Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-07-13

"What happened In the next few min
utes I do not know, for / had tainted.
When reopened my eyes noticed no
longer lay on the dissecting table, but
was sitting in an armchair in a com.
Portable room, near which stood the two
doctors looking at me.
''Near me was flask of wine, several
smelling salts, a few basins of cold
water, some sponges and a galvanic bat
terry. 1t was now bright daylight, and
the two doctors smiled as they looked at
me.
"When remembered the terrible ex-
pertinent shuddered with horror and
tried to rise. felt too weak, however,
and sank back helpless into the chair.
Then the circuit physician, in a friendly
but firm voice, addressing me:
"'Compose yourself, young man. You
imagined you were slowly bleeding to
death; nevertheless, be assured that you
have not lost a single drop of blood.
You have undergone no operation what
ever, but have simply been the victim
Of your own imagination. We knew
very well you heard every word of our
conversation, conversation which was
only intended to deceive you as much as
possible. What maintained was, that a
mans body will always completely lie
under the influence of what he himself
firmly believes, while my colleague, on
the other hand, held the opinion that
the body can never be hurt by anything
which only exists in the imagination.
This has long been an open question be-
tween us, which, after your capture,
we at once determined to decide. So we
surrounded you with objects of nature
to influence your imagination, aided
further by our conversation; and final
ly, your conviction that we would real
ly carry out the operation Of which you
heard us speak completed the deception.
"'You have now the satisfaction of
knowing that you are as safe and as
sound as ever you were. At the same time
we assure you that you really showed all
the symptoms of a man bleeding to
death, a proof that the body can some.
times suffer from the most absurd un.
reality that the mind can imagine
"Astonishment, joy and doubt at find
ing myself neither dead nor dying strug-
gled within me, and then the rage of
having been subjected to such an awful
and heartless experiment by the two
doctors overcame me-. 1 was quickly
interrupted by DIR. Engler, however, on
trying to give free scope to my indigna.
ton.
"'We had not exactly any right to
undertake such an experiment with
you,' he said; but we thought you
would pardon us if we delivered you
from certain punishment instead OF
having to undergo a painful trial and a
long Imprisonment for burglary. You
are certainly at liberty to complain
about US; but consider, my good fellow,
if such step Is in your interests. l do
not think so. On the other hand, we
are quite willing to make you fitting
compensation for all the agony you have
suffered
"Under the circumstances" continued
George Martin, 81 considered it wise to
accept their proposal, although I have
not to this day forgiven the two men for
so treating me.
''The doctors kept their promise.
They made ME very handsome present,
and troubled themselves about me in
other ways, SO that since that time /
have been a more fortunate and, hope,
o better man. Still 1 have never for
gotten the hour when lay on the dis
secting table-the unexpected victim Of
a terrible experiment. the interests
Of science, as DR.. Engler explained"
Such was the strange story Of my
friend. His death, which recently took
place, released me from the promise of
secrecy given to him about an event
which he could never recall, even after
lapse of thirty years, without feeling
of unabated horror.-Strand Magazine.