Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-08
wAs,ITrA MURDERG
Horrible Experience OF q Famous
English Surgeon
why SIR George Mcdonald Once Upon .
Time Gave Up the Practice of His
Profession for Five Ysars-Dis-
sectlnK n Living Man.

When the Duke Of Sutherland was on hii
way to Florida last fall he had with him ,
medical gentleman who, besides his great
knowledge of medicine, was a 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 five years. practice
was most valuable to him.
"When Sir George Mcdonald" he said
"began his medical career the fates seemed
| to smile OH him. From the time he entered
Edinburgh University he was recognized as
man Of genius, and the great eminence 10
which he has raised himself was confident
| ly predicted both by his professors and his
fellow students. He knew that few years
after he graduated a professors chair
would be waiting for him, and in the still
more distant future were visions Of wealth
and honor incalculable. Suddenly 1t was
reported through Edinburgh that Mcdonald,
the promising young surgeon, was suffer.
ng from nervous prostration, and then the
news followed that he had thrown aside his
brilliant career aud would practice the pro-
ASSbAOA
night Mcdonald went home an enthusiastic
surgeon, and when next seen he was evil
IDENTIFY born down by some great secret
Rriet, 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 well known purveyor
OF subjects and told that O man had died
suddenly the day before of what was sup
posed to be heart disease, and for a certain
consideration the body might be obtained
After few minutes conversation Nc
Donald walked on and the purveyor hurried
of to attend to his ghasty 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.. McDonald's house
After careful look about one of the men
gave low whistle, and almost Immediately
a 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 sheet, and passed i,
into the house. The sound of money chang
ing hands followed; then the window wa
closed and the wagon was driven hastily
away.
"In lifting the heavy bundle the wrap
pings had been disturbed, and when DR.
Mcdonald turned from closing the window
the moonlight was shining on the palliC
face of q corpse. Quickly he lit a number
Of lights and then drew heavy curtain
From one side of the room he pushed Ions
table, on which were dark stains, showint
hat it had been used many times before
On this he lifted his purchase and CAREFUL,
examined it. 1t was the body of MAJ
n the prime of life, and excep
hat 'rigor mSrtis had set in,
lnd tnaJ every JOINT was IKE Da
# iron, the man looked as though he wer'
Isleep. There were no signs of wasting dis
vase. His face was full, and, except 70
is ghastly pallor, looked as it did in life
was evident the man had died suddenly
.ud heart disease was the Doctors specially
from a chest Mcdonald brought his instru
nents and glasses, his little basins am
5pouges, and laid them out in order by th'
'ide of the corpse. The subject died
heart disease, and so the heart was the par
70 be examined. Just as the knife touche,
he mans breast DR.. Mcdonald sprang bacI
with a startled look Was it possible tina
the eyelids had quivereda No; it was only
some passing draft which had made thu
light flicker over the dead face, but still ht
would make sure. There was no pulse,
every thing proved the man was dead be
yond peradventure. Then he proceeded
with his dissec ion. Slowly and carefully
he removed the outer skin. Then two ribs
and part Of the breast bone were taken
out and laid aside. At last the diseased
leart, which had been the cause of death.
lay revealed. All this had taken time and
The doctor was hungry He put his instru
ments aside and from closet produced
lunch which he ate, throwing occasional
ylances at the body on the table. When he
aad finished he resumed his work. The
heart to be properly Xamined 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 IL
every movement was a physical torture he
,traightened himself. The hair on his head
began to rise and his eyes were riveted on the
ace of the subject. The last time he noticed
hat face the eyes were closed, and 1t was
hc expressionless face of the dead; now
Ill was changed. The eyes were open and
we're glaring at HIM with horrld expires
iion of reproach At the same instant the
body on the table rose slowly to sitting
posture, aud tho perfect stiffness Of the
Dom seemed broken by a single whispered
word, murderer With his eyes glued to
he mutilated form Dr. Mcdonald staggered
back until he felt the wall behind him and
could retreat no further. For full two sec
onds those eyes glared 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 mutilated body fell back
Shrek after shrek filed the house. The
sleeping family, awakened by this dreadful
noise, rushed down. They found Dr. Nc
Donald just outside his office door, with his
arms stretched out, barring the passage
Don't go in Don't go inp he shrieked,
and then fell insensible Before daylight
the same two men backed their wagon
against the DOCTORS window, and the bun
die, wrapped in a sheet, was passed out TO
them, but DR.. Mcdonald was delirious up.
stairs"
New Signal OF Distress.
A new nautical distress signal has been