Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-05-14
Horrible Experience Of a Famous
English Surgeon.
Why Sir George Mcdonald Once Upon a
Time Gave Up the Practice of His
Profession for Five Years-pis-
seeing Living Man.

seeing Living Man.
When the Duke of Sutherland was on his
way to Florida last fall he had with him q
medical gentleman who, besides his great
knowledge of medicine, was first-class
racohteur He amused the Dukes party
with many anecdotes of English celebrities,
says the Atlanta Constitution One day he
told the following story to explain why Sir
George Mcdonald, the celebrated surgeon,
had given up the practice of his profession
for five years Just when Ave years practice
was most valuable to him.
when Sir George Mcdonald" he said,
"began his medical career the fates seemed
to smile on him. From the time he entered
Edinburgh University he was recognized as
man OF genus, and the great c:ninence TO
which he has raised himself was confident
ly predicted both by his professors and hs
Fellow students. He knew that Il few wears
after he graduated a professors chair
would be waiting for him, and in the still
more distant future were visions Of wealth
and honor tncalculable. Suddenly it was
reported through Edinburgh that Mcdonald,
tne promising young surgeon, was suffer
ng from nervous proStration, and then the
news followed that he had thrown aside his
brilliant career and would practice the pro.
fession no more. The news was true One
night Mcdonald went home an enthusiastic
surgeon, and when next seen he was evil.
IDENTIFY born down by some great secret
grief, and the mention of a surgical opera.
ton seemed to fill him with horror He
went abroad and for five years he remained
wanderer without occupation Then he
was persuaded to return to Edinburgh and
resume his profession
Zone afternoon as Dr. Mcdonald was
leaving the lecture hall OF the university he
was approached by a well known purveyor
of subjects and told that a maD had died
suddenly the day pefore Of what was sup.
posed to be heart disease, aud for certain
consideration the body might be obtained
After few minutes conversation Nc
Donald walked on and the purveyor hurried
of to attend to his CHASTITY business
THAT night, just as the moon was rising
over the top of the Edinburgh houses. an
apparently empty wagon, with two men on
the seat, drove up to DR.. McDouald's house
After a careful look about one of the men
gave low whistle, and almost Immediately
window on the ground floor was opened
Against this window the wagon was backed,
and the two men lifted a long, heavy
object, wrapped in a sheet, and passed 1t
L
ing hands followed; then the window was
closed and the wagon was driven hastily
away.
IN ~ Zig the heavy bundle the wrap.
pings had been disturbed, and when DR..
mcdonald turned from closing the window
the moonlight was shining on the pallid
face of a corpse Quickly he lit number
OF lights and then drew a heavy curtain
From one side of the room he pushed long
table, on which were dark stains, showing
tnat 1t had been used many times before
On this he lifted his purchase and carefully
examined it. 1t was the body Of a man
in the prime of life, and except
that rigor mortis' haa set in,
and that every JOINT was like a bar
OF iron, the man looked as though he were
asleep. There were no signs of wasting dis
ease His face was full, and, except for
its CHASTITY pallor, looked as it did in life.
1t was evident the man had died suddenly
and heart disease was the DOCTORS speciality
From a chest Mcdonald brought his instru
mepts and glasses, his little basins and
spenges, and laid them out in order by the
side of the corpse The subject died of
heart disease, and so the heart was the part
to be examined. Just IS the knife touched
the mans breast DR.. Mcdonald sprang back
with a startled look. Was it possible that
the eyelids had ouiveredl No; it was only
some passing draft WHOA had made the
light flicker over the dead face, but still he
would make sure. There was no pulse,
every thing proved the man was dead be-
yond pcradventpre. Then he proceeded
with his dissection. Slowly and carefully
he removed the outer skin. Then two ribs
and q part of the breast hcre were taken
out and laid aside. At last the diseased
rrIsah Rod h<a. 10.
lay revealed. All this had taken time ana
the doctor was hungry. He put his instru-
ments aside and from closet produced
lunch which he ate, throwing occasional
glances at the body on the table When he
had finished he resumed his work. The
heart to be properly examined must be- re-
moved, and this he proceeded to do He cut
round the great organ of life and was
about to take it from the body when he
CHANGED to look up. Then slowly and as if
every movement was physical torture he
Strengthened himself The hair on his head
began to rise and his eyes were rlyeted on the
face Of the subject The last time be noticed
that face the eyes were closed, and ii was
tho expressioniess. face of the dead: now
all was changed The eyes were open and
were glazing at HIM with a horr1d express
sion of reproach. At the same instant the
body on the table rose slowly to sitting
posture, and the perfect stiffness of the
room seemed broken by q s;agle whispered
word, IEnur1erer' With his eyes glued 10
the mntilated form Dr. Mcdonald staggered
back until he felt the wall behind him and
could retreat no further. For full two sec
onds those eyes giared at the doctor, and
the air seemed to resound with that awful
accusation. In that time he realized that
the man never had been dead, and had
known and felt every event OF that horrible
night. Then the mutiIated bsdy fell back
Shrek after shrek filed the house The
sleeping family, awakened by this dreadful
noise, rushed down. They fcgnd- n---.5s.--
Donald Just outsiS o,@ea dor vy;th his
arms stretched out, barring the passage
Don't 90 inl Don't go inr ne sheieked,
and thea fell insensible Before daylight
the same two men backed their wagon
against the Doctors window. and the bun
die, wrapped in sheet, was passed out to
them, but DR.. Mcdonald was deiirlous up
steira.