Milford chronicle., 1883-08-10
Close to Death.

During the earlier years of my medico.
military career 1 was selected as the as.
sistant surgeon of the Army Lunatic
Asylum then established in one of the
eastern counties of England. At the
time of the appointment I was given to
understand that it was one which paid a
high compliment to my professional
abilities, and was bestowed as a reward
for good services done; but as did not
see it quite in the same light, went and
interviewed the chief who had thought
so much more of me than I did ofmyseJf
Sir" said 1, "some men are born to
honors, others have honors thrust upon
them; the latter is my case. Idon't IN
derstand one bit about the treatment.
moral or medical, of the insane. I
never saw but one madman in my life.
and he, verify believe, was more knave
than fool; and I can't help thinking
that if you send me to the asylum, you
are sending the round man to fit the
square hole.
"That is not of the sloightest conse-
quence, answered he whom l was ad-
dressing, in the richest of brogues:
''not the layste in loife. Round or
square, the hole will suit ye to a t; and
if so be that ye don't know anything
consuming lunatics, whoy, the sooner
ye lan the bether. Yell be PLACED to
iine without delay. Good morning. "
So he bowed me out; and I, having a
wholesome dread of the powers that
were, 'jined" forthwith.
1t is one of Shakspeare's wise sayings. |
that "Use doth breed a habit in a man.
Before there had passed away many
weeks of my soiourn with the demented
officers and men of Queen Victoria's land
forces, found myself highly interested
with their pretty and well.cared-for
home, running pleasantly in the groove
I had so much objected to, and getting
rid for ever and a day of that trepugnance
which every outsider naturally enough
entertains when brought into contact
with the denizens Of a madhouse. With
a pass-key which was an open sesame to
every lock in the establishment. I was
accustomed to wander over it unattended
either by the 'keeper" or the orderlies:
and never was molested or spoken to
threateningly save once; and that upon
the occasion have elected to call I
'Close to Death"
In the afternoon, when the patients
we're not indoors, it was my practice to Il
90 through every part of the building.
Inspecting it sanitarily. was doing SO n
IS usual on a certain winters day. when. s.
t a curve of a corridor, came suddenly
pon a patient leaning gloomily against n
ne of the pillars. He was a private q
older of the Forty-fifth or Sherwood ii
'oresters; a recent admission, and r.
hose phase of insanity was somewhat IN
uzzling the head surgeon and myself. 81
Without entering upon details, I shall II
lerely say that we had doubts upon
is case, and had recommended his til
,moval from the asylum to the care of kI
is friends. Meantime, however. he of
as to be closely watched, and no gar m
IN tools or other Implements put into fo
IS hands. How he had managed to so
ude the vigilance Of the orderly under wi
hose surveillance he had been placed, tai
ID to be where met him, was one of in
e things never understood. But so ag
was. ais
When he saw me, his melnncholic de- as,
eanor ceased he advanced with rapid C2
,ides toward me, and I saw at a glance
at he meant mischief of some sort or
her for every muscle Of his body was ~
imbling with passion, and on every
lture Of his face was pictured that of $40
lemon. confess that fear came over 40.
J. What was this maniac going to do? iaa
It to show apprehension would be an'
al, SO faced him boldly and ex- aga
lined "Hello, Mathews what are cas-
i doing here? Why are you not in S
airing grounds with the others % tur
lie turned wild and flashing eve dor
On me, and glared like wild beast. 600
en- he howled out rather than said m no
iet me out of this p bee
What do you mean?" I replied, re- Moi
ring if possible to gain time, and Eth
sting that presently an orderly might mar
S and relieve me from the terrible d.
ma in which I stood. T.
Let me out r he repeated. ''I have repc
n too long in this vile place. 1 want Alb,
reioin my regiment ; to see my poor that
mother, and Mary, and my sweet bras