The Newtown bee., 1880-11-10
A REALLY GOOD CASE.
A STORY OF AN ENGLISH HOSPITAL.

STORY OF AN ENGLISH HOSPITAL.
 Every one knows that St. Michael's, IS we shali lake the liberty of calling it, is the largest and most celebrated of the London hospitals. It is situated quite in the heart of the city; and is about equidistant from the London bridge, Westminster, Gower street, Smith6eld and Whitechapel. was student there, and there the happiest days of my life were passed. And now to my story.
 A large number of the students had gone for the short Christmas vacation, and 1 should have gone also, but was just then 6 dresser" to Carver Smith, and could not leave town; moreover, 1t was my week of residence. l must beg you to remember, what is perhaps little un- derstood by the general public, that large part of the watching and care, and a certain proportion also of the treat ment of hospital patients, devolve upon assistants selected from tue senior students. Some of the less important appointments, such as the dresserships," arc held by every student in turn; but the more respe nsible- offices, some of which require twelve months residence in the hospital, can only be gained by few men each year; and for these ap- pointments, which are esteemed positions ot great trust and honor, and which are exceedingly valuable as stepping stones to professional success, there is very keen competition. On the surgical side of the hospital, each of the four visiting surgeons had resident house. surgeon; and to be Sir Carver Smiths of "St. Mike" for Sir Carver was at that time one of the leading English surgeons.
 ,,ar,, aj Noorro J,,,,, hol5 %b n post at this time; and as he is the hero of my story, so far as I have a hero, l will just say word about him. He was one of these men that we occa- sionally meet with, who seem to stand head and shoulders above their fellows very quiet and reserved, and when he chose, quite inscrutable. No one knew where he came from. But his very great ability, his calmness in all emergencies Il never saw him discomposed except once-his mature Judgment, and his alike of the students, the nursing staff, and the surgeons. Under him were four dresser3, junior men, who assisted in the hospital under his direction. was one | of them. Each week, one of us in turn resided in the hospital; and as I said, Christmas week fell to my turn, and that is how I came to spend Christmas in St. Michael's. I ought to add that there were four assistant-surgeons to the hospital but their care was over the out patient department, and it was only in the absence ot the visiting surgeons that they had duty in the wards.
 1 Well, it was Christmas night, and our work for the day was done, except some late visits to the wards by -and-bye and of course any casualties that might turn up. But Christmas day is usually slack in that respect. It is medical rather than surgical casualties that Christmas day produces. We had got up in honoor of the day little enter tainment in an empty ward for any ol the hospital inmates who cared to attend and were able to do so.
 We had famous little programme | One or two of our residents could play and sing well; another had curious
 facility in whistling to the piano another was an amatuer ventTllOquis
 and prestidigitator; and l fancy there
 were also some recitations and tableau1 to come off. Also, there was one of tht
 patients, an old sailor, who could sine
 in rich stentorian baritone and bring
 down the house. Our chairman Adams, of course-had just begun, anl
 was delivering himself in emi-seriOui
 way cf some very eloquent remarks
 amidst great applause-for nothins
 pleases tue lower classes better than
 few oratorical fourishes-when s'tinkle
 tinkle, tinkle, tinkle" went 8 smal
 high pitched imperious bell. 1t was th'
 eccident-bell!
 Oh, ye lay mortals, ye little know how
 the social and domestic joys of a medica
 nan are at the mercy of bell! w
 invite our friends to tea, we welcom
 em, and anticipate pleasant evening
 and-there goes the bell! We com
 home tired and wet, change boots fo
 slippers, and get comfortable by the fire
 side, apd-there goes the bell! We turl
 into bed on cold night, and just ge
 warm and snug when-there goes tn
 bell! My bell experience began tha
 night at St. MichaeTs, and shall no soon forget it.
 It was Sir Carver's taking in week 1; , and his assistants had to attend to tn !, accidents. Adams nodded to me; an, !, off I went to investigate, knowing
 might be anything from cut finger t a railway smash. found scene c 1 considerable excitement in the accident room. Two policeman, aided by crossing-sweeper and cab-man, ha : just brought in 2 patient, and som
 other spectators had pushed their wa ; in out of curiosity.
 Just happened outside, sir; knocke [ down by runaway cab, sir"
 : Lost lot of blood 'fraid it's ba case, sir" Thus the policeman.
 3 "A Ask Mir. Adams to come down s ! once; clear the room,n said.
 It was young fair-h haired girl of eig1 i, teen or nineteen. perfectly pale, unc5r !. Rcious, and almost pulseless A strang
 contrast to her rough, swarthy, weathel