Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-01-06
Why He had His Leg Cut Off.

Why He had His Leg Cut OH.
I was sitting quietly in my Office,
one March evening, scanning the
pages of a medical review, when
1 heard the bell ring, and soon after
a step ON the stairs, followed by a
soft tap at my door.
"Come in" said I.
The knob was instantly turned,
and tall, good-looking, smooth
shayen young man, plainly dressed,
crossed the threshold and asked:
els this DR.. Bolton?"
ct is I replied, take seat"
"No, thank you," said he, II am
in haste. You are a skillful surgeon,
l believer"
L am surgeon, certainly, L an
swered, "and have had considera-
BILE practice
1t was, in fact, only two years
since I received my diploma, but I
had had unusual surgical opportuni-
ties and made the most of them, and
two or three lucky operations had
begun to give me quite reputation.
"Well, you can cut off n leg for
me, l suppose" he continued.
Most probably" said 1; " whose
is it?"
q" Mine"
What is the matter with it?" I
asked, with some surprise, for there
was no external sign of accident or
disease.
Nothing was the curt reply.
"What do you want it cut off for
then?"
"That's my affair, said he little
sharply.
1 quietly lifted the shade of my
lamp, but the increased illumination
did not reveal any look of wildness
OF insanity in my visitors counte-
nance. After considering moment
l remarked,
1T will cost you fifty dollars"
Without word he drew small
roll of money from his pocket, count
ed out ten five-dollar bills ON the ta-
bic, and then taking a slip of white
paper from another pocket, he laid
it ON the little pile of notes and, push
ing the whole toward me, he said,
There is your fee and my address.
"What time tomorrow will you
Gomez"
had by no means resolved to do
the job at all, at least without fur
ther inquiry, but replied,
"I shall be at leisure at three o.
clock"
"Well,' said he, 81 shall expect
you at that hour exactly. Don'tfail.
Good evening"
And he walked out and down the
stairs with the firm, rapid step OF q
man in perfect health.
Although at that time fifty dollar
fee was decided temptation to me,
I was greatly inclined to send the
money to Clinton Hamlin, 19
Queen street." for that was the ad-
dress he had given, and not go near
the place. However, my curiosity
was much excited, and as I happened
to be absolutely at leisure, the next
afternoon, I finally took my instru-
ment-case, and accompanied by a
discreet assistant, set out for Queen
street.
1t was shabby-senteel neighbor-
hood, and No. 10 we found to be an
old-fashioned house, occupied by
half q dozen different families. "Top
| floor, back" was the abrupt response
to my inquiry for Mr.. Hamlin.
We climbed the stairs and raped.
The door was opened by Mr.. Hamlin
himself, who ushered us politely into
a small room with worn and scanty
furniture and q threadbare carpet.
"You are prompt" said he, and
it is pity I have SO poor o place to
receive you in"
"Don't mention it, said I; sit il
rather a pity that we should have
come on such an errand."
His look suddenly became stern.
That is neither here nor there,
said be. "You have been paid te
do a certain work which you can dc
quickly and safely. It must be done
if I have to do it myself. If you dc
it, it is surgery; if I do il, it might
be suicide, and my life is every whi'
as dear to me as yours can be t.
you."
care you perfectly sure you ar
not laboring under some dslusion ?
said I.