Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-11-23
Bl THE LAWYER
WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE.

During the earlier years of my medico-
military career, | was selected as the
assistant surgeon Of the Army Lunatic
Asylum. then established in one of the
eastern counties of England At the
time Of the appointment, was given to
understand that it was one which paid
n high compliment to my professional
abilities. and was bestowed as a reward
for good services done; but as | did
not see il quite in the same light, went
and interviewed the chief who had
Of myself.
"Sir, said | "some men are born to
honors, others have honors thrust upon
them; the latter is my case. l don't
understand one bit about the treatment,
moral or medical, of the insane | never
saw but one madam in my life, and he,
! verify believe, was more knave than
fool; and can't help thinking that if
you send me to the asylum, yon are
sending the round man to fit into the
square hole"
That is not of the slightest con-
sequence" answered he whom l was
addressing, in the richest of brogues !;
mot the layste in loife. Round or
square. the hole will suit We to t; and
II no be that ye don't know anything
consuming lunatics, whoy, the sooner
ye larn the bother. Yen be PLACED to
jinc widout delay. Good-morning
so he bowed me out; and l, having a
wholesome dread of the powers that
were 'jined" forthwith.
II in one Of Shakspeare's wise sayings,
that "Use doth breed habit in man."
Before there had passed away many
weeks Of my sojourn with the demented
officers and men of Queen Victoria 8
land forces, found myself highly in
tcrcsted with their pretty and well-cared-
for home, running pleasantly in the
groove had 40 much objected to, and
repugnance which every outsider natur-
ally enough entertain 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, | was accustomed to
wander over il unattended either by the
"keeper" or the orderlies; and never
was molested or spoken to threaten
ingly save once, and that upon the oc-
casion have elected to name "Within
an Inch OF my Life"
In the afternoon, when the patients
were not indoors, it was my practice to
go through every part of the building,
,pa....t.,.., IL .u,,tnr.l, I In;n.v
M usual upon a certain winters day,
when. at a curve Of corridor, came
suddenly upon a patient leaning gloOmily
against one Of the pillars. He was a
private soldier of the 45th Of Sherwood
Forcsters "A recent admission, and
whose phase Of insanity was somewhat
puzzling the head-surgeon and myself.
without entering upon details. shall
merely say that We had doubts upon his
case, and had recommended his removal
from the asylum Ia the care Of his
friends Mean time, however, he was
TO bc closely watched, and no garden
tools or other implements put into his
hands. How he had managed to elude
the vigilance Of the orderly under whose
surveillance he had been placed, and to
be where | met him, was one of the
things | never understood. But SO it
was.
When he saw me, his melanchOlic
demeanor ceased; he advanced with
rapid strides towards me, and | saw at
a glance that he meant mischief of some
sort or other; for every muscle of his
body WAS trembling with passion, and
on every feature of his face was pictured
| that of demon. confess that fear
came over me. What was this maniac
going Ia do? But to show apprehension
would he fatal, 30 faced him boldly,
and exclaimed: - "IIello, Mathews
what are YOU doing here? Why are you
not in the airing-grounds with the
others"
lie turned wild and flashing eye
upon me. and glared like wild beast.
| Then he howled out rather than said -
| Let me out Of this ~
What do YOU mean" replied, re-
solving il possible to gain time, and
trusting that presently an orderly might