Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-05-14
A Touching Scene.

was conversing, not long since, with
returned volunteer.
! " was IN the hospital as nurse, for
long time," said he, land assisted in tax
ing oil limbs, and dressing all sorts O
wounds; but the hardest thing ever die
was to take my thumb eff a mans leg.n
All" said |, how was that Then
he told me:
1t was young man who had q Sc
we're wound in the thigh. The bali passed
completely through and amputation wa:
necessary. The limb was cut off close III
to the body, the arteries taken up, and he
seemed to be doing well. Subsequently
one OF the small arteries sloughed off. An
lnclsion was made and it was again taken
up. 1t Is we'll 1t was not the main arte
ry,' said the surgeon, as he performed tie
operation, She might have bed to death
before it could have been taken up But
Charley get along finely, and was favor.
lite with us all.
| was passing through the ward one
night about midnight, when suddenly, as
was passing Chariey's bed he spoke to me
-'H--, my leg is bleeding again
threw back the bed clothes, and the blood
spirited in the air. The main artery had
sloughed off.
"Fortuna'ely I knew just What to do,
and in an instant had pressed my thumb
on the place and stopped the bleeding. 1t
was so close to the body that there was
barely room for my thumb, but | succeed.
ed in keeping it there, and, arousing one
OF the convalescents, sent him for the
surgeon, who came in on the run. I am
SO thankful, H. said he, as he saw
me, that you were up and knew what to
do, for he must have bled to death before
could have got here
"But, on examination of the case, he
looked exceedingly serious, and sent out
for other surgeons. All came who were
within reach, and consultation YVES held
over the poor fellow. One conclusion was
reached by all. There was no place to
work save the spot where my thumb was
placed; they could not work under my
thumb, and, il | moved it, he would bleed
to death before the artery could be taken
up. There was no way to save his life.
"Poor Charley He was very calm
when they told him, and requested that
his brother, who was in the same hospital.
might be called up. He came and sat
down by the bedside, and for three hours
l stood, and by the pressure of my thumb
kept up the life of Charley, while the
brothers had their last conversation on
earth. 1t was a strange place for me- to
be in, to feel that held the life of a fel.
low-mortal in my hands, as it were, and
stranger yet, to feel that an act of mine
must cause that life to depart Loving the
poor fellow as did, it was hard thought;
but there was no alternative.
'The last words were spoken. Charley
had arranged all his business affairs, and
sent tender messages to absent ones who
little dreamed how near their loved one
stood to the grave. The tears filled my
eyes more than once as listened to those
parting words. All were esad, and be
turned to me. Now, H, guess you
had better take off your thnmb.' 90,
Charley how can | 2 said l. sBut il
must be, you know, he replied ckeerfully.
1 thank you very much TT your kindness,
and now, good bye
she turned away his head, [ raised my
thumb, once more the life current gushed
forth, and in three minutes poor Charley
was dead"