good heavens, how could he have
got there, right at the end Of this pointed old
roof, covered with slippery tiles
Across this. in the moonlight we could see a
long shadow, and what L at first took to be
chimney stalk, was the madmsn, standing gag
ing on the moon. At each gust Of the fierce
wind his body swayed as though he would fall;
but there he stood in all the sublimity and
strength OF mania, gazing at that planet whose
supposed influence over such unfCrtunates as
himself, has given its name to the most awful
OF maladies. What could we dO2 The nurses
the pOrters were assembled at the foot of the
steps. Our feeling of responsibility was in
tensely psinful. An exclamation, a sudden
noise, might send that poor wretch tumbling
into the street. What were we 10 do! | felt
something push by me on the steps, and then
for the first time, noticed that Jourlan had re-
Joined US. A parOxysm of coughing had kept
him below stairs when Brown ant hurried
into the ward / saw his eyes sparkling and
heard his rough breathing as the little fellow
said:
Hold these" and put pair OF half-Wel-
lingtOns into my hands. Was he mad, too.
taking of his boots in such place.
why, JOurdan, what"
Hush said he, as he raised himself
thrOuOh tho tran and efOO1 m he
now saw he was going to seize the madman.
The latter, as L have said. was tall, stout
man IN state OF acute mania; our friend was
diminutive, and his naturally small frame was
wasted by disease. He got the sharp apex
of the shopping roof; a blast of wind came and
down be went, but he caught something, raised
himself, and walked along, like one on a tight
rope.
The msdmsn does not seem to notice him.
We watch them both. and our hearts beat not
only with anxiety but shame. The possibility
OF such "A late never had entered our own imagi-
atiOns. Now he nears the maniac who notices
him, turns half round, and throws his arms I'D
IN defiance. But On JOurdan goes Their
shadows now mingle on the roof The wind
seems to howl louder, and our eyes less able to
distinguish objects
Great Heaven. they're down." said Brown,
squeezing my arm, Us something ratified over
the roof
Not was only tile
What are they doing' They are nearer US
now-Jourdan walked wearily backwards and
leading the maniac, whom be had grasped by
the breast OF his night shirt. Still are these
mad hands held out threateningly over the frail
figure guiding him to safety. They reach the
trap Brown and l descended the steps to
make room for this strange pair. Down they
come We seize the great mad arms and pin
them down, and put the man to bed
We turn to look for JOurdan, he is quietly
pulling on his boots again; and so we all re-
turn To the hOuse-surgeOn's room | shall not
trouble the reader with any moral reflections.
which he may draw, as well as myself from
this little adventure. Poor JOurdan's brave
spirit Is now, L trust, where he obtain. a
clearer insight into those great truths he so en-
thusias,ically investigated in his shsrt and use
fGl life. The patient whose life he saved was
only suffering from temporary mental excite
ment, and Is now n strong and useful man.
WASN'T AcoUAISTED.-Twod drunken fellows
were walking along in the rain. The drunkest
one then asked
Dick, (hie) dOes-er rain rhic)?''
In course il rains" said Dick