Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-14
DEATH UNDER TIE sCALPEL.
The Awful Discovery Said to Have Been
Made by a Young English Surgeon


The Awful Discovery Said to Have Been
Made by a Young English Surgeon
A1lR,G Constitution.
When the Duke of Sutherland was on
his way to Florida last fall he had with
him a medical gentleman who, besides his
great knowledge of medicine, was a first
class reconteur. He amused the Dukes
party with many ANECDOTES Of English Gel
ebrities. One day be told ne following
story to explain why Sir George Melon
aid, the celebrated surgeon, had given up
the practice Of his profession for five years,
lust when five years practice was most
valuable to him.
when Sir George McDonsld," he said,
''bagan his medical caIesr the Fates seem
ed TO smile on him. From the time he
entered Elinburg University he was recog
nizsd as a man of genius, and toe crest
eminence to which has raised himself
was confidently predicted both by his pro-
fsssOrs and his fellow students. He knew
that few years after he graduated pro-
.essor's chair would be waiting for HIM,
and N the still more distant future were
visions of wealth and honOrs incalcuiable.
Suddenly it was reported through Elm
burr that Mcdonald, the promising young
surgeon. wss suffering from nervous pros
trafion. aaa then the news followed that
bs had thrown aside MS brilliant career
and would practise his profession no more.
Tns news was true. O5e night McD)nald
went home an enthusiastic surgeon, ana
when next seen he was evidently borne
down by some great secret gIls', sEd
the very mention Of a surgical operation
seemed TO fil him with horror. He vent
abroad. ana for i've years ne renamed p
wsndarer without occupation. Then he
was nersraled to return ard resume his
profession.
.To the DAYS when tbe present Sir
csorge was plain DR.. Mcdonald sciencs
+ bs5 nos taken The immenss strides which
r. mas since. The seekers after great
truths were still grouping IL da.Aness.
Vivlsgction was then practically unknown,
md tba only means medical men had OF
t,r,vino 6sht on mysterious deaths was
hg DISSECTION Tne bodies OF the Cntcr'u-
mates who disd in prison, OF IN the pubic
wards OF the hospitals, were the only ones
legally obtainab.e. and as these were lar
too lev to supply she demand, grave rob
hing vas rssorted 10 and BIZ prices were
paid by surgeons and medical students for
dead bodies
"Oae afternoon, 80 Dr.. Mcdonald was
leaving the lecture hall of the university,
he was approached by 8 well-known pur-
veycr of subjects and told that man had
died Suddenly the day before or wat was
supposed to Oe heart disease, sad for Ger
tain cons dsratiOu the baby might be OBJ
tsined. After few minutes conversation
Mcdonald walked on and the purvey-
or h5rrisd Of.
That night, inst es the moon was ris-
irv over the tops of me Edinburgh houses.
an apparently empty wagon, with two
Inso or .he seat, drove mp 10 D.. McDon'
aida kogss. After a CAREFUL look about
one Il tie men gave low whistle, and
almost immediately q window on the
groua6 alor was opeued. Against TINS
siadow .hs wagon was backed, and the
two men lifted 8 long, heavy object, wrap
ned liz sheet, and passed It into the
house. Ire sound of the money caanS-
izg hands followed; then the window was
clcssd Ind the wagon drove away.
GIN lifting the heavy bundle the wrsp'
pings had been disturbed, and when DR..
Mcdonald turned from closiug the WIN
dow the m0ouli.h. was shining on tne
placid face ola corpse. Quickly he lit q
number Of lights and then drew heavy
curtain. Fc0m one eide OF the room he
nu-hed "a long table CA which was dark
stains. showing that ID had been used many
times before. On this he lifted ms pur-
chase md carefully examined 1t. 1t was
,te bcav of man N the prime OF lie,
and except that 'rig0r mcrtis' had set IN,
and thAt every JOINT was ike bar OF iron,
the man looked as though ne were asleep
There were no signs Of wasting disease.
His face was full. and, except for its
chastity pallor, looked as 1t did in lite.
Ia was eyeideut that the man dad died
suddenly and heart disease was the Doc
tors speciality. From a chest Mcdonald
brought he instruments sud glasses, hls
little basins aud spOnges, and laid them
out IN order By the side Of the corise. Tue
subject died of heart disease, and so the
heart was the part 20 be examined.
Just AS hls knife touched tee man s
breast Dr.. Med ,nAld spTaDg back with a
startled look. Was 1t possible that the
eyehds had quivered? No; 1t was only
some passing dgaugnt which bad made
the light flicker over the dead face, but
still he wOuld make sure. There was no
pulse, everything proved the man was
dead beyond a p.radventure. Then 6e
proceeded with his dissection. Slowly
and carefully re removed the Outsr skin
Then tSo ribs and a part of the breast
bone were taken ont and laid aside. AT
last the diseased heart, which had been
the cause OF death, lay revealed. All this
had taken ;ime, and the doctor was hun
cry. He put his Instruments aside, and
from a closet produced lunch which be
ate, throwing occasional glances at tee
body on the table. When he had finish
ed he resumed his work The heart to be
properly examined must be removed, and
this re proceeded 70 do. He cut round
the great organ of life, and was about to
take 1t from the body when he chanced to
look up. Then slowly, and rs If every
movement WIS a physical torture, lie
strengthened himself. The hair on his
head began to rise and his eyes were riv-
eted on the face of the subject. The last
time he noticed that face the eyes were
closed, ana it was the expresslonless lace
of the dead-nOw all was changed. Inc
ewes were open and glazing at him with a
horrible expression OF IeprOach. AT tue
same instant the body on the table rose
slowly 10 sitting posture, and the per-