St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-13
INA DISSECTING ROOM.
A Medical Students Night of
Horror.

never allowed my thoughts TO be diverted
from the one object l had in view, viz: to
become well-equippod NJ. ID.
fFor man to become a good physician,
he must necessarily be a thorough anatO-
mist, that he may know the different parts
of the human body, discover their situation,
their structure and economy. l was fully
alive to the necessity of this knowledge,
and resolved to make myself master of the
subject, even if 1 neglected other branches
of medicine more interesting and savOry,
but less useful.
had put my name down for piece to
dissect, but l had TO wait very long
time before l could obtain it. This did
not however, prevent me visiting the dis
Secting-roOm at the college whenever had
the opportunity. 1t had, apart from my
desire to work and learn, a strange faSci
nation for me. liked to listen to the re-
marks of the demonstration as he went from
student to student, pointing out what was
to be done, as the CHASTITY labor went on.
For an outsider, the diSSectlng-room is
not pleasant place. Imagine thirty or
forty male and female cOrpseS, in all stages
of decay and variouSly mutilated on Scien-
titc principles. Each subject is Oh a zinc
table, at the foot of which is a bucket, in
hAlCl ID lll1Ohlt IL loC
the term.
On this table lies a beautifully formed
young woman, with refined features and
flowing raven locks. She had died in
hospital of consumption. l wondered why
her body should be brought here. Had so
beautiful a creature no friends? But a
medical student has little time for senti-
ment Before night the scalpel would make
that subject unacceptable by her own
mother. Further on lies bioated, CLASSY
eyed wretch, man with sensuality and
vice stamped OH his features. His body
was almost purple. Involuntarily l turned
from the sight in disgust.
''Misther Berry, I've got pace for you
at last. It's all right. The demonstrather
says you've drawn the head of the one over
there's" said Patrick, the janitor and keeper
Of the diSSecting-roOmS, as he pointed to
the corpse of the beautiful woman, and
then he put large figure Il" on it.
l was rejoiced to hear of my good for
tune. had long wished to dissect head,
the most difficult part of the body, and now
l was to be .gratitied. | went to work at
once, for l was tolerably well acquainted with
the anatomy of the head. Ny admiration
for the beautiful corpse had vanished. |
was no longer a sentimental youth, but was
simply a scientific butcher. A fellow stu
dent was engaged in dissecting one of her
feet.
Berry" said my companion, in rather
thick tones, ''this is gloriush work,
isn't it?"
1 looked at him. It was obvious that
Meadows, for that was his name, had been
making tooprotracted visit to the neigh
boring liquor saloon. His hand was very
unsteady, and he was cutting and slaShing
no Hacb nf rba c1,hiaof IN, ,ocf, i
manner. Then he suddenly said:
''Guesh I'll go home and sleep. and
come back again. Good-by, old fellersh,"
he gasped as he left the room.
/ continued steadily at my work until all
the students had left, and L was alone with
the head. Patrick moved noiselessly about
the room, pi cking up bones, flesh and skin
that had been cast aside, which were thrown
carelessly into BARREL to be carried away
afterward. He whistled lively Irish airs as
he performed this disagreeable duty. Per-
haps, however, it was not disagreeable to
him.
Patrick" I said, as the clock struck
Z; ''Fm going to get something to eat"
care you coming back again, Misther
Berry,"
''Oh, yes"
''Shure and I'll be here and see that
everythings all right"
1t was 8 o'clock when l returned to the
dissecting-rOom. Patrick had lighted the
gas jet over my subject, and, looming my
gown, l went to work with renewed
VigOr.
No other students were there; the other
parts of the room were in darkness. and not
a sound was heard but the delicate cut of
my scalpel as / laid bare the nerves and
muscles.
am not superStitious, but being at work
alone, surrounded by the CHASTITY dead made
me, from time to time, look furtively be-
hind me to see if any of the ghosts of those
who temporarily rested here were observ-
ing my movements.
turned the head over little to the right.
and as its CLASSY eyes seemed to rest on
mine pityingly, l heard suddenly an I'M
earthly groan. 1t startled me. l ATTEMPTED
to turn the gas higher, but put it out. and
was left in the darkness. The sound was
repeated, as if some creature was in pain
and l felt certain l saw body on one of
the tables get up and glare at me-
lost my presence of mind and fell to
the floor in fainting fit. l do not know
what time it was when l recovered. but il
seemed as if several hours had elapsed
put my hand to my forehead and it was
wet with blood. must have struck nv
head against bucket in falling. mad no
matches in my pocket.
called-I yelled; only to hear the echo
Of my own voice. l grew almost frantic.
What horrible position to be in, shut up
there among the mutilated dead Then fear
took possession of me; was no longer the
philosophical medical student. | was a
frenZed mailman.
addressed the corpse that l was dis
secting, and a hooking laugh seemed to
come from above me. l CROPPED my way
frantically toward whence the sound came.
1 put my hand on the table where remem-
Der the bloated drunkard's corpse Law.
touched the face; it was warm and a deep
groan was emitted. The man had come to
LIE again, or was never dead: and vet |
could have sworn had seen his heart laid
bare on that day by one of the students.
Weak from loss Of blood, / fell again and
remembered nothing more until [ found
myself III my room in bed, with nurse. q
doctor, and two or three of my fellow stu
dents in attendance.
1T might nave been more serious" said
the doctor, who was the professor of merry
GUS diseases at the college: He will soon
get well again, now"
The doctor was right NV recovery was
rapid; but ltwaS many years before / got
over that horrible night
sit was all my fault" said Meadows to
me, when l settled down to my lectures
once more; 81 had more than could com
fortably carry when left you that evening.
while l was making hash of that woman's
foot. / went away and met several old
friends with whom l had two or three bot
ties of champagne. / got back about s
o'clock and tried to dissect; but, of course.
couldn't. L imagined that was at home
and going to bed, so 1 undressed and lay