Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-08


lie Carried His Right Ydl,ci in a Sino
tion. But I cannot say that am delighted
to make your acquaintance, because nv
visit 70 you is not 4 very agreeable one. -
Seeing that the sufferers leCs were hardly
able to sustain him, the doctor invited him
10 be seated.
It am fatigued. 1t is week since had
suv sleep. Something is the matter with
my right hand; l don't know what it is
whether it is a carbuncle or cancer AT
first the pain was slight, but now it is a
continuous, terrible burning. increasing
from day TO day. could bear il no longer,
so ] threw myself into NV carriage and
came TO you 10 beg you to cut out the af-
iected spot, for an hour more of this tor
ture will drive me mad.
The doctor tried to reassure him by saw
ing that he might be able 10 cure the pain
with disSolvents and ointments, without re-
sorting 10 the use of the bistourv
'No, no sir.' cried the patient; 'no plas-
ters or ointments can give me any relief. 1
must have the knife. [ have come to YOU TO
cut out the place which causes me so much
suffering"
The doctor asked TO see the hand. which
the patient held out to him, grinding his
teeth, so insufferable appeared to be the
pain he was enduring. and with all imagina-
bic precaution he unwound the bandages in
which II was enveloped.
Above all, doctor, beg of you not to
hesitate on account of anything YOU NAV
see My disorder is so strange, that YOU
viii be surprised; but'd not let that weigh
with you.
Dr.. k treasured the stranger. As a
doctor in practice he was used to see every
thing and there WAS nothing that could
surprise him.
What he saw when the handswas freed
from It's bardages stupefied him neverthe-
less. Nothing abnormal was to be seen in
it-neither wound nor Craze; it was a hand
like any other. Bewildered, he let it fall
from his own
A cry of pain escaped from the stranger,
who raised the afflicted member with his
left hand, showing the doctor that he had
not come with the intention of mvstifying
him, and that he was really suffering.
Where is the sensitive spot?'
Here, sir. ;" said the stranger, indicating
on the back Of his hand a point where two
large veins crossed, his whole frame
trembling when the doctor lightly touched
it with the tip of his finger.
''It is here that the burning pain makes
itself felt?'
"Abominablyr"
''Do you feel the pressure when 1 place
NV lllDcI Oh lN4
The man made no reply, but his ewes
filled with tears, SO acute was his suffering
''It is surprising! l can see nothing at
that place.
''Nor can L; yet what 1 feel there is so
terrible that at times 1 am almost driven to
dash nay head against the wall"
The doctor examined the spot with
magnifying glass, then shook his head
'The skin is full of life, the blood within.
it cirCulstes regularly, there is neither in
dammation nor cancer under it; it is as
healthy ar that spot as elsewhere -
'Yet think,it is little redder there" I"
t'Wherc?"
The stranger took pencil from his pocket
book and traced on his hand ring about
the size Of sixpenny piece, and said:
sit is there.
The doctor looked in his face; he was be-
ginning TO believe that his patients mind
was unhinged.
Remain here" he said, land in few
DAYS III cure you"
Il cannot wait. Don't think thatI am
madman, a maniac; it is not in that way that
you would cure me- The little circle which
l have marked with my pencil causes me in
iernal torvures, and have come to you to
cut it away"
THAT l cannot do, said the doctor.
Because your hand exhibits no patho-
logical disorder. see at the spot you have
indicated nothing more amiss than on nv
own hand.
''You really seem to think that have
gone out of my senses or that I have come
here to mock you," said the stranger, TAX
ing from his pocl1etbook a bank note for
1000 forms an6 laying it on the table
''Now, sir, you see that am not playing off
any childish jest, aud that the service 1
seek of YOU is as urgent as it is important.
l beg you to remove this part of my hand -
u repeat, sir, that for all the treasures in
the world you cannot make me regard as
unsoInd member that is perfectly sound,
and still less induce me to cut it with my
instruments"
SAND why not?''
''BecRGse such an act would cast a doubt
upcn nv medical knowledge and COM
promise my reputation. Everybody would
say that you were mad; that was dishonest
in taking advantage of your condition, or
ignorant in not perceiving it.''
Very well. L will only ask small
service of you, then. 1 am myself capable
of making the incision. L shall do il rather
clumsily with my left hand, but that does
not matter Be good enough only to bind
up the wound after the operation"
1t was with aStonishment that the doctor
saw that this strange man was speaking
seriously. He stripped of his coat, turned
up the wristbands OF his shirt, and took q
bistoury in his left hand.
\ second later and the steel had made a
deep incision in the skin
Stay" cried the doctor, who feared that
his patient might, through his awkward
ness, sever some important organ. "Since
you nave determined on the operation, let
me perform It.
He took the bistoury, and placing in his
left hand the right hand OF the patient.
begged him 20 turn away his face, the sight
Of blood being insupportable to many per-.
Sons
''tUitc needless On the contrary, it is I
VINO must direct you where 10 cut %
lE iAct, nc watched the operation to the
end with the greatest GOODNESS, indicating
the limits cf the ;ncisions. The open hand
did nn; even quiver in that OF the doctor.
and when the circular piece was removed
he sighed profoundly, like a man expert
euCinn sn anoruovR ralief