Montgomery County sentinel., 1874-02-27

my dear sir let it be consolation to
you if should cause you any little an
noyance."
He took shagreen spectacle case from
his pocket, wiped the glasses carefully
with silk handkerchief, and adjusted
them on his nose. Then he produced
an oblongcd box. which he unlocked
and placed on one of the seats. After
which he sat down quickly in the place |
had occupied few minutes before, a
position which brought him close over
my head and chest, as | lay supinely and
helplessly at his feet
"Do you know anything of anatomy"
he asked. | was as completely in his
power as witness in the cross-examin-
ing counseps, and prudence dictated that
| should be equally ready to answer the
most frivolous and impcrtincnt questions
with politeness. said that | did not.
"Ah !" said he; "wcll. perhaps you
have heard of the spleen? Exactly. Now,
science has never yet been able to find
out the use of that organ. and the man
who bcqueaths that knowledge to posteri-
ty would rank with the discoverer of the
circulation of the blood, and confer an
incstimahle blessing on humanity for the
remainder of the worlds lease. | propose
to dlssect you"
you will not get much glory by
that" said, forcing myself to seem to
take this outrageous practical Joke in good
part. can ungrateful generation may
Or may not profit by your discoveries,
but it will infallibly hang YOU"
"Not 50" he bluntly replied. ''I am
surgeon, who once had very consd-
cradle practice, but ! had to stand my
trial for an experiment which proved fatal,
on one ofmy patients. The jury, unable
to understand the sacrifices which an
earnest inquirer is ever ready to offer
at the shrine Of science, declared me mad
and | was placed in confinement. You
see that | can act with impunity."
And he opened the box / broke out
in could sweat. Was it all real p
Could the man be in earnest? "But," I"
said /, 'surely you can get dead bodies
to dissect without having recourse to n
crime. And again, if generations of
anatonists have failed in twenty thousand
investigations, to discover the use Of the
spleen-ify you yourself have always fail
ed hitherto-why should you suppose
that this one attempt should be aorc sue
ccssful than the others ~
Because, my dear sir :" said the man
with smile Of one who has caught II
bright idea, 'all former Investigations
including my own, have been made on
dead subjects, while | propose to examine
your vital organs with powerful mag
nifying glass, while they are exercising
their normal functions" 7"
"Whatw gasped. "'Yos will never
have the barbarity" here my voice
chokcd.
20 yes, | have conquered that preiu-
dice against inhicting suffering which is
natural to the mind enfecbled by civilza-
tlon. For many years Isccrctly pfncticed
ylvlsectlon upon animals; | once had a
cat, an animal very tenacious of life,
under my scalpel for week But We
have no time to waste in conversation
You will not be put to any needless suf-
fcring; these instruments are not my
own, blunted for wantof use | took the
prccaution of borrowing the case Of the
gentleman under whose care have been
placed, before making my escape
: While speaking thus, he took the hide
Gus little glittering instrument, and cx-
anlined them one by one. They were Of
various appalling shapes. and ] gazed
upon them with the horrible fascination
Of bird under the power Of a snake. OF
one only could | tell the usc--a thin,
trencbant blade, which cut you almost
to look at. lie knclt across me. arrang-
ed his implements on a seat at bis right,
laid a notebook, pencil and bis watch on
that to his left, and took off my neckclJth
and collar, murmuring: The clothes
are very much in my way wish that
you were properly prepared for the OPP
eration."
1t flashed across me in my despair that
| had heard of madmen being foiled by
apparent acquiesccncc in heirmurderons
intentions.
after ALL I forced myself to say,
"what is one life to the benefit of the
human race? Since mine is demanded,
BY science letmeaid you. Remove these
bands, and allow me to take off my coat
and waistcoat."
He smiled, and shook his head.
'I4ifc is sweet; will not trust you"
be said, unfastening my waistcoat, and
turning back the lapelsas far as lie eonld,
Then, taking a pair of scissors, be pro-
ceeded to cut my shirt front away. 50
that presently my chest was barred to his
experiments. Whether / closed my eyes
or was seized with vertigo do not know,
but for moment or two | lost sight Of
everything, and had visions; sort Of
grotcsque nightmare it was, the figures
in which | recall but very indistinctly,
but | remember that the most prominent
Of them was pig, or rather pork hang
ing up outside Of butchers shop. the
appearance Of which bore n mysterious
resemblance to myself These delirious
fantasies we're dispelcd by a sharp pang
the anatomist had made the first slight
incision. saw his calm face leaning
over me; the cruel blade, with which he
was about to make another aud deeper
cut; his fingers, already crimson with
my blood and struggled frantically.
Ny operator Immediately withdrew bis
armed hand aud stood erect. Then.
watching his opportunity, be placed his