The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-11-24
tastefully, though not extensively
dressed. Her features were exceedingly

IlStClQllSy UuOuku uOU SApCDSlfCl
dressed. Her features were exceedingl,
regular and pretty, and when the colo
was in her face she must hav
possessed a very considerable share o
good looks. Nothing but a purse and
handkerchief were found in he
pocket. The former was we'll filled, ant
the latter was marked "E. Stead.
Adams said ut once that she was a lady
| do not know whether it ever hap
pened before st St. Michael's that on th'
occurrence Of q sudden emergency, NJ
one Of the surgical staff was at hand
Strange to say, it happened 50 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 a%ristocratit
celebrity at the West End, who haC
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
We had been discussing the case, and
offering advice upon it with all that
calm assurance which characterizes
embryo surgeons. But matters now be.
came serious. Half an hour would SUI
ice to summon M of the other sur
geons; but it was plain that something
must be Gone at once. We all looked at
Adams, who had said very little hither-
to, but had gone on making everything
ready. He simply said: begin to give
chloroform l am going to operate"
"What are you going to do?" We
asked.
He told us; but I will rot indict any
details upon my readers, but will simply
say that the sharp end of q broken shaft
had made q narrow, deep cash in the
root Of the neck, and had wounded q
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
theatre would have been crowded with
spectators from all the hospitals in Lon
don. And here was young surgeon of
twenty-five, called on at a few minutes
notice, to undertake what many a long
experienced surgeon might hesitate 10
attempt; for it was impossible to per-
form it 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 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 q word from the
operator; but indeed be 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 be
asked for it. I 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
England, 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
special powers. and acts almost like an
Inspiration; and soft seemed now.
In a short time it was done, and sue
cessfully done; and the patient was car
ried away to q quiet ward, where she
was duly cared for by the nur in
| charge, Adams. and Sir Carver Smith,
who came later on. | think Adams
stayed up all night.
Our miscellaneous entertainment did
not come off; but we scarcely regretted
the change of programme. In a place
where accidents are hourly, and opera
tons daily occurrences. one more or
less seldom creates much excitement;
and when / 60 on to say that this case
cx cited more interest among residents
and non-residents than almost any
other case | ever saw in the hospital, l
wish you clearly to understand that this
fact was due entirely to the extreme
professional interest of the case, and
the great enthusiasm 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 uncommorly
pretty girl; and day after Gay passed by
without any light being shed on the
question as to who she was and whence
she came-circumstances quite sufficient
to excite in mind not preoccupied wi tn
such matters as burden the intellect Of
the average medical student, the liveli.
est interest and curiosity.
After the operation, she was at first
too ill to be Intercepted; and when she
got a little better she declined to give
any information; at any rate none could
be obtained from her. Perhaps she was
a little "queer" with feverish or hys-
terical excitement.
At the expiry of two days I went in to
help with the dressing. She was very
grateful for everything done her, and
bore her pain very we'll. For a long
time she was in a very critical state.
As the euphonious phrase of the young
profession went, "she had q very close
shave Of it," At the end of three weeks,
however, she was in fairly smooth
water; and for the first time some of
the clinical class went in with Sir
Carver TO see the case. He had hitherto
said nothing on the subjected the opera
ton. He was q man OF few words; but
one word of praise or blame from him
was never forgotten by any OF us.
Turning to US from the patient, he said:
This, gentlemen. is q case of so-and-
so;" and he briefly explained it. Then
he added: Nothing but the most ex-
ceptional circumstances could justify q
house-surgeon in this hospital in In
dertaking an operation of such import
ance. In thi, case, those exceptional
circumstances existed. The operation
is one of great difficulty and rarity. l
have once, many years ago, performed
it myself, and the patient died. Had
my patient recovered, such q recovery
would then, | believe, have been with
out precy dent. But the qualification
to myself of having performed the first
successful operation, would not have
been greater than is my qualification
now at having under my care a case
which will, I believe, recover, and
whose recovery will be due without
doubt to the prompt and skillful action
Of a St. Michael's student, my own
house-surgeon, Mr.. Adams
"Strong for Carvy, and good fol-
Adams" was the general comment.
Adams pretended to be writing notes
but there was n~otsone of US who would
not readily have suffered "plowing in
our final college " to gain such q word
from Carver Smith.
And now, my fair readers, if you will.
turn to the clinical report CT this cele.
brated case in the pages OF the Lancet