Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-01-06
TWO DELICATE CASES.


II you have never read my work-Dr.
Dormers masterpiece as / am told it is term
ed by the profossion-upon the Skin, in con-
nection with the interesting subject OF tat
toong, you had better get it, because the
book is becoming exceedingly rare. may
say without vanity that il is by far the BET
monograph on the subject that exists for it
is the only one. Others hundreds of others
have written, of course, upon skin diseases.
Indeed, the question found myself putting
to myself on commencing practice in London
as an expert in that branch OF the healing art
was, "What have they mt written about =
There are nowadays but two methods Of get
ting ones name known and establishing a
medical reputation in London one is by tax
ing house in Mayfair with an immense
doorplate and setting up brougham and pair
i'll which you sit well forward and are driven
rapidly as il you had not moment to lose ;
the other is by the publication of some ex.
haustve treatise, with colored plates. Most
Of these last, though often striking (ndeed
once seen, you will never forget them are to
the uuprofessional eye by no means attractive
and it was not my object to recommend my
self to the profession only. Instead, there
fore, Of any glowing account Of the nature of
Carbuncles, or genial essay on Port-wne
Marks, l devoted myself to the comparatively
unknown but picturesque subject of tattooing
TWAS not, itmust be owned, one of very gen
eral application, but it had some general inter
est and if only that could be aroused and con-
ceutrated upon Nicholas Dormer, his future
would be assured.
had the honor of being the first man to
introduce to the public (through the columns
of the Medical Mercury the case of Mat
thew Steyadore, the most highly colored and
aristically executed individual known to sci
ence. He had been made prisoner in Chinese
Tartary and sentenced to be put to death, but
his punishment had been commuted (or ex-
tended to tattooing Five others suffered
with him, but he was the only survivor of the
operation, which combined the horrors of sit
ting for ones portrait and vivisectiOD. The
victim was held fast by four strong men,
while fifth, the artist, worked away upon
him with a split reed, like a steel pen, for
hours Al the end of three months he was
considered finished, and would doubtless have
been "hung upon the line" if the Chinese
Tartars had had a Royal Academy in which
to exhibit him.
The pigments used are doubtful it is GER
tain they were not powdered charcoal, gun
powder or cinnabar, the colors used by our
native artists tchiehy marine) for the same
purpose, inasmuch as none of the particles
remained entangled in the meshes of true
skin (corium),' or became encapsuled" (see
article in Medical Mercury') 'in the nearest
lymphatic glands" One must conclude that
the work was performed by the simple agency
of the juice Of plants. Yet the effect produc-
ed was perfect 80 it ought to be-" poor
Matthew used to say with a groan of reminis-
cence, when complimented upon his person
al appearance. Indeed, l have no doubt that
the operation hurt him very much. If he had
known that he was going to be a contribu-
tiOn to science, or even to have formed the
subject of an article in the Mercury, he
might perhaps have borne up better. But
as it was those consolatory reflections were
denied him. He had only the satisfaction OF
feeling that if he survived, he would be the
best illustrated man in Chinese Tartary.
He looked, when in Natures garb, as
though the whole of his body was tightly en-.
veloped in robe of the richest webbing,
From the crown of his head to the tips of his
toes he was covered with dark blue figures OF
plants and animals, in the interspaces OF
which were written characters testimonials,
for all know in blue and red. The hands
were tattooed on both surfaces but only with
Inscriptions probably condensed biography
of the artist himself, with catalogue of 9th.
or works. The blue figures stopped short al
the insteps, but the tattooing was continued
on the feet in scarlet TO the roots of the nails
Through the very hair of the scalp and beard
could be seen "designs" in blue. On thf
whole body there were no fewer than 3oo fig
ures apes, cats, tigers, eagles, storks, swans,
elephants, crocodies, snakes fish, lions,
snails, and men and women of inanimatt
objects such as fruits, flowers, leaves, and
bows and arrows, there was also lavish sup
ply; and upon his forehead on each side were
two panthers ''regardant is, looking
down with admiration Gus well they might.
upon this interesting and unriyalled colec
tiOn.
Such were the attractions of my honest
friend Matthew Stevadore, who made good
deal of money by the exhibition of them il
Vienna, where went on purpose to see him,