The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-08-27

give TINS man past O0ck 70 nlm.
"You can do that"
"Assuredly In some way, which we
shall perhaps learn from the lips Of the
patient himself. this man was injured in
the head. A minute fragment Of the
skull was carried away. In time the skin
grew over the wound and formed q
tough. serviceable cover. But 1t exerted
. certain local pressure which Is intensi-
fed TO inconsistencies, as you have SEEN
by slight pressure. When this man re-
covers what in his case is only partial
consciousness he will probably have en-
tered upon another phase Of life, and
will have completely forgotten the events
which have distinguished the interval
that has elapsed since he last lost con-
sciousness. It will suit our purpose to
mis!ead him little, 90 please follow my
directions"
The doctor dipped his hand kerchief in
q cup Of water which stood near by, and
laid 1t on the forehead Of the unconscious
man Presently life began to assert it
self. He breathed convulsively, his eyes
twitched and then his lips opened little
and he moaned like one in pain
LET Us lift him to the bed" said the
doctor in a whisper. We oheyed his
directions. and stood around the low
couch breathlessly awaiting the next act
In this strange drama Of life
lu few minutes the color began to
cone back into the wan cheeks, the eyes
opened wearily and Brigham asked;
Where am u
"You are in bed at present" replied
the doctor, tying handkerchief quickly
about his patients head.
"But what has happened feel weak
and dizzy"
Nothing very serious-a slight fall,
which has hurt your head little. ]
shall bind it up and you will soon be
we'll"
"Oh. yes, my head" said Brigham,
trying to raise his hand to 1t. at feels
as though had been struck there, but
do not remember how it happened"
mo, nor are you likely to until you
recover from the shock and dress the
wound It is not very serious one. by.
l snail have 70 stitch il up, anu When 1
get ready to do 1t want you to take q
little ether"
"But am not afraid of the pain"
"Ah, know that, but you might
bother me. Men who are not afraid Of
pain are q greater nuisance to doctors
than those who are"
"Are these physicians tooT our late
comrade asked, moving his hand toward
Jones and |. 1t was evident he had no
recollection Of ever having seen us be-
fore.
They are my assistants" replied the
doctor curtly. land shall now ask one
Of them to go to the hotel and bring my
operating case TO me-"
Let me CO." said Jones. I'm glad
TO get chance to breathe the pure air
again"
he was not gone long, and little was
said while he was absent DR.. De Costa
made q pretense of examining the wound,
and with great gravity explained to me
that It was merely flesh wound, and
that the operation Of sewing it would be
. simple one. When his operating case
was handed to him he opened It, and
took from a morocco pocketbook a thin
sheet Of beaten silver. This he cut with
q pair Of scissors to the desired shape,
and he exercised great care in filing and
polishing the edges so that there should
be no ragged protuberances.
Presently, when all was ready, he pre-
pared q paper funnel, into which he
placed piece Of cloth saturated with
ether, and this he directed me to hold
over Brigham's nose and mouth. When
that unfortunate had fallen into deep
sleep, the doctor seized his scalpel and
went to work with the air Of Q man who
knows thoroughly what is to be done,
and has abundant confidence in his own
ability to do II. I watched his keen
knife as it moved here and there, bal
anced by hand which knew no tremor.
The thick skin from which the hair
had been shaved by . few dextrous
strokes was cut in wide v shape and
laid back, showing a small ragged open
Ing in the bone which nature had sought
10 protect BY an added growth Of the
epidermia Exposed before us was the
brain Of this man who had said he had
no past Over this opsning the small
silver shield was fitted with wondarful
nicely and fixed in place; then the skin
was drawn back and few stitches com
pleted the work. It was an hour from
the time first held the ether to Brig
hams nostrils to the time when the doc
tor rose to his feet, and wiping his blood
stained fingers upon the wet handker-
chief looked down upon his work.
"We shall soon know what we have
DONE" he said. IF the operation is sue
cessful, the probabilities are that thus
man will take up the thread Of his life
where he left Of when that wound was
inflicted"
ibid we whipthemT It was Brigham
who spoke. He raised up on his elbow
and q smile broke over his face. II wa
hit then. was n Well. you don't think
its very bad, Ell. doctor2 1t cant be very
serious or | would feel worse-in the
head. cha piece Of shell. I suppose, or
. minnie ball"
"Yes, = spent ball." said the doctor
softly.
"But I say, you don't belong to the
Fifteenth By George, ] haven't fallen
into the hands Of the Johnnies, have r
and the patients eyes opened wide in
quizEical inquiry. THAT would be Q
Joke on me. wouldn't It, and l guess !
never would hear the last Of It in our
mess"
"What the deuce ishe talking aboutr
asked Jones In . stage whisper "of
his nut. isn't he. Door
mot q bit Of It." replied that dis
tinguished gentleman, who had been
NEnfchinr his nafient with great intent