Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-06

Banks and l looked NJ each Quiet
appalled, by the news.
.sDr. Fowler is in Trent" the girl
went on. HE is expected home at mid
night. It is arranged that if you need
him then, Il message shall be sent to
him."
With his sound hand Banks lifted
the case from the buggy.
This is serious, very" he said in my
car. 1--WE can't wait for him; it's out
Of the question. Join me in your Office
as quickly as you can"
l nodded and turned to assist Miss
Cray to the ground. Young Weston led
the horse away.
Come" said to the girl. "you must
have some supper. BY the looks OF the
horse, rs we'll as the clock, l can see
that you've taken nobody's dust on the
road. You must tell me all about 1t
otter awhile"
II was in BASKERVILLE hardly 40 min
utes ago." said she, with look at her
watch. "But how is he? Have you
any more hope?"
''He is doing us we'll as anything hui
man could after such a crushing and
nlangling, but our opinion is not
changed"
She left me and walked away slowly
and dispiritc1ly. The reaction after
the excitement of her ride was already
upon her. Almost as depressed i'll spirit
as she, made my way to the office.
Banks had opened the case and was
inspecting it's contents. The room, in
expectation of Fowler's arrival, had
been prepared for the operation.
ut is fortunate she brought these,
Norris" said Banks. I'm afraid my
old tools would have answered poorly.
What n head she must have on her
shoulders to have thought of borrowing
the case. She is n noble woman, Nor
ris, a woman in ten thousand"
Indeed she is."
BEST get to work at once" Banks
added. Come, are you rea1y?'
A first capital operation! How the
student looks forward to it, how he
pictures in imagination the moment
when the knife enters the flesh, how
lie dwells upon the surroundings, the
attendants. the bright, keen blades
flashing back the light, the odor of
the anesthctic, the subject lying there
on the table, MANNED, diseased his life
dependent upon the skill of the sur
gcons hand and eye! Small wonder
the novicc'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-
vclopmcnt Of the progress of his race.
But when, long afterward, perhaps,
this same student, now general prac-
titioncr, finds himself confronted with
the or.lcal--ah, that is different. Be-
tween these days and those others when
he hurried to the hospital Amplitude
alter stretch years in which his conf
dcncc may have waned, his memory of
the scene about the operating table
grown dull. There is no cow ardly desire
upon him to shrk the responsibility
his professional training would count
for little did it not insure him against
such wcakpcss-but he understands
the extent of that responsibility. AS
student-spectator he watched the
work of specialists; now, rs an oper-
ator, it is his duty to endcavor to APP
pronch their skill as nearly as lies In
his power, though the knife comes
strange and unaccuStomcd TO his hand.
Mind you, | am not speaking of the
hundreds in every thousand of the pro-
fcssion to whom surgery stands as the
bestowed branch Of their art, nor yet
of those who have achieved unhcsitat-
ing, unflinching 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 a 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 conccalment. | have
never conquered it, though have taken
part in many an operation since the
one performed in the low-cciled room
of the farmhouse.
AS Banks had said, the hope Of the
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 scmistupor.
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 cnigmatic OBJ
servation flashed upon me; but it was
no time to speculate upon the coinci-
dence.
Banks was at the injured mans head.
ready TO apply the chloroform.
You'll need IN assistant, Norris"
said he. sect somebody who can be
depended upon to keep his senses and
hand you the right thing when you call
for it. Who is available?"
There were two or three wile-eyed
faces against the window pancs, but
knew too we'll how mitch 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,
for she responded to the summons be-
fore / could make protest. Banks
tersely told her what was wanted.
II will 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.
ut will be severe test of your
nerves." said I. Don't undertake it
if"
II am quite ready" she said, quietly,
but decisively.