The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-11-05

question as to who she was and whence
she came-circumstanceS quite suffi-
cient to excite in q mind not preoccu-
pied with such matters as burden the
intellect of the average medical student,
the Gveliest interest and curiosity.
After the operation, she was at first
too i'll to be Intercepted; and when she
got little better she declined to give
any information; at any rate none could
be obtained from her. Perhaps she
was little "queer" with feverish or
historical excitement.
At the expiration of two days went
in to help with the dressings. She was
very grateful for everything done for
her, and bore her pain very we'll. For
a long time she was in very critical
state. As the euphonious phrase of the
young profession went, "She had a very
close shave for 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 subject of
the operation. He was a 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 a case
of so-and-so;" and he briefly explained
it. Then he added: "Nothing but the
most exceptional circumstances could
justify house-surgeOn in this hospital
in undertaking an operation of such i'm
portance. In this case those exception
al circumstances existed. The opera
ton is one of great difficulty and rarity.
have once, many years ago, per-
formed it myself, and the patient died.
Had my patient recovered, such a re-
covery would then, believe, have been
without precedent. But the gratifica-
ton to myself of having performed the
first successful operation would not
have been greater than is my gratiica-
ton now at having under my care a
case which will. believe, recover. and
whose recovery will be due without
doubt to the prompt and skillful action
of St. Michaers student, my own
house-surgeon, Mr.. Adams"
"Strong for Carvy, and good for
Adams" was the general comment.
Adams pretended to be writing notes;
but there was not one of US who would
not readily have suffered "plowing'' in
our -" final college" to gain such word
from Carver Smith.
And now, my fair readers, if you will
turn to the clinical report of this cele-
brated case in the pages of the Lancet,
somewhere about March 49,, you will
find it stated that "after this point the
case presents no features OF special in
terest; convalescence was rapid, and
the patient was discharged cured on
the forty-seventh day after admission.
1 therefore give you fair notice that you
NAV lay down this record here and not
read any further, unless you like.
Yes; she recovered rapidly; and
prettier and prettier she grew as she
got better. She talked very little, and
said nothing at all to help her indentifica- |
ton. Inquiry was fruitless even though |
the case got into the newspapers. The
interest among the students increased |
daily. 1t was reported that she was an
heiress who had quarreled with her
guardian; that Adams was madly in
love with her; that she was waiting for
him to propose, and then would marry
off-hand; that Adams knew all about her,
but kept it snug. And the men got to
chatting him in mild sort of way, want
ing to know the estate of the heart and
the chances of ''union by first intention"
But Adams was impenetrable. Person
ally, I am inclined to think that what
ever the condition of his patients heart
might be, he was little affected in that
region. She was evidently very fond
of him, and liked no one but him to
dress the wound. Still the mystery
increased.
At last one afternoon was sitting in
q lady's card was brought in. 1t had q
deep black border, and bore the in
scription: '.MRs. STEAD, The Celars."
She wished to see Mr.. Adams. I'M
mediately afterwards, the lady was
shown in. Adams motioned me to stay.
She was fine, tall woman of fifty,
dressed in deep mourning, with hair
turning gray, firm mouth. soft, keen
gray eyes, and a face combining in
tellect and kindness.
'.Have the pleasure of speaking to
Mr.. Adams?" she said. He bowed.
She then produced paper which gave
an account of our famous case and of
the part Adams had played in it.
':May l inquire whether this patient
is still in the hospital? Can see her."
eyes, certainly. Would The lady be
able to identify her? Would it not be
better for the patient to see the card
first, to avoid sudden excitement; that
is. if the lady's visit were likely to cause
excitement?''
perhaps it would be better to take
up the card, and say that Mrs. Stead
desired to see her"
Wonderfully calm and sef-possessed
the lady seemed to us; and yet she
could not entirely suppress some signs