Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-03-15
And you suffer from the pressure when

was the suffering.
Wonderful! distinguish nothing here. >
And yet [ experience there SO inexpres-
sible pain that / could dash my head
against the wall. -
The surgeon took microscope. examined
the place and shook his head.
The skin is clear and healthy; the blood
courses freel ly III the veins; there is no infa-
nation, no apparent hurt The place is
precisely in its natural state :"
L think it is somewhat redder."
Where p
The stranger took pencil from his pock-
book, and drew line around spot the
size of a haf-krewtzer.
Here"
The surgeon carefully looked at this spot
and began to think that his patient was IN
sane
Remain here he said; I may be able
to assist you in few days"
Il cannot wait Do not think, sir that
you have a madman before you. This is a
misfortune Of which you will not have to
cure me- The place l have Indicated caus-
cs me such agony that, repeat it, l have
alone come here to have it cut out.
(which, however, | will not do - said
the surgeon
''And why not ?"
Because your hand is perfectlg sound !;
so far as [ can see, there is no more the mat
ter with it than there is with my own hand.
You are therefore, ready TO decide that
| am mad-you cannot believe me jest
ing, returned the stranger, taking note
for thousand guiIders out OF his pocket
b1ok, and laying it on the table. There,
see this is no child play, and that the ser
vice which | ask at your hands is of the
highest necessity and Importance to me. |
entreat you, cut this spot from out my
hand -
And | say to you, sir, that all the wealth
OF the world would not induce me to look
on a sound member as diseased, or make
the slightest incision in such one. To do
1t would be to do what my surgical knowl-
edge condemns-it would put my reputation
to shame-in word, my duty forbits it
The whole world would maintain that .yOu
were lunatic, but of me they would say
either that [ had been SO unprincipled as to
profit By your mania, or that | was too ig
norant to perceive the error into which you
had led me
$50 be it. At least yoI can accord me
this favor 7 will perform the operation
myself Ny left hand will, it is true, be
somewhat unskilled. bat let that pass.
Will soon finish; you will surely have the
goodness to dress the wound for me-
The surgeon marked with amazemcnt be-
yond words that the strange being was in
sad earnest, for he laid aside his coat, turn
ed back his sleeves, and took his pcnknife
in his left hand. Another moment and he
would have plunged it deep into his right
hand
Hold ~ cried the surgeon, alarmed lest
the stranger should sever an artery, IF the
operation be really inevitable, then in the
name of Heaven, let me perform it :"
On which, taking his surgical instrument
in his hand he laid the patient : right hand
straight ont in his own, a. the same time re-
questing him to look another way.
THAT is not necessary. Allow ne to show
you how deep the knife shall GO
And truly, during the whole operation,
the strangers resolution did not fail him
he himself directed the surgeon as to the
depth of the incision his hand never NOV
ed until the spot represented as the seat of
the pain was cut out, when. throwing back
his chest, he heaved a great sigh of relief.
DO you feel no more burning?" ques-
toned the surgeon.
Tits entirely gone, - answered the stran.
ger, smiling; the torture has ceased. As
fer the slghter pain which the wound oc-
casions me, it is to the first pain what
warm breeze is compared to insupportabe
heat
While the bandage was being applied, the
appearance OF the stranger totally altered.
\ calm, pleasant expression met the sur
geou' 5 eye, instead of the former look Of
intense pain The brow grew clearer, the
ooloriive!y, a returning love of life replaced
the late cruel agitation-the whole man
seemed transformed.
As the surgeon re-adjusted the stranger s
hand in the sling, he felt his own seized by
the left hand Of the latte, who pressing it
warmly, said to him in the most fcrvent
tones:
Receive for your most mastery service
my most sincere thanks. You have laid me
under real obligation to you-for the re-
muneration on my part is small indeed, in
comparison with the assistance which you
have rendered me. l will be indebted to
you all my life long"
But the surgeons estimate of the value
of his services was wholly different; he alb
solutely refused to accept the note for
thousand guilders, which lay on the table.
The stranger persisted in leaving it, and had
passed out of the door, when seeing the
growing displeasure of the surgeon, he turn
ed and begged him at all events to consent
to expend part of the sum for the benefit
of some hospital, and hastily took his de-
parture.
DIR, N visited his patient for a few
q lo.oI xEbaro ba ,ros