The Newtown bee., 1880-11-10

tearing open the dress, found I could stop the hemorrhage almost entirely with my finger.
 Adams was there immediately; in 2 minute he knew all about it, and had settled his course of action. Quietly he said: Send for Sir Carver. Take her to the operating room at once. Ask the other men to come" And then to me: "Keep up steady pressure, and don't take your finger away for an instant"
 Nothing could be found out concern ing her. No one was with her when she was struck down. She was very tastefully, though not expensively dressed. Her features were exceedingly regular and pretty, and when the color was in her face she must have possessed very considerable share of good looks. Nothing but purse and handkerchief were found in her pocket. The former was well filled, and the latter was marked "E. Stead" Adams said at once that she was 8 lady,
 l do not know whether it ever hap pened before at St. Michael's that on the occurrence of sudden emergency, no one of the surgical staff was at hand. Strange to say, it happened so tonight. Sir Carver Smith and three of the as- sistant surgeons lived close to the hos pital; but in five minutes the messenger returned with the news that Sir Carver had been called to some aristocratic celebrity at the West End, who had met with an accident, and had taken one ot the assistant surgeons with him. The second was out of town; and the third, who had been left to act in emergencies, had been taken suddenly i'll
 We bad been discussing the case, and offering advice upon 1t with all that calm assurance which characterizes embryo surgeons. But matters now be. came serious. Half an hour would suf- flee to summon one of the other sur geons; but it was plain that something must be Cone at once. We all looked at Adams, who had said very little hither- to, but had gone on making ever ything ready. He simply said: Begin to give chloroform; am going to operate"
 "What are you going to doP' we asked.
 He told us; but I will rot inflict any details upon my readers, but will simply say that the sharp end of broken shaft root of the neck, and had wounded 8 large artery. The operation contem- plated afforded almost the only chance of life; and to delay it any longer would, Adams said, be throwing that chance away. It was an operation of the high est difficulty and danger under the pres ent condition of the parts; and could its performance have been anticipated the theater would have been crowded with spectators from all the hospitals in Lon- don. And here was young surgeon of twenty-five, called on at 8 few minutes notice, to undertake what many 8 long experienced surgeon might hesitate 10 attempt; for it was impossible to per- form it without much additional loss of blood; and 1t was not at all improbable that the patient might not survive the operation, to say nothing of after dan gers.
 Adams carefully explained to the other house surgeon what assistance they would have to give him; and when the patient was ready, commenced at once. Perfect silence reigned, broken only at intervals by word from the operator; but indeed he had little need to speak, for we were well drilled at St. Michael's, and everything he needed was put into his hand almost before he asked for it. think can still see that quiet eager group of young men under the brilliant gaslight, standing around the pallid, slumbering, unconscious girl; and in the center the young sur | geon, cool, collected, with steady hand, without hurry, without hesitation, doing his work. I have witnessed many of the most brilliant operators in ngland, and of course have seen Adams himself many times in that operating room in later years; but think never saw that nights operation surpassed either by himself, or by. any one else. | A special demand sometimes calls forth l special DOW wers, and acts almost like an l inspiration; and so it seemed now.
 In short time it was done, and suc- cessfully done; and the patient was car ried away to quiet ward, where she was duly cared for by the nurse in Echarge, Adams, and Sir Carver Smith l, who came later on. I think Adams I stayed up all night.
 Our miscellaneous entertainment did not come off; but we scarcely regretted l the change of programme. In place
 where accidents are hourly, and opera tions daily occurrences, one more ol less seldom creates much excitement
 and when l go on to say that this case excited more interest among residents and non-residents than almost any
 other case l ever saw in the hospital
 wish you clearly to understand that thi. fact was due entirely to the extreme
 professional interest of the case, anC
 the great enthusiasm of St. Michaels
 men for the study of surgery. At tn,
 same time I may state. although no particularly bearing on the question
 that the patient was an uncommonl,
 pretty girl; and day after day passed by
 without any light being shed on th,
 question as to who she was and whence
 she came-circumstances quite sufficien
 to excite in mind not preoccupied wi u
 such matters as burden the intellect o the average medical student, the iveli- :, est interest and curiosity
 l After the operation, she was at frs too ill to be interrogated; and when sh
 got little better she declined to giv
 any information; at any rate none coul,
 be obtained from her. Perhaps she wa
 little s.queern 3 with feverish or hys
 terical excitement.
 \ At the expiry of two days went in t
 help with the dressing. She was yer
 grateful for everything done her, an
 bore her pain very well. For lon
 time she was in very critical state , profession went, ssshe had very clos
 shave of it.'' At the end of three weeks however, she was in fairly smootl water; and for the first time some e , the clinical class went in with Si , Carver to see the case. He had hithert said nothing on the subject of the opera } tion. He was 8 man Of few words; bu one word of praise or blame from hin was never forgotten by any ot us Turning to us from the patient, he said 5 This, gentlemen. is case of so-and 3 so;'' and he briefly explained it. The [ he added: Nothing but the most ex t ceptional circumstances could justify
 house-surgeon in this hospital in un , dertaking an operation of such import g ance. In this case, those exceptions 1 circumstances existed. The operatic t is one of great difficulty and rarity. ) have once, many years ago, performe
 it myself, and the patient died. Ha : my patient recovered, such a recover