The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-05-10

THE WOMAN WITH ONE HAND.
TIE SURGEON y sToEY,

do not believe in ghosts ! have NJ
faith IN any supernatural manifestations O.
appearances whatever. beg any one wl(
peruSe thus narrative to understand that
am no Suptrstltlous creature afraid Of mA
own shadow, lending an attentive ear t.
'ld women stories aud seeing "someth!na
Ehltc IN every corner where the shadows
gather thlckly after duck 1t is scarcely
likely that all old surgeon who has stood be,
AIDE SO many dying pillows, and watched so
Many spirits take tight from racked and
wounded bodies, should tremble at the
thought OF dsembodied soul. know too
well the release death often is to the Door
pain stricken niortalS, to fear their voun-
tary return to the scenes OF their uuhanpi-
t!ess and suffering. Neither am | tho vic
fim OF dlSol dered nerves or teyurcd imagi-
nation. have performed operations in
Which one trcnlor Of the hand would have
been tataI-~Wil,'n, had uy hand sweryed
but hair breadth to the right or left
would have been murderer. Nay, I, Dr.
EirayStock, can do what many able energetic
men have found impossible, for have had
those dearest TO my soul beneath my hand;
aaI though each moan OF anguish, every
ttuttar 9t the heart went through my every
nerve, the kindly cruel knife worked on az
Hteadlly ~ though it carved block of sense
less wood.
| was born in quiet and retired country
v)ltag:.| Ny father mingled the professions
OF doctor and apothecary, and at times
drew teeth or set fractured limb--any-
thing fora living. poor man, for he had Il
Large family, ana neither property nor ex-
pcctatlons OF legacy. His patients were
distributed over wide tract of country,
and during the unhealthy season he was
often upon horseback from morning until
night, enduring the scorching sun OF sum-
nier the cold blasts OF winter, or the mias-
matte vaporS OF the marshy grounds over
which he was called to trave! upon many a
rainy midnight, to prescribe for some crea.
ture who was very low with the fever.
During his frequent absence | presided over
the pills and portions, mixed washes, made
up prescriptions, and amused myself by the
perhsal OF several works upon anatomy.
Vhlch graced the book shelves of the rocm
behind the shop. That science was INV
CHIEF, delight, and in little while the de.
termination to become a surgeon filed my
mind, Much experience had made me
doubt the power Of medicine. The myste-
RES OF the unseen machinery within us
might batie the most learned, but the sur
geon, dealing the outer MAJ, could see his
work and really benefit his fellow creatures.
knew the strength of my nerves and the
value they would be to me in the surgical
profession, and declared my intention to
adopt it before had reached my sixteenth
year. My father was pleased and gave his
consent at.onc@, but there were some prelim-
lnarles to be arranged and some funds to be
accumulated before | could enter upon reg
uar study Meanwhile stad at home inl
patiently, and, gathered all | could from
books and my fathers instructions. The
Sime passed tediously enough, for | was
anxious to Commence my career and start
upon the high road to wealth and eminence,
and many were the anxious days and sleep.
less nights. which l spent ere the time ar
rived which witnessed my departure for the
CITY. At last, however, all was ready. |
Oaae sdteu to lily mother my father and my
youngest brother, from whom | had never
been separatedStor one night, and with
heart which beat with high hopes, even
amid the 'grlefof parting took my place in
the stage, and left, for the first time, the
home OF my childhood. In month / had
become accustomed to the separation, and
thought only Of my profession.
Medical students are generally wild, reck-
'sss ana disslpatcd. l was neither. The
discretion Of old age seemed to have come
suddenly upon me. I shared my comrades
studle', but refused 10 mingle in tn sir orgies
Tor nal determined to retain my strong
nerves and unshaken head to the last New
ertheless | wasa general favorite, and form
ed many friendships among the giddy band,
which lasted long after they became gray
headed men. There was one among the |
number whose name was Robert Redlaw--a
gay. handsome boy; he was full of fun and
trolick, and terribly addicted to practical |
jokes, but, nevertheless, kind fearted and |
generous to fault, he would have given
his last penny to any one who aeened in
need Of i. To the living he was an tender
ness; TO the wounded wretch at the hospital,
his hand was as soft rs any woman 'srand !
have seen ms eyes I'LL with tears while he
inflicted neeessaty pai3S but to the dead !