The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-05
A HORRIBLE STORY.
The Body of a Dear Sister Found ON a Dis
secting Table by Young Medical
Student
Cleveland Herald.

pAOuitltlL pllySlCldu Vi iOIluSIu OulO
yesterday related to Herald reporter the
particulars of a horrible occurrence which
happened some little time ago but which has
heretofore been kept from the public through
the exertions OF the parties concerned. For
obvious reasons names will be withheld, but
the rest of the facts are given as received from
the lips of the reporters informant.
Last fall a young gentleman, son of a
prominent resident of a town not hundred
miles from Cleveland, went to New York for
the purpose of attending a course of medical
lectures at one of the most widely known
medical colleges in the country. After So
iourn in New York of about two months the
young man was suddenly called to his home
in Ohio by telegram announcing the severe
illness of his only sister a beautiful young
ma iden 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 by
night and by day until at the bedside of the
loved one. Although nursed by loving hands
and watched over with the tenderest soliol-
tude, three days after the brothers 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 inconsolable sorrow ard
grief that the bereaved family felt for the
loss of their beloved one. The mother, worn
and exhausted by long-Contnued worry and
seepless nights passed at the side of her dear
ones couch of pain and suffering, sue
cumbed to natures 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 leaving
home, the young man returned to the pur-
suit of his medical studies in New York.
Shortly thereafter the young man was di-
rected by the demonstrator of anatomy of
the college to commence the work of disco
ton, and with that in view he was assigned a
portion of subject on which to commence
operations The next evening the young
man made his first visit to the dissecting
room in the college building, and was initia-
ted by some of his older fellow students into
the mysteries OF the use of the scalpel and
dissecting knife. After the first shock incl
dent 10 the horrible sights which greeted his
gaze had passed away, he wandered curiously
through the long room, with its sawdust-
covered floor and plain deal tables. COW
cred by human bodies in the various
stages of decomposition and mutilation.
Faint and almost overcome by the deathly
odor which permeated the room, he was
about to take his departure, when his atten-
ton was attracted by the ribald remarks of
two of the students, who were busily hack
ing away at the subject before them. One of
the students, noticing his expression of sur
prise, 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
touching the inanimate clay, yet disliking to
be regarded as q 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 countenauce grew livid, and with an I'M
earthly shrek he fell swooning to the floor.
There before 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 more agonzing sight
be imagined? Well may the reader shudder
at the bare though and utter a 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 carried
to his clearinghouse, where at last he re-
gained consciousness, but only to glare Wild
ly around him for an instant and then swoon
again. His parents were telegraphed for.
and when they arrived at the sufferers side
he was rolling and tossing in the midst of q
severe attack of brain fever
For six long weeks were the vigils kept up,
tenances of the almost heart-broken father
and mother, who constantly lowered over
him. endeavorng to obtain some sign of
recognition, but all in vain. At times it re-
Quired the united strength of three stout
men to hold him on the bed, as he endeav-
ored in his maniacal fury TO escape his
nurses. At such times he would sink back
exhausted after the struggle, and
piteously exclaim: why won't you
let me rescue my darling sister," At
the end of six weeks change was notice
able. That crisis was imminent seemed APP
parent to all. The young mans physical
condition was fearfuly reduced. He was 50
emaciated that his Bones seemed almost to
protrude from his flesh, and his hands and
fingers were more like the claws of bird than
anything else. Or 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 his wishes
and proffered him the glass, whereat he dis
claimed any desire for anything to drink.
which, of course, caused her to observe him
carefully, which she did, and, alas! it was
but too easily dscernible that what she
feared the most had come true and her son
was maniac. Although quiet and subdued
in demeanor, there was thatin his eyes which
told the fearful story that reason had left her
throne, perhaps forever
The services OF a distinguished specialist in
mental diseases were engaged, out ne could
do naught for the mind diseased, and with
sorrow-laden hearts the anguished parents
were compelled to place their stricken child
into private asylum for the insane, where
he now is, and the prospect is that there he
will remain the remainder of his life. Most
of the time he is quiet and docile, but at
times his eyes dilate with an expression as of
great fear, and he calls aloud the name of
his dead sister and assures her that he will
save her from all harm. The aged and grief
stricken parents visit their unfortunate son
quite often, and although he recognizes and
calls them by name, yet he always upbraids
them for not allowing him to leave the asy-
lum and rescue his sister from some impend-
ing danger which he imagines menaces her