The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-24
PART I.

"I ran across him in March of 1884 In
the Royal Infirmary at Glasgow, saiu
DIR. Lindsay. 1T was certainly the
most interesting case / have ever hau,
and, were it not for the patent con-
ceit involved in such an assertion 1
would go so far as to term 1t the most
remarkable that has ever come into
the practice of any physician.
why don't l write it up? Well. Ill
give you the facts and let you answer
that question for yourself.
At that time l was one of the visit
ing staff at the inlirmary. had
studied in Paris with Charcot and had
made something of speciality OF nerV-
Gus disorders. There was young
house-surgeon named Mcleod with
whom became quite intimate, largely
because 1 found that he liked to go
further into his cases than do most
hospital attaches, and I had asked him
once to be sure to notify me if any
thing unusual in my line should turn
up.
Well, on the night of which I am go
ing to tell you, l was preparing to re-
tire and had about half undressed. 1t
was after ten, and l had had a hard
day.
Suddenly my night bell rang vio-
lently.
Throwing on my coat and trousers
again, hurried to the door and opened
it,. to find one of the infirmary porters
standing outside.
What is it, Sandy?" asked, in some
surprise; for the visiting staff are not
usually rung up at night for hospital
cases.
Please. sir" said he. 'Dr. Mcleod
told me to ask We to step around-that
he had what he thought ye'd like"
1 knew that Mcleod would not have
sent such message without reason.
SO. after hurrying on few clothes in
more permanent shape, l started.
1t must have been nearly eleven
O'Clock when l reached the infirmary
and Mcleod met me at the door of
his room.
Come in a minute" he said Its
a cold night and hot whisky won't
hurt you. / hope you haven't damned
me for sending for you, but l know
you would never forgive me if l had
not"
What is it?" 7 asked, sitting down,
while he poured the hot water into my
glass.
WELL" said he, "it's a man who was
brought in here at half-after nine--a
seafaring man, 1 should Judge Any
how, he came off whaler that's just
In port after a three years cruise in
the Arctic
What's the matter with him?"
Il don't know. Come and see if you
Finishing my whisky, I followed Nc
Leod INTO one of the private wards.
II put him in here" said the in
ternp. 'hprnllSa N-p11
thought it was worth while"
In moment / was deep in my exam
1nation, and, from the first glimpse
i had of the patient as he tossed rest
lessly on his cot, l realized that 1t was
the case of my life-of the lives of a
thousand men.
He was a young felow--not over
thirty, / am sure; though his hair,
mustache and beard We're snowy white
His face wore a curious expression,
which, though set in almost rigid lines
seemed to shift from time to time in it's
interpretation. At one moment / read
ua2ed astonishment, at another terror
at another awe, and yet again the look
was one that, while it froze the blood
In my veins, could be attributed to no
sentiment with which l was familiar.
The men was not what you could call
uellrlouS. and / am sure he was not
insane; but it was quite evident, upon
very superficial examination, that his
nerves had received a shock that made
him 20 all intents and purposes ire
sponsible. Beyond this, l could find no
pathological condition.
Il have omitted as yet to mention one
thing "a broad, deep scar that
stretched across his forehead from tenn
pie to temple and seemed to have gone
down to the frontal bone. 1t did not
appear to be wholly the result Of either
a burn or a cut, though it showed
characteristics of both. Perhaps n
can pest be described as such a scar
as might have been left from the slash