The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-11-24
A REALLY GOOD CASE.

A REALLY GOOD CASE.
A STORY OF AN ENGLISH HOSPITAL.
Every one knows that St. Michael's,
as we shall take the liberty of calling it,
is the largest and most celebrated of the
London hospitals. It is situated quite
in the heart of the city; and is about
equidistant from the London bridge,
Westminster, Cover street, Smith6eld
and Whisechapel. was student there,
and there the happiest days of my life
were passed. And now to my story.
A large number of the students had
gone for the short Christmas vacation,
and / should have gone also, but was
Just then "dresser" to Carver Smith, and
could not leave town; moreover, it was
my week of residence. ! must beg you
to remember, what is perhaps little un-
derstood by the general public. that a
large part Of the watching and care, and
a certain proportion also of the treat
ment of hospital patients, devolve upon
assistants selected , from the senior
students. Some of the less important
appointments, such as the "dresserships,"
arc held by every student in turn; but
the more resp nsible offices, some of
which require twelve months residence
in the hospital, a only he gained by q
few men each year; and for these ap-
p%ointments, which are esteemed positions
Il great trust and honor, and which
are exceedingly valuable as stepping
stones to professional success, there is
very keen competition. On the surgical
side of the hospital, each of the four
visiting surgeons had a resident house
surgeon; and to be Sir Carver Smiths
III. S."was one ofthe highest ambitions
OF 81 "St. Mike" for Sir Carver was at
that time one of the leading English
surgeons.
A man named George Adams held the
post at this time; and as he is the hero
OF my story, so far as I hsve a hero, I
will Just say a word about him. He
was one of these men that we occa-
sionally meet with, who seem to stand
head and shoulders above their fellows
very quiet and reserved, and when he
chose, quite inscrutable. No one knew
where be came from. Buthis very great
ability, his calmness in all emergencies
Il never saw him discomposed except
once his mature Judgment, and his
great kindness, won him the respect
alike OF the students, the nursing staff,
and the surgeons. Under him were four
dresser', junior men, who assisted in the
hospital under his direction. / was one
of them. Each week, n of US in turn
resided in the hospital; and as I said,
Christmas week fell to my turn, and
that is how I came to spend Christmas
in st. Michael's. ! ought to add that
there we're four assistant-surgeons to the
hospital; but their care was over the out
patient department, and it was only in
the absence OF the visiting surgeons that
they had duty in the wards.
Well, it was Christmas night, and
our work for the day vas done, except
some late visits 10 the wards by-and bye;
and of course any casualties that might
turn up. But Christmas day is usually
sack in that respect. 1t is medical
rather than surgical casualties that
Christmas day produces. We had got
up in honoor of the day a little enter
tainment in an empty ward for any Of
the hospital inmates who cared to attend
and were able to do so.
We had q famous little programme.
One or two of our residents could play
and sing well; another had a curious
facility in whistling to the piano;
another was an amatuer ventriloquist
and prestidigitator; and I fancy there
were also some recitations and tableaux
to come of. Also, there was one of the
patients, an old sailor, who could sing
in Iich stentorian baritone and bring
down the house. Our chairman
Adams, of course-had just begun, and
WINS delivering himself in a semi-serious
way Of some very eloquent remarks,
amidst great applause-for nothing
pleases the lower classes better than a
few oratorical fourishes-when "tinkle.
linkle, tinkle, tinkle" went g small
high. pitched imperious bell. 1t was the
rccident.bell!
On, We lay mortals, ye little know how
:Ne social and domesticjcys of medical
Ian are at the mercy Of a bell! We
invite our friends to tea, we welcome
lem, and anticipate a pleasant evening,
Snd-there goes the bell! We come
home tired and wet, change boots for
slippers, and get comfortable by the fire.
side, and-there goes the bell! We turn
into bed on a cold night, and just get
warm and snug when-there goes the
bell! My bell experience began that
night at St. Michael's, and l shall not
soon forget it.
1t was Sir Carver's taking in week.
and his assistants had to attend to the
accidents. Adams nodded to me; and
off I went to investigate, knowing ii
might be anything from a cut finger to
q railway smash. | found a scene o
considerable excitement in the accident
room. Two policeman, aided by a
crossing-sweeper and a cab-man, had
Just brought in a patient, and some
other spectators had pushed their way
in out OF curiosity.
Just happened outside, sir; knocked
down by a runaway cab. sir"
"Lost a lot of blood 'fraid it's q bad
case, sir" Thus the policeman.
ASK Mr.. Adams to come down at
once; clear the room," I said.
It was q youLg fair-haired girl OF eigh.
teen or nineteen. perfectly pale, uncon.
scious, and almost pulseless. A strange
contrast to her rough, swarthy, weather
beaten bearers. A deep wound in the
neck was bleeding profusely; but or
tearing open the dress, I found I could
stop the hemorrhage almost entirely
with my finger.
Adams was there Immediately in 6
minute he knew all about it. and naG
settled his course of action. Quietly b.
said "Send for Sir Carver. Take bel
to the operating. room at once. Ask tn,
other men to come" And then to me
keep up steady pressure, and dom
take-your finger away for an instant"
Nmh'r. crui.l be found out concern
Jig her. No one was with her whel
she was struck down. She was yer,