Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-09
AaisftIIa,renus.
4 HORRIBLE STORY.
A SISTER FOUND on DIssEcTING TABLE
BY YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENT.

LlIuC dSO- Jul u6S uCiCtDiOIC DCCH
kept from the public through the exertions
of the parties concerned. For obvious
reasons the names will be withheld. but
the rest of the facts are given as received
from the lips Of the reporters informant
Last fall young gentleman. son OF a
prominent resident of a town not loo
miles from Cleveland. went to New York
for the purpose OF attending a course oil
medical lectures at one OF the most wide
~ known medical colleges in the country,
After a sojourn in New York of two
months the young man was suddenly
called to his home in Ohio by telegram
announcing the severe illness of his only
sister, beautiful young maiden just
budding into womanhood, and justly
celebrated not only for her beauties of face
and form. but as well for her lovable and
amiable disposition.
On receipt of the message from home
the young man lost no time, but travelled
night and day until at the bedside of his
loved one. Although nursed By loving
hands and watched over with the tender
est solicitude. three days after her brother
arrival home the young lady died. Her
gentle spirit peacefully took its flight and
returned to the Maker who gave it.
Words fail to depict the anguish and in
consolidate sorrow and grief that the be-
reaved family felt for the los, OF their be-
loved one. The mother, worn and ex-
hausted by long continued worry
and sleepless nights passed at the
side OF her dear ones couch
of pain and suffering. succumbed to ma
lures mandate, and was, soon after the
daughters funeral. herself tossing in an
agony OF delirium For two weeks her
spirit lowered between life and death. but
finally science triumphed, and the light of
consciousness shone from her eyes again.
As soon as his mothers cOnvalescence was
sufficiently assured to warrant his leav-
ing home, the young man returned to the
pursuit of his medical studies in New
York.
Shortly thereafter the young man was
directed by the Demonstration of Anatomy
of the college to commence the work Of
dissection, and with that in view he was
assigned portion of the subject on which
to commence operations. The young man
made his first visit to the dissecting room
in the college building, and was initiated
by some of the older students into the
mysteries of the use of the scalpel and
dissecting knife. After the first shock in
cident to the horrible sights which greeted
his gaze had passed away, he wandered
curiously through the long room, with its
saw-dust covered floor and plain deal ia
bles covered by human bodies in the va
riouS stages of decomposition and mutla-
ton. Faint and almost overcome by the
deathly odor which permeated the room,
he was about to take his departure, when
his attention was attracted by the ribald
remarks of two of the students, who were
busily hacking away at the subject before
them. One of the students noticing his
expression of surprise, accosted him. and
requested that he give them his opinion
as to whether the teeth in the mouth OF
the body were genuine or false.
Shuddering at the thought of touch
ing the inanimate clay, yet dislik-
ing to be regarded as a coward by
his fellows, the young man hastily stepped
to the side of the table at which the others
were working. As his eyes rested on the
table his cheek paled, his countenance
grew livid. and with an unearthly shrek
he fell swooning to the floor. There be-
fore him, with her fair white flesh cut and
bleeding, lay the body of his loved sister,
whom he had so recently seen laid to rest
in the earth. Can a more agonizing sight
be imagined? Well may the reader shud-
der at the bare thought and utter silent
prayer that he may be delivered from
such an awful experience.
The young man was picked up by his
amazed and startled companions and car
ried to his boarding house where at last
he gained consciousness, but only to glare
wildly around him for an instant and then
swoon again. His parents were tele-
graphed for, and when they arrived at the
sufferers bed side he was rolling and
tossing in the midst of a severe attack OF
brain fever.
For six long weeks were the vigils
kept up, the young man failing to
recognize the countenances of the almost
heart-broken father and mother, who con
stantly lowered over him. and indeavoring
to obtain some sign at recognition, but all
in vain At times it required the united
strength of three men to hold him on the
bed, las he endeavored in his maniacal fury
to escape his nurses. At such times he
would sink back exhausted after the
struggle, and piteously exclaim, "Why
don't you let me rescue my darling sis
ter ?"
At the end of six weeks change was
notlceable. mat Crisis was lmlnlnent
seemed apparent to all. The young man s
physical condition was feartully reduced.
He was so emaciated that his bones seem
cd almost to protrude from the flesh, and
his hands and fingers were more like the
claws of bird than anything else. On
the day in question he calmly looked
around him and. observing his mother in
the room, gently requested her to hand
him drink of water. The overjoyed
mother fastened to comply with the wish
es and proffered him the glass, whereat
he disclaimed any desire for anything to
drink which. of course, caused her to OBJ
serve him carefully. which she did. and,
alas it was but too easily discernible that
what she feared the most had come true,
and her son was a maniac. All though
Quiet and supdued i'm demeanor, there was
that in his eyes which told the fearful
story that reason had left her throne, per-
haps forever.
The services of distinguished special
list in mental diseases were engaged. but
he could do naught for the mind diseased.
and with sorrow laden hearts the anguish
ed parents were compelled to place their
stricken child into private asylum for
the insane, where he now is, and the pros
meet Is that there he will remain the re-