Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-02


idea, call former Investigations, including
my own, have been made on dead subjects
while l propose to examine your vital
organs with a very powerful magnifying-
glass while they are exercising their normal
functions
"What" | gasped. "You will never
have the barbarity-" And here my voice
choked.
"Oh yes! have conquered that preju-
dice against inficting suffering which is
natural to the mind enfeebled by civilization.
For many years | secretely practiced yivi-
section upon animals. once had q cat-an
! animal very tenacious Of life-under my
scalpel for week. But we have no time
to waste in conversation. You will not be
put to any needless suffering. These instru-
ments are not my own-blunted for want
of use. | took the precaution of borrowing
the case of the gentleman under whose care
have been placed, before making my es-
cape"
While speaking thus, he took out the
hideous little glittering instruments and ex-
amined them one by one. They were of
various appalling shapes, and gazed upon
them with the horrible fascination of a bird
under the power of snake. OF only one
could l tell the use-a thin, trenchant
blade, which cut you almost to look at it.
He knelt across me, arranging his ,imple-
ments on the seat to the right; laid note
book, pencil, and his watch on that to his
left; and took off his neckcloth and collar,
murmuring, "The clothes are very much in
my way. [ wish that you were properly
prepared for the operation"
It flashed across me, in my despair, that l
had heard of madmen being foiled by an ap-
parent acquiescence in their murderous in
tentions.
"After ALL" forced myself to say, "what
is one life to the human race? Since mine
is demanded by Science, let me aid you.
Remove these bonds and allow me to take
ofmy coat and waistcoat"
He smiled and shook his head.
''Life is sweet; will not crush you" he
said. christening my waistcoat, and turning
back the lappels as far as he could. Then,
taking pair of scissors, he proceeded to cut
my shirt-front away, so that presently my
chest was bare to his experiments. Whether
closed my eyes or was seized with vertigo,
do not know, but for moment I lost
sight of everything, and had visions-a sort
of grotesque nightmare. 1t was the
figure which [ recall but very indistinctly,
but l remember that the most prominent
was pig, or pork, hanging up outside a
butchers shop, the appearance of which
bore a mysterious resemblance to myself.
These delirious fancies were dispelled by
sharp pang. The anatomist had made
first slight incision. saw his calm face
leaning over me! the cruel blade with
which he was about to make another and
deeper cut! his fingers already crimson
| with blood and struggled frantically.
My operator Immediately withdrew his
armed hand, and stood erect. Then, watch
ing his opportunity, he placed his right
foot on the lower part of my breast-bone,
so that by the terrible pressure he could
| Suffocate me.
"Listen, my friend p he said II will
endeavor not to injure any vital organ; but,
if you wTiggle about, I shall not be able to
Jo.~
He was interrupted by three sharp
whistles from the engine, so shrill and
piercing as to drown his voice.
"Impede me by these sharp, impulsive
movements, I shall endeayor to sever those
| muscles, which"
He never completed his sentence. There
was mighty shock-a crash as if all the
world had rushed together. I was shot
under the seat, where I lay uninjured and in
safety. amid the most horrible din-break-
ing, tearing, shrieking, cries for help, and
the roar of escaping steam.
had strained the bonds which secured
my elbow in my struggle, and the jerk of
the collision snapped them. So that when
began to get my wits together, | found
my hands free. To lberate my legs was
then a very easy matter, but not to extricate
myself-the next thing I set about. The
whole top Of the carriage from where the
stuffed cushion part ends was carried sheer
away; and amid the debris which incum-
bered my movements lay the mangled and
decapaated body of the mailman, who,
intending to assail my life, had by keeping
me down close to the bottom of the carriage,
saved it.