The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-02-13
A 0ueer Patient.

The Paris correspondent OF the Phlla
delphia Sunday Dispatch gives the follow
ing account Of dilemma celebrated
doctor was placed in recently:
DR.. .Lemoine is one Of the most eourtlJ
and afable Of the physicians here, whose
talents have won them fortune and fame
A few days ago he was called upon by az
athletic, ruddy parsonage VINO certainly
seemed in no individual need Of the dis
tinguished doctors advice; the latter, too
in kind effort to reassure his embarrassed
visitor, addressed him with his usual poll
teness and condescension.
aMonsieur, am the proprietor: of a
managerie,"' said the square-shouldered
man, ssand one Of my children is sick
Exactly, my friend. Ofwhat nature
is the disease 7"
"He run splinter into his thigh it is
very ugly Monsieur, but lam rich enough
to pay you well"
Very well, my man" replied the doc
tor unable to suppress smile at the sim
plicity of his visitor eve will talk Of that
after awhile. Tell me exactly what is the
matter with your child p
: Monsieur, this splinter has festered in
his thigh, and he will let no one touch it;
he is headstrong, for all he is very gentle.
It will be necessary, | know, to perform a
Slight operation, but he is: SO Violent and
headstrong about it"
s.Leaye his violence to me. How old is
he 2"
aFour years only. But lam afraid he
will bite or scratch you if you attempt to
touch it. You must administer chloro-
form"
ssNot at all, my good man. Yourchild
can not be very dangerous in the exercise
Of his temper, if heis only four years old"
"But he is large ofhis age"
1'No.n mo-. [ will go with you to see your
boy. Itwere folly to administer chloro-
form IN such case"
"Bnt, Monsieur, you do not know him
SO well ash" continued the man impor
tunately, Il pray, | beseech you, to take
the chlorofora all the same, in case you
should need IT,"
70 dispel the anxieties Of the nervous
athlete, DR.. Lemaine carried with him the
required anesthetic, and, after a short
course in a voiture, arrived at tie house
of the beast tanner. Entering a room, adj
Joining the exhibition arena, which was
half kitchen half stable, the doctor looked
around for the suffering patient.
Il have put him up stairs, doctor,
where the poor fellow would be undisturb-
ed by the performances. Ascend with me,
please"
4 They mounted a half ladder, half stair
ease, to a kind of loft. The doctor having
entered, the Snowman followed, and clos
ing the door behind him, quickly locked.
1t. The former, turning in some surprise
at this strange preceding to his conductor
was saluted with a low growl from the ex-
IRENE eornor. of the room.
He then fixed his attention upon the
source Of this unkind greeting, and dis
cried a full grown lion slowly approaching
them, with an unquestionahly wicked and
n1enacing snarl upon his. eountenance!
The doaapteuy grew pale; and when he
addressed sonesoothing brute language to
the animal, his voice trembled. The doc
tor was not only ghastly pale, but was
covered with cold sweat
ssH7or Gods sake doctor be quick "
whispered the beast-tamer, horsely !; che is
ugly to-dayw
Still showing his white teeth, the lion
slowly couched in that attitude which the
physician had so often observed the same
specie assume, preparatory to spring, in
the Jardin des Plants. He had need then
of self-possession, and. collecting all his
energies, he dashed chloroferm which he
held in the animals face.
The latter recoiled, and in a second af-
ter began to droop under the effects Of the
drug. This enabled still further admin
stration oft, till he was finally stretched
powerless before them. The operation
required was then made upon the wound
and the proper restoratives applied.
Neither the doctor CT Snowman spoke a
word until they had descended the steps
and stood safely in the room below
Monsieur" said ther dompteasr, "you
have saved by your wonderful presence Of
Of mind, life whose value is SO incalcula-
bic to me. Permit me to give you your
fee" And handed the other q hundred
franc note.
aThank you, Monsieur Dompteur,' re-
piled the physician, receiving the. salts
factory fee, land when you again have
need of my services for a similar ease, |
pray you"
Il will certainly call you in"
"No, no-to summon some other mem
l -. e AZ