Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-12-05
EBENSBURG. PA. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER ), 1850.

Ing be done to save her?' said the weeping
father. The sister had been removed in al
most unconscious state from the cabin, and
was IN the care of some of the ladies. The
( physician replied that there was but one hope
forest upon-an operation. and that skill
fully and speedily performed What opera
/ tionf said the father. holding her head in his
hands, aud waiting in breathless anxiety.
'Trepanning, quietly responded the ply
sioiah, aud briefly explained his meaning. A
silence of some duration ensued.
When this dreadful operation is perform
! ed. what is the chance of recovery? gasped
7 TIE fatse5 seiziag the physician by the arm
That must depend on circumstances, was
his reply.
| Save her life, Ellen my cbid-my child
poor girl, It's an awful thing to think of If
as you say, it must be done for heavens sake
loose no time
4 have no instrument 6t for the purpose.
Nor would undertake it if l had 1t needs
a more experienced hand than mine. | new
! er saw it done. From the books only know
Its the nature and manner of preceding
The captain remarked that he had a case
of Instruments on board the boat; of .heir
purposes he was ignorant. The young man
who had entered with the physician had been
carefully examing the injury, and requested
the captain to prseaFe the instruments, who
left the cabin for that purpose He then ad-
dressed the physician: Sir should the tre-
pan be at hand would II not be we'll TO at
tempt the operation? In her present state
she must die unless some aid be promptly
given 1 will assist
Are you physician
No, am a student of medicine only. /
have seen the trepan twice used with COM
piote success. am aware it's dangerous
operation though easily performed shall
not undertake it. | could not Summon reso-
luton. l do not profess surgery
We are many miles from land, sir, I new
er performed this or any other operation upon
the human body. Relying upon my knowl-
edge OF anatomy-the exigeDcy of the case
the favorable position of the wound,
would not shrink in any attempt to save q
valuable life. Why should you
The captain returned. The case was op-
eued, and proved upon examination, to be
large case of amputatiDg instruments. and
fortunately the trepan and its necessary appa-
ratus accompanying them. The father re-
viyeG from an apparent stupor. The sight
OF the -knifes made him shudder Well
said he in whisper, what Is to be done?
The young man and the physician we're
No, sir replied the physician Nothing
in the world would induce me to attempt it.
Having 40 confidence in my power, you
know, sir. it is not likely that l shall sue
ceed.'
If you were not on board the boat, under
the circumstances, and at the request of
those Interested | would attempt it. But it
is understood that you refuse, and if her
father will trus. me [ will save her If | can
Captain, you know me, [ can have none but
good motives
The father had listened. The calm and
cool manner of the young student had weigh
ed much in bis favor After a look at his
child who still seemed to be in the sleep of
derth. the low. peculiar, breathing sound,
attendaft upon such cases. being the only
sign of life. and sure symptom of the nature
of the hurt, he took the young maD's hand
and said, DO what you think best! Save
her if you can; God help you He kissed
her, and walked away checking his emotion,
repeating the prayer for her safety.
a request was made for these whose aid
was not necessary to retire from the cabin,
which was, of course, complied with. The
physician, to bis credit be it spoken. remain
ed to assist in an act which he dared not be
principal in. The instruments having been
carefully arranged, and everything that pru-
dence could suggest provided, the young lady
was placed upon table to undergo this fear
full operation There vas to her no dread.
She could feel no pain. Sensation, to her,
was a lost faculty. But the loss OF self pos
session in the operation-a lack OF knowledge
and INDICTMENT in a critical moment, might
make of the instrument used to save life
weapon of sure destruction. The physician
I L. "A in a
the student removed from the injured spot
the golden curls as he took the scaped in
his hand 20 make the necessary lncislon
through the integumeBts Twas evident
success would attend his efforts. His band
tre:nbled not, his eye quailed not. In a mo-
niept part of the scalp was dlssected up-the
bone was visible-the saw about to do Its
work. Such silence-a frighdul wound ap-
peared, aud though Inflicted upon one felt not
the knife still 1t called forth terrible feeling
of susoense But short time had been
cupied by the young operator, when, remo-
vipg niece of the skull of a circular forn,
the brain. with It's thousand vessels distended
with blood showed plainly tbrough Its cover
ing membrane. Her father had walked
shout the cabin, not daring to look IN the d.
rection In which his child was lying After
various attempts to speak he turned, saw the
blood necessarily lost, trickling down her
liyid cheek, and covering. IN Its course, and
loose locks that had been spared is she
alivef Do not answer me-stlli must ask
Ellen, Ellen"
Expressions like these escaped from his
lips. In tones of heart-sinking despair NO
attention was paid to him by the operator
who proceeied to the last stages OF his task,
with as firm hand and determined heart as
# the instruments were acting on marble. A
moments pause for reflection ana consuta-
ton enabled him to decide upon important