The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

The writer OF an article in a late number
of the British Medical journal rails AT
noyelists for the errors that swarm IN the
medical incidents and opinions that are
found in works Of fiction. Thus, the old
revoluti0nist Noirtier, with his winking
eyelids, is an impossible paralytic, however
impressive he may be TO the reader OF
'sMonte CristO." In another story Dumas
introduces a guillOtined head that speaks
and weeps. Dickens believed, apparently.
in the possibility Of death from spontaneous
combustion. Baldassare, in "ROmola," did
not suffer ff0m amnesia or agrapnia; Ut
was a form OF cerebral disease known only
10 the eminent novelist BulWer Lytt0n
COMPOUNDED astrologic and thaumaturgic
dreams with the precepts and the discoveries
of medical science. Wilkie Collins stumbled
constantly. although lie prided himself on
his special knowledge. The list OF such
literary sinners is a long one.
Nor il is true that Impossible symptoms,
impossible remedies and impossible deaths
are recorded in novels, as in poetry and IN
the drama. 1t Is true that in the Tale Of
Two Cities the discovery Of chloroform IS
anticipated, but the tragic pathos Of the
substitution of sydney Carton is not dis
counted thereby. No apOthecaTy can com
mound the prescription Of Mr.. stevenson that
wrought the awful transformation. The
death of Colonel Newc0me would not move
the reader 10 a keener sense Of personal loss
il the treatment OF the physician were given
in Photographic detail. Khe true novel
reader does not miss such realistic touches;
and he does not reject the Impossible. ne
accepts the horse of brass that rose alrward
I'm the Arabian tale as well as the double
that confronted Howe the night before me
evacuation. The charms aud powers used
D.. Of "a Eagf more
strange to him than the mysterious power OF
Matthew Maule, When be reads novel
he does not expect a medical pamphlet or
geographical report. The Old-tashiOned
novelist lived in his own world. lie invent
ed his natural phenomena, his history ana
his detail Of social life. Bohemia has
seaport: the roe is the largest Of birds; the
Wapeutako is high in authority in England;
shipwrecks and murder trials DO not always
meet the requirements OF sailors ana law
yers: the unknown sin is discovered IN
England. To-day all is changed. The novel
is a pOlemic. Or a Georg Ebers is the taN0-
rite Of a season, of whom the scientists say
he is a good novelist and the nOyell5ts de-
clare that he Is An excellent Psychologist
Another writer describes minutely the nos
pital the mine or the battlefield. III after
a scene Of tremendous passion there was
murder in a room, the first duty OF the
novelist is 10 describe the appearance OF the
clock mat licked impassiyely the seconds
OF life and death.
The reader is willing TO learn his history
from Shakespeare, Scott, Dumas and Hugo.
10 him their knowledge is universal. He
will not quarrel with their views on medi-
cine. The death of hrook is as real to him
as the death Of Coupeau, just as the Water
loo invented by Hugo is more vivid TO him
than any dry and accurate description OF
the battle where medioority triumphed. lie
viii agree readily with Mr.. Hall Game, who
thinks that the most noticeable thing ABOUT
modern fiction is its lack OF invention
Boston Journal.