Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-06-17
WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE.

| During the earlier years of my medico
military career was selected as the Assis
tant Surgeon of the Army Lunatic Asylum
| then established in one of the eastern coun
ties of England. At the time of the ap
pointment was given to understand that
it was one which paid high compliment
| to my professional abilities and 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 l did OF
him.
''Sir," said I, s'some men are born to
honors, others have honors thrust upon
them; the latter is my case. | don't un-
derstand one bit about the treatment, moral
or medical, of the insane. l never saw but
one madman in my life, and he, Iverily be-
lieve, was more knave than fool; and
can't help thinking that if you send me to
the asylum you are sending the round man
to fit into the square hole.''
s'That is not of the slightest cOnse-
quence," answered he whom was address.
ing, in the richest of brogues, "not the
layste. Round or square, the hole will suit
you to t; and if so be that ye don't know
anything consuming lunatics, whoy, the
sooner ye larn the bether. Ye'll be PLACED
to jine wldout delay. Good morning." So
he bowed me out, and l, having a whole
some. dread of the powers that were, sjined'
| forthwith.
| 1t is one of Shakespeare's wise sayings
that "Use doth breed a habit in a man. y
Before there had passed away many weeks
of my sojourn with the demented officers
and men Of Queen Victoria's land forces
found myself highly interested with theil
| lrlrn+ +txro o,,d rn1l fo,
pleasantly in the grove had SO much OBJ
jected to, and getting rid forever and a day
OF that repugnance which every outsider
naturally enough entertains when brought
into contact with the denizens of mad.
house. With pass-key which was an
open sesame to every lock in the establish
ment, was accustomed to wander over it
unattended either by the 'keeper'' or the
orderlies; and never was l molested or
spoken to threateningly save once, and that
upon the occasion have elected to name
"Within an inch of my life.'
| In the afternoon, when the patients were
not indoors, it was my practice to PC
through every part Of the building, inspect.
ing it sanitarily. was doing so as usual
upon certain winters day, when, at a
curve of corridor, came suddenly UPON
patient leaning gloomily against one of
the pillars. he was a private soldier OF
the Forty-ffth, or Sherwood Foresters-a
recent admission, and whose phase of in.
sanity was somewhat puzzling the head.
surgeon and myself. Without entering
upon details, shall merely say that we
had doubts upon his case, and had recon-.
4 mended his removal from the asylum to the
care of his friends. Meantime, however, he
was to be 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 I met
him, was enc of the things, / never under.
stood. But so it was.
When he saw me his meloncholic demean
orr ceased; he advanced with rapid strides
towards me and l saw at glance that he
meant mischief of some sort or other: fo,
every muscle of his body was trembling
with passion, and on every feature Of hi!
face was pictured that of demon. 1 con
fess that fear came over me. What was
this maniac going to do? But to show an
prehension would De fatal, SO faced hin
boldly and exclaimed, ssHello, Mathews
what are you doing here? Why are vol
not in the airing g-grounds with the 9th
ers?o
He turned a wild and flashing eve upor
me, and glared like wild beast. Then b,
howled out, rather than said: ssLet me ou
Of thisv'