Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-09-02
THE BUNDLE OF LETTERS.
PROM THE HUSGARIAN OF NORTH JoKAI.

One of the celebrated medical prac-
titioners Of Pesth, DIR. K, was one
morning, at on early hour, obliged to
receive very pressing visitor. The
man, who was waiting in the ante-room
sent in word by the footman that all
DELAY woull be dangerous to him; he
had, therefore, to be received immedi-
stey.
The doctor hastily wrapped a dress
ing-gown about him, apd directed the
patent to be admitted to him.
BE found himself in The presence of
aman who was a complete stranger to
him, but who appeared to belong TO the
best society, Judging from his manners
On his pale face could be discerned
traces OF great moral suffering. He
carried his right hand in sling, and
though he tried to restrain himself, he
now and then could not prevent q
stuffed sigh escaping from his lips.
"You are DIR. K-?'' he asked IN a
low qnd feeble tone of voice.
THAT is my name, sir"
diving IN the county, l have not
the honor OF knowing you, except by
reputation. But l cannot say that |
am delighted to make your acquain-
tSnce, because my visit to you is not a
J very agreeable one.
Seeing that the sufferers legs were
hardly able to sustain him, the doctor
invited him to be seated.
Il am fatIgued. 1t is a week since /
hsd any sleep, Something is the mat
ter with my right hand; 1 don't know
what 1t is-whether it is carbuncle or
cancer. At first the pain was slight,
but now 1t Is a continuous horrible
burning, increasing from day to day.
could bear it no longer, SO threw my
ieli into my carriage and came to you,
to beg you to cut out the affected spot,
for an hour more Of this torture will
drive me mad.
The doctor tried to reassure him, by
saying that he might be able to cure
the pain with dissolyents and oint-
ments, without resorting to the use of
the history.
No, no, sir" cried the patient; mo
plasters or Ointments can give me any
relief lmust have the knife. 1 have
come to you to cut out the place which
eaus me so much suffering"
The doctor asked to see the hand,
which the patient held out to him,
grinding his teeth, so insufierable ap-
peared to be the pain he was enduring,
and with all imaginable precaution he
unwOund tue baudages in which it was
\ enveloped.
'Aboye all, doctor, I beg of you not
to hesitate on account of anything you
may see. My disorder is so strange,
thQt Mill h. 4. 10
let that weigh with you.
Doctor X reassuTed the stranger.
As doctor in practice he was used to
see everything, and there was nothing
that could surprise him.
What he saw when the hand was
freed from its bandages,stupefed him
nevertheless. Nothing abnormal was
10 be seen in it-neIther wound nor
craze; it was a hand like any other.
Bewlldered, be let it fall from his
own.
cry of pain escaped from the
stranger, who raised the afflicted mem
Der with his left hand, showing the
doctor that he had not come with the
intention Of mystifyIng him, and that
ne was really suffering.
Where Is the sensitive spot?"
Here, sir, said the stranger, indi.
eating on the back of his hand point
where two large veins crossed, his
whole frame trembling when the doctor
Nightly touched it with the tip of his
finger
1T Is here that the burning pain
makes itself felt?"
"Abominablyl"
DO you feel the pressure when
place NY finger on it?''
-; me man made no reply, but his eyes
Hlled with tears, so acute was his suf-
fering.
!, t Is surprisingl I can see nothing
g at that place"
Nor can l; yet what I feel there is
terrible that at times 1 am almost
nn uliEfn to dash my head against the
Inc doctor examined the spot with a
nag sLi iylng-glaSs, then shook his head.
Inc skin ls full of life; the blood
WIN "Isnin 1t crculates regularly; there is
;ae'tuef Inflammation nor cancer under
~ ~ II IS as healthy at that spot as else
there" ii''ie ieuuei
''Where?"
me ne stranger took a pencil from his
rUoAeL book and traced on his hand q
M s . ABOUT the size of piece,
1T is there"
v., me doctor looked in his face; he
t;as Deglnning to believe that his pa
H1 aP mind was unhinged.
fan nemaln here" he said, "and in 6
'e" days I'll cure you"
am cannot wait. Don't think that
d.. mailman, a maniac; it is not III
.sI way that you would cure me. Tine
nv me circle which have marked with
'e come to you to cut it away