The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-09

One day, early in the morning. the servant
announced to DR.. K, of the most
nowned physicians of Pesth that "a gentle
man wished to consult with him without
delay. The doctor hurriedly pulled on his
dressing gown and oraeIed the patient to
be shown to his room.
The patient was evidently a man of gentle
breeding. His pale features were distorted
with pain, his right hand he carried in a
sling.
Or. k" he asked with a feeble voice.
Il am DR.. X"
AS l living in the country L have
mad the pleasure of knowing YOU only by
repute, but l cannot say that l am. under
existing circumstances, delighted to make
your acquaintance"
The doctor noticed that the stranger
could hardly keep on his feet, and tn refore
invited him TO he seated.
Il am tired to DEATH" said the unknown.
tor week | have not been able to sleep.
mere is something wrong with my right
hand; | do not know hat it is-whether an
incipient carbunclc something else of the
KIND. At first the pain was but Slight; now
however, it IS Il continuous burning sensa-
ton, that IS becoming worse every day. AS
can on longer stand it | have come here
to ask you TO cut out the affected spot for
another day of this torture would drive me
mad.
The doctor gave his opinion that the
PAIN might be relieved by means of lotions
and medicines without having recourse to an
operation.
mo, no. cried the stranger Neither
plaSterS nor medicines can help me; it must
be cut outr'
The doctor asked him to show his hand
and the patient stretched it out, gritting
his teeth for the pain.
My suffering is Of such peculiar ma
ture as to astonish YOU" he remarked while
the physician united the bandage But
don't let this influence you in your dag
nosis
The doctor Gained him. AS an old prac-
titicner he Vas used to strange complaints.
Nevertheless ne could no conceal his con-
stcrnation when he looked at the hand
freed from its bandages Nothing abnormal
could be seen on it-neither wound nor
swelling; it was hand just like any other.
Perplexed. he Dropped it.
cry of pain escaped the ltps of the
stranger as he carefully raised the diseased
member-a proof that there was no question
of stimulation, but of real suffering.
Where is the sensitive spot?" asked the
doctor
Here" The stranger pointed to a spot
on the back of his hand he shuddered all
over when the doctor touched it slightly
with the tip of his finger
DO YOU feel the pressure of my fnger?"
Inc patient made no answer but his
eyes filed with tears so unbearable was
his agony.
Strange! I can see absolutely nothing"
MOI can l. but the pain l feel is 50
run my head against the wall"
The doctor examined the place with his
maghIfNlng glass and shook his head THE
skin is perfectly intact. the blood circulates
regularly, the spot is just as sound as the
rest of your hand"
1T still appears to me as though tba snot
was somewhat redder.'
"Where?'
Inc stranger took pencil out of his
pocketbook and drew on the back of his
a of MI
Here he said.
The doctor looked searchingIy at his face
Was the patients brain perhaps affected?
Stay with me- he said; then Won will
be cured in few days
Il cannot wait. DO you take me for
maniac, possessed by a fixed idea? In this
way YOU could not cure me. The small spot
on my hand which l have marked gives
me the pangs of hell, and have come here
in order to have it cut out"
Il could not do such a thing"
why not?'
because your hand shows no symptom
or disease whatever"
you really seem to doubt my account
ability, remarked the stranger as he took
thousand-fiorin note out of his pocket and
laid it the table
GU see, doctor. that do not indulge in
childish joke, and that the favor | ask
of You appears to me both urgent and
justihable l therefore ask you again to
remove this part Of my hand
Let me repeat, sir, that all the treas
urcs of the world could not induce me to
treat healthy limb as SICK much less to
apply the knife"
And why not?'
Because such an act not only would be
senseless, it would also injure my reputa-
ton as a physician Everyone would then
say that you were a mailman and l had
taken advantage of your condition.
very well. So I'll ask you only a small
favor l myself am able to do the cut
GlnII d. -
~ with my left but that matters little
only be so kind as to dress the wound
after the operation With these words he
took OH his coat, tucked up his sleeves and
seized knife that was lying on the table
In the next moment the sharp steel gashed
his skin.
Stop cried the doctor, fearing that the
patient might injure some blood vessel.
"Since you insist on the cutting T would
rather do il myself"
When the strange operation was COM
pleted the sufferer uttered a sigh of infinite
relief
Has it stopped burning now?' the physi-
clan asked.
Yes, now it's all right. The pain has
completely left me- The little incon-
venience of the wounds when compared
with the pangs / felt is like refreshing
breeze after a raging hurricane. | evea
derive certain pleasure from seeing the
flowing blood Let it flow; 1 enjoy it,
With an expression of delight he watched
the blood gushing from the wound, and the
doctor had almost to insist forcibly upon
dressing the hand. In the meantime the
countenance of the stranger changed COM
pletely. The desperate expression vanished
his forehead became smooth the color re-
turned to his cheeks, he seemed to be filled
with new life. AS soon as his hand was
bandaged he shook the doctors hand cor
daily with his left.
IA thousand thanks"' he said you have
cured me- The small remuneration I offer
1s by no means in proportion to the service
you rendered me. All my life l shall feel
under obligation to you.