Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-15

Geo. Roblnett, on Defective and Redun-
dant Limbs and Other Malformations-
Mr.. Wyeville breathlessly awaited his
answer.
eyes, uncle, I was aware the work is
in the library, but that is about all, /" was
the nephew's response. at is one Of the
many volumes bequeathed to me by DR..
Rathby, and also one of many that I have
never found time to open"
@Then have great surprise for you"
exclaimed Mr.. WyeVllle, as he drew up
chair and sat down near his nephew,
turning the leaves of the volume al
most affectionately. "But first q word
about the book and its author. 1t was
published in London three years ago.
Its author, as you are probably aware by
the name, is one Of the most distinguished
doctors now living in the British Empire.
at ought to be good, declared Vance,
taking the volume and running its pages
inquiringly under his thumb "Dr. Rob
inett's name is familiar to me as that Of
a prominent specialist, but was not
aware until now that he is renowned in
this particular field"
"Ohl he's the most renowned man in
it, assured Mr.. WyeVille, as he resumed
possession Of the book, and opened it at
a page in which he had previously placed
a bookmark. at seems that DR.. Rob-
inett is of English birth, notwithstand-
ing the French form Of his name.
learn, too, from the publishers account
Of him, that he has resided many years
in India, although he occasionally re-
turns to his native heath for few
months or year or two"
"You have been looking over the book
in my absence, I suppose, uncle?"
queried Vance.
Exactly"
"Then give me a brief resume of itl5
"Impossiblel 1t would take me all
night to give you any just idea Of
it," protested Mr.. WyeVille. "Such
cases as it containsl Such a fund of his
torical informationl"
"Then give me an account of the par
ticular case which has fixed your atten-
| toni"
"Al right, my dear boy, but you must
prepare TO be astonished. The truth is
there is a case here which believe to
| be that of Mrs. MOreland and Jessiel"
The young doctor started and faced
about abruptly in his chair under the
| impression that he had not heard Alright.
"Did you say the case of Jessie and
| Mrs. Moreland?" he demanded.
The uncle assented.
"And you find the same in medical
work published in London?"
EXACTLY"
"But there must be some mistake,
uncle"
"Not bit of it.
"But they are not mentioned by name, p
continued Vance who was now in such
an excited state of mind that he could
not help extending his hand for the
volume.
"No, Vance," replied Mr.. Wyeville,
Withdrawing the book beyond the reach
of his nephew. "They are quoted in the
usual fashion of such reports, under a
number. They happen to be case SO,
| and for me, at least, this is the most in
| teresting in the volume"
"But how can the case of Jessie and
| her mother have been reported to DR..
| RObinett?" pursued Vance
"In the simplest manner imaginable, "
| declared the uncle. "To begin with, the
case came to the notice of DR.. Rathby,
| who was your predecessor, and who died
in this very house. Well, with or with
| out your knowledge, DR.. Rathby was a
! correspondent and honorary fellow of the
| Royal Medical Society Of London, and
! had long been in correspondence with
! DR.. Robinett. It was Rathby, therefore,
| who reported this remarkable case, and
! it was published by Robinett solely upon
| the authority of his American cores
| pOndent."
81 see, uncle. But what is the case,
! ana what are It's TeatureS?"
| hWhy, 1t seems that the girl and he1
| mother have deformed hands, 4" explained
| Mr.. Wyeville. "The aff1iction has been
transmitted during several generations,
and is spoken of as the 'withered' OF
skeleton hand. 1t consists in a general
! atrophy of the members, or in a stunted
! and arrested development Of the same.
| Originally, no doubt, there was some
cause for the infrmity, but it is now
/ perpetuated by sheer morbidness and
anxiety. As we have seen for ourselves,
Vance, there is nothing in this aff1iction
| to prevent the ladies from using their
| hands, but they are evidently so IN
! slightly that they shrink from showing
/ them to the public, and hence those
| black gloves which have been such a
! puzzle"
"But why need they be so sensitive on
! the subject?" queried Vance. "And
| especially why need they let so trifing a
| blemish stand in the way of their hap
| pinesS?"
Ere Mr.. Wyeville could reply a car
riage came whirling up to the young
| Doctors door, with that air of import
| ance which the drivers of such vehicles
! know so well how to give themselves
! when they have a fare who is presumed
| to be worthy of their best efforts.
~Ah, for US evidently" CALCULATED Mr..
| WyeVille, after listening to the slamming
| of the door of the carriage and the open
| ing Of the gate. "Some stranger from a
distance, in all probability, who has come
| by the 1890 train"
A succession of heavy footsteps re-
! sounded upon the walk, and soon came to
halt at the door, where the newcomer
rang for admittance.
Vance and his uncle both fastened to
receive him, the farmers boy having
been dismissed for the night, and such
was his commanding and pleasing man
ner that they did not hesitate Il single
instant about inviting him in.
AZ hope have made no mistake, gen.
tlemen," said the distinguished-loOk
stranger, as he released the hand Of Mr..
/ Wyeville after hearty shake, and fixed
an eagle-like glance upon Vance. "You