New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-05

the Di Two lDIitudtcu uOfIOlr, 10 WHOSE IlIb
theory should here fall the victim.
81. - myself tnIt no doctor with eound
mind would propose such frightful and murdcI Gus
experiment upvn ilylng man.
The TWO doctors approached the disrect-
ng-tablc, and looked calmly into my face; then.
smiling, took of their coats and tucked mp th"lr
sleeves. struggled to get free, as only des-
Icratc man under such extraordinary circumstances
could have struggled. In vain. Their long
acquired experience knew how TO render me com,
plctely helpless, and 10 their satisfaction cOuld
not even make sound
Dr. Enger now turned 10 n sidctablc, anu
saw him open chcei OF surgical instruments am
take ont lancet, with which he returned t. me.
lie at ono, removed the covering from my rlgnt
thigh, and although | lay bound to the tanl" III
sucn a way that | could not see my limbs, vas
able 10 watch the doctor busted with his preparl-
tons
Directly after removing the cloth felt prick
in the side Of my leg, and at once felt the warm
blood rush forth and trickle down my leg, inc
conviction that he had opened the principal VEN
in the thigh would have suiliced to shake Inc
strongest nerves. "
There is no DANGER said Dr. Engler. looking
into my staring, protrnding eyes With terrible
calmncsH. 'lou will not die, my good man.
have only opened an artery in your thigh, ana
you will experience all the sensations Of bleeding
to Gctth. lou will get weaker and weaker, ana
finally, pcrhaps, lose all consciousness, ph' WI
shall not let you die: No, no. You must I'VE.
and astonish the scientific world through my
great discovery
Il naturally could say nothing in reply and no
words can adequately express what feIt at lh.'
moment could, in one breath. have wepl.
mplOrcd curscd and raycd
Meanwhile | felt my lifes blood flowing, and
could hear it drop into vessel standing under
the end of the table. Every moment the doctor
laid his hand on my heart, at the same time
making remarks which only increased my horror
After he had put his hand on me for at least
the twentieth time and felt the beating oil tie
heart, he said 10 his assistant
Are you ready with your preparations
Iangner? He has now lost an enormous quantity
of blood. and the pusation is getting weaker ana
weaker. See, he is already losing consciousness.
and with these words hc took the gag out OF my
mouth.
a feeling II deadly weakness, as well "a OF
infinite misery laid hold VI me when the physician
uttered these words and on my attempting 10
speak found that scarcely whispering murmnr
passed my lips. Shad0wy phantons and strange
colors fitted before my eyes, and believed my
self to he already in state past all human all.
"Whai happened in the next few minutes DO
not know for had tainted When ! rcop"ncd
my eyes noticed no longer lay on the diss@c'ing
table. but sitting in an armchair in a com
Portable room, near which stood the two doctors
looking AT me
Near me was flask of wirc several smelling
salts. few basins of cold water, some sp1ngcs.
and galvanic battery II was now bright day
light and the two doctors smIcd rs they looked
When 7 rcrlcmbcrel the terrible experiment
| shuddcrcd with horror. and tried 10 rise felt
too weak, however and sank back helpless into
the chair. Then the circuit physician, in u
friendly but firm voice. addressing me-:
Compose yourself, young man. You imagined
YOU were slowly bleeding - death; nevertheless,
he assured that Won have no. LOST single drop
Of blood. You have undergone no operate
whatever, but have simply been the victim of Your
own Imagination. We knew very wcll y'u he'rd
every word of our cOnvcIs ton. a conversation
which only intended TO deceive you rs much
possible. What ! maintained was that
mans body will always completely lie under the
influence of what he himself firmly believes, whilst
my r'P1Guc. on the other AHnd, held the
opinion that The body can never he hurt by any
thing which only exists in ihe Imagination This
has long been an open question between ~.
which, after vour capture, We n once determined
70 decide. - ~urroun cd Won with Objects
Il q nature - influence yonr Imagination. aided
further by our conversation: and. finally. your
conviction, That We would really carry ont the
operation Of which yon heard rs slrak com
plctcd tie deception.
'lon have now The satisfaction OF knowing
that you are rs slfc and H. sound ~ ever you
We're ~ the same time We assure Won TINT Won
really showed all tlr symptoms of a man bleeding
10 death. n proof that the body can sometimes
snncr from lie most absurd unrcality that the
mind can imagine
"As'oni-hmcnt. iov and doubt At finding my
self neither dead nor dying struggled within me-,
and then the rage Of having been Subjected 10 such
an awful and hcar'less experiment by the two doe
tofs. oycrcamc me- was quickly interrupted
hy Dr. Englcr however, on trying TO give FREE
We had not exactly any right - undertake
such experiment with you' he said: 'hut W.
thought Won would uarlon us II We delivered yon
from certain punishment, instead Of having 10
undergo a painful trial and u long imprisonment
for burglary. Yon are certainly NJ liberty 10
complain about uS: Int consider. my good fellow.
il such step j. in your Interests do not
think 50 ON the other hand. We are quite VIII
ling 10 make you fitting compensation for all
the agony yen have -uhrr'd H..
ndcr the circumstances. continued t'eorg'
Martin, " pcnnsIdrrrl II Wis 10 accept their pro-
posll. although ! hHrc not - THIS day forgiven
the two men fur treating me.
The doctors kept their promise. They made
me very handsome present. and troubled them
s"vc. about me IN other ways, - that since thlt
time | have been a more Fortunate and. hope,
a better man. still, ! have never f'rgpti ~ the
hour when lay on the dissrcting tablr-thc uncN-
pcctcd victim cf terrible c\prlncnt IN Inc
interests Of science n Dr. Engcr explained.
Such was the strange story Of my friend HIS
death, which recently took place, released me
from the promise Of secrecy given 10 HIM about
an event which he could never recall, even after
a lapsc Of thirty years. without q feeling OF uil-
abatcl horror.-lIhc Strand MaealncJ