Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-08-06

road. You must tell me all about it
after awhile"
i was in BASKERVILLE hardly 40 min
lltes ago said she, with look at her
watch. "But how is he? Have you
any more hope?"
lie is doing as well as anything hu-
man could after such crushing and
nlangling. but our opinion is not
changed"
She left me and walked away slowly
and dispiritedly. The reaction after
the excitement of her ride was already
upon her. Almost as depressed in spirit
as she, / made my way to the Office.
banks had opened the case and was
inspecting its contents. The room, in
expectation Of Fowler's arrival, had
been prepared for the operation.
1T is fortunate she brought these.
Norris" said Banks. "Pm afraid my
old tools would have answered poorly.
What a head she must have on her
shoulders to have thought of borrowing
the easel She is a noble woman, Nor
ris, a woman in ten thousand"
Indeed she is
Best get to work at once" Banks
added. Come. are you ready?"
first capital operationl How the
student looks forward to it, how he
pictures in imagination the moment
when the knife enters the flesh. how
he dwells upon the surroundings, the
attendants. the bright, keen blades
flashing back the light, the odor of
the anesthetfc, the subject lying there
on the table, manned, diseased. his life
dependent upon the skill of the sur
geon's hand and eyei Small wonder
the novice's heart throbs with pride
in the profession he has chosen; small
wonder he thinks it the noblest and
best in the choice of man. To cut to
cure, to shed blood to save-to him
it seems to represent the highest de-
velopment of the progress of his race
But when, long afterward, perhaps,
this same student, now general prac-
titioner, finds himself confronted with
the ordeal-ah, that is different. Be
tween these days and those others when
he hurried to the hospital amphithe-
alter stretch years in which his conf
dence may have waned, his memory of
the scene about the operating table
grown duh. There is no cowarlly desire
upon him to shirk the responsibility
his professional training would count
for little did it not insure him against
such weakness-but he understands
the extent of that responsibility. AS
a neutrality-suspicious. he watched the
work of specialists; now, as an oper-
ator, it is his duty to endeavor to APP
proach their skill as nearly as lies in
his power, though the knife comes
strange and unaccustomed to his hand.
Mind you, l am not speaking of the
hundreds in every thousand of the pro-
fession to whom surgery stands as the
bestowed branch of their art, nor yet
of those who have achieved unhesitat-
ing, untiinching obedience to the man
dates of duty, but of those others,
among whom / count myself, who find
themselves possessed, no matter what
their experience, by y reluctance to ply
the knife, even while they prepare for
the ordeal the necessity of which they
realize. Is the feeling rare? 1t is sell
dom expressed. it is true, but never
theless it often exists, none the less
poignant for its concealment. / have
never conquered it, though have taken
part in many an operation since the
one performed in the low-ceiled room
of the farmhouse.
AS Banks had said, the hope of the
patients recovery rested on his sturdy
constitution. Since his removal to the
house Jones had had several intervals
Of consciousness, although for the most
part he lay in a state of semistupor
More than once caught the word mis-
taken" in his rambling talk. when the |
fog cleared away from his brain, and
the memory of Lamar's enigmatic OBJ
servation flashed upon me; but it was
no time to speculate upon the coinci- !
dence.
tanks was at the injured mans head, |
ready to apply the chloroform.
You'll need an assistant, Norris" |
said he Get somebody who can be |
depended upon 10 keep his senses and
hand You the right thing when you call
for it. Who is available?'
There were two or three wi,le-eyed
faces against the window panes. but l
knew TOO Wen now much reliance could
be placed upon their owners. Bangs
understood my hesitation. Stepping
to the door, he called out:
Miss Gray"
She could not have been far away,
Tor she responded to the summons be-
fore could make protest. Banks
tersely told her what was wanted.
Il viii do my best" she said. Her
voice was steady. but, as she entered
the room and came into the glare of the
lamps. her face showed pale and drawn
1t will he severe test of your
nerves." said l. Don't undertake it
if"
Il am quite ready" she said. quietly.
but decisively.
And I'll warrant her nerves." said
Banks. Miss Gray, please hold out
your hand. Nc shaking there, Norris
he added with a E+4lo t,.;,,,,,,,t