The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-09-24
\ DRAMATIC SCENE.
Young Doctor Finds His sister on "a
Ui--rrting Table.


Dissenting Table.
The followirg story appeared in
the Chicago Tribune one day last
week:
In the dissecting-rOom Of the
Hospital Yesterday morning was Wit
messed as dramatic a scene as ever
came within the range of fiction. The
happening was so sudden and start
ling aud SO surcharged with sorrow
that the physicians and attendants
were overcome, though their prac-
tce and work have steeled them be-
You'd most persons.
DR.. w. II. Kirby, one of the hOspi-
tai physicians, was about to perform
an autopsy on the body of Minnie
Heath, young Girl who. weary of
the sorrow and horror Of her life,
had taken carbolic acid to end it.
After her body passed through the
Coroner'S hands it was taken to the
county mOrgue.
-Four weeks ago DR.. Kirby received
a letter from a brother physician,
specialist practicing in Chicago.
The letter said young man had
N
place himself under the care of a
specialist for a slight though stub
born aiiment. The young man was
a medical student, just entering on
his studies, and the specialist asked
his friend, DR.. Kirby, TO allow him
to visit the hospital and see the in
stitutiOn under intelligent guidance.
DR.. Kirby wrote his friend to send
the young Kentuckian over and he
would do all he could for him. The
visit was paid one week ago yester-
day. The student showed a deep in
terest in all that pertained to his flu
ture profession. AS he parted from
DR.. Kirby he said:
81 suppose i must accustom my
self to everything with which ply
stefan has to deal. / tell you frank
ly | should like much to attend a
post-mOrtem examination"
DR.. Kirby told him when next he
was to hold an autopsy he would
send for the student. On Friday
night DR.. Kirby called up the spe-
cialist's office and asked him to tell
his young Kentucky patient there
would be an autopsy at the hospital
the next morning on the body of a
girl suicide. Promptly at 8 a. m
the student was at the County Hos
pital physicians door. Together
they went to the dissecting-r
There DR.. Kirby told his visitor that
post-mOrtems were not pleasant
things to the uninitiated, and he
jOkingly added:
Now, don't faint"
The student laughed and said he
was hOrror-proof. Then the attend.
ants brought out sheet-shroulded
body and placed it on the table
The features of the dead were Gov
cred. There was only a half-ligh
in the place. The medical student
stood at the head of the covered
form. One of the attendants drew
the sheet down, disclosing the face
DR.. Kirby heard half-stifled eX
clamation. He looked toward hi,
visitor. The students face was al
white as the sheet which shroudeC
the dead. The doctor went TOWARD
him, but before he could reach hi
side the student had fallen to thu
floor insensible.
IHt dllthutulS dashed water III
his face and Dir. Kirby forced brand,
between his closed lips, but it wa
longer than usual before conscious
ness came back.
When the student came out of til,
= faint he passed his hand before hi
e eyes, staggered to his feet, LOOKED
again at the face of the dead, aU(
cried:
My God, my sister!N
= They led him from the room, anC
in broken words he told DR.. Kirb!
his sister had left the Louisyill,
= home five years before and from
r that day neither parents nor broth
ers nor sisters ever had heard ont
: word from her, They long had be-
= lived her dead.
3 Last night the body of the suicide
: in Il costly casket was taken to tn
childhood home in Kentucky.
, DR.. Kirby will not disclose th
name of the girls family, saying
only that it is one which, in Louis
, vile, is Synonymous with wealth
, and the highest social standing.