Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-07-26
nae, and holding me down with one

me, and holding me down with one
hand dwith the strength Of q maniac;
he brought forth from some hidden
recess in his grown several fong
leather straps, with which he secured
me to the table with the skill OF an
expert It was but the work of a
moment to osunloose my robe and bare
my bosom. Then, aftericarefully ex-
amining my left breast, he said: f
MADAM, your husband has made
a mistake. / find no necessity for my
intended operation. ~
At this 1 gave a long-drawn sigh OF
relief, and prepared to rise. 81 1a'
"But, ,. he continued, sI have dis
covered that your heart is as large as
that of an ok will remove it so
that you can see for yourself; reduce
it to It's usual size by curious pro-
cess of my own, unknown to medical
science, aud of which / am sole DIS.
.coverer, then replace it again"
He began to examine the edge OF
the cruel knife, on which closed my
eyes, while every nerve was in percep-
+fiSfa s.a,,,gs,. 3 sl'sss's " ''s'Ai"
'ip'e gaa,a,Ng !k@mIT&|
, s'Mechanism of the heart is like a
watch," he resumed "if it goes too
fast, the great blood-vessel that sup
plies the face must he stopped. like
the lever of watch, and the works
,nust be cleaned, and repaired, and
regulated. 1t may interest you to
know that was present at the post
mortem examination held over the
remains of the beautiful Louisa of
Prussia. Had / been consulted be-
fore her death | would have saved her
by taking out her heart, and removing
the polypi, between which it was
wedged like as if in a wise, but / was
called too late. The King and / had
a little difference; he was German,
and l am French. / trust that is suf-
ficient explanation" ....
He now bent over me, his long
white beard brushing my face. L
opened my eyes beseechingly, trying
to think of some way to save myself.
''Oh, sir, give me an anaesthetic,
that / may not feel the pain." j re-
piled. ..
Indeed, indeed madam, ! would
comply withyodr wish were you not
the wife of physician, of a skillful
surgeon. wish you to note with
what ease Iperform this difficult ope-
ration, SO that you may tell your
husband of the great savant he secur-
ed, fortunately in season.
AS he said this, he made the final
test of the knife on his thumb. How
precious were the moments now.
They were fleeing all too fast, and
yet IN eternity seemed compressed la
every one. L never tainted in nv
life, and l never felt less like swoon-
ing than now, Us | summoned all my
presence of mind to delay the fearful
moments, fervently praying in the
for my husbands return.
s.Doctor. said /. with assumed
II have the utmost con-
fidence in Your skill would not
trust my life to another; but doctor
you have forgotten to bring o napkin
to stanoh the blood. Ifyou will have
the goodness to ascend to my sleep
ing chamber, at the right of the hall
you will find everything you need for
hat purpose in the bureau
"Ah, madam" he said, shaking
MS head sagaciously, 81 never draw
blood during a surgical operation;
hat is another one fmy secrets I'M
known to faculty.
Then placing his hand on nay bosom
le added with horrible espieglerie:
''I'Il scarcely mark that skin winter
han snow, and smoother than monu-
nent alabaster.'
so, God!" cried, as felt the
cold steel touch my breast; but with
he same breath came deliverance.
Quick as thought heavy woolen
piano cover was thrown over the head
md person of the mad man, and
pound tightly around him. As quick
Y was released, and the thongs
hat bound me soon held the maniac.
My husband held me in his arms. He
lad noiselessly approached, and tax
ng the horror of my situation at a.
glance, had by the only means at
land secured the mad man, who was
,he very patient he was summond 10
attend, but who had escaped the vigi-
ance of his keeper soon after the de-
parture of the messenger, who had
now returned with the doctor in pur-
suit of him. AS the poor wretch was
being hurried away, he turned to me
and said: ''Madam, this is a plot to
rob me of my reputation. Your hus-
band is envious of my skill as a sur
geon. Adieu!" / afterward learn.
ed that the man was once an eminent
surgeon in Europe, but much learn
ing had made him mad. When he
bound me to the table my hair was as
black as q raven; when / left it, twas