Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-11-10

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neck was bleeding profusely; but on
tearing open the dress, found could
stop the hemorrhage almost entirely
with my finger. ''
Adams was there Immediately: in
minute he knew all about it, and had
settled his course of action. Quietly he
said: s"Send for Sir Carver. Take her
to the theatre the operating-room at
once. Ask the other men to come, and
get everything ready. for operation.
And then to me !" keep up steady pres
sure, and don't take your finger away
for an instant" 1" ia fif't aS"i
Nothing could be found out concern
ing her. No one was with her when she
was struck down. She was very taste
fully, though not extensively 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. Moth
ing but purse and handkerchief were
found in her pocket. The former was
well filled and the latter was marked "E.
Steal" Adams said at once that she was
a lady. +oE 10 h.a ttgf sae
I do not know whether it eyer happen
ed 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 assist
ant surgeons lived close to the hospital;
but in five minutes the messenger re-
turned with the news that Sir Carver
Smith had been called to some aristocrat-
ic celebrity at the West End, who had
met with an accident. and had taken one
of 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. ..#-s
We had been discussing the case, and
offering advice upon it with all that calm
assurance which characterizes embryo
surgeons. But matters now became seri.
Gus. Half an hour would suffice to sum-
mon one of the other surgeons: but it
was plain that something must be done
at once. We all looked at Adams, who
had said very little hitherto, but had
gone on making everything ready. He
simply said, "Begin to give chloroform; I
am going to operate"
"What are you going to do?" we
asked.
He told us; but / will not inhict any
details upon my readers, but will simply
say that the sharp end of broken shaft
had made Il narrow, deep cash in the
root of the neck, and had wounded a
large artery. The operation contem-
plated afforded almost the only chance of
life; and to delay it any longer, Adams
said, would be throwing that chance away.
1t was an operation of the highest diff
Guilty and danger under the present con-
dition of the parts; and could its per-
Torrance have been anticipated, the the
atre would have been crowded with spec
tators from all the hospitals in London
And there was young surgeon of
twenty-five, called upon at a few min
utes' notice, to undertake what many a
inexperienced surgeon might hesitate
to attempt, for it was impossible to per-
form 1T without much additional loss of
blood; and it 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 surgeons 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. Micnaels.
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
gashght, standing round the palhd,
slumberlng, unconscious girl, and in the
centre the young surgeon, cool, collect
ed, with steady hand, without hurry,
without hesitation, doing his work. [
have witnessed many of the most bril-
liant operators III England, and of course
have seen Adams himself many times in
that theatre of late years; but I think [
never saw that nights operation surpass-
ed by himself OF any one else. A
special demand sometimes calls forth
special powers, and acts almost like an
inspiratisn; and so it seemed now.
In short time it was done, and sue
cessfully done; and the patient was car
RED away to quiet ward, where she was
duly cared for by the nurse in charge,
Adams, and Sir Carver Smith. who
came later on. I think Adams stayed up
all night. Our miscellaneous entertain
ment Gid not come off; but we scarcely
regretted the change of programme. In
place where accidents are hourly, and
operations daily occurrences, one more
or less seldom creates much excitement;
and when l go on to say that this casee
cited more interest among residents and
non-residents than almost any other case
[ ever saw in the hospital, I wish you to
clearly understand that this fact was due
entirely to the extreme professional in
terest Of the case, and the great enthu-
siasm Of ST. Michael's men for the study
OF surgery. At the same time, may
state, although not particularly bearing
on the question, that the patient was an
uncommonly pretty girl; and day after
day passed by without any light being
shed on the question as to who she was
and whence she circumstances
quite sufficient to excite in mind not
preoccupied with such matters as bur
den the intellect of the average medical
student, the hveliest interest and curl