The Anaconda standard., 1898-01-04
HE WHISTLED ANNIE LAURIE.
And When He Felt the Surgeons Knife
Proceeded to Clean Out the Clinic.

From the St Louis Post Dispatch.
DR.. Edward Ricketts, of Cincinnati is
one of the largest men physically and
mentally in the Southern Surgical and
genealogical association. He is known
as daring and skillfuI operator, and
has achieved reputation by his con-
tributfons to medical journals on abdo-
minal surgery. Those who know the
doctor say he is as brave ordinarily
as Julius Caesar. Yet. like the Styx-
dipped Achilles. he has a vulnerable
spot.
The story told on the general surgeon
comes from his home. Cincinnati. He
was invited by fellow physician to be
present at a peculiarly. difficult ademon-
stration. DR.. Ricketts, was late in ar
riving, and was forced to take posi-
tion on the outer edge of the circle of
doctors and students. Nothing had been
SAID about the condition of the subject
and he supposed it was a cadaver. The
figure was that of a giant Teuton, and
10 all appearances was perfectly rigid.
Not a muscle stirred and no breathing
was perceptible.
The location of the operation was ex-
posed, and the operator, grasping his
knife, advanced TO the patient. AS the
cold steel touched the flesh a startling
thing happened, From beneath the
faxen moustache of the form on the
table the familiar notes of Annie Lau-
rie" whstled clearly distinctly. The
effect on the company was electrical.
The operating surgeons knife fell with
rattle to the floor, the students rushed
for the door and the other physicians
stood transfixed with amazement Clear
and sweet came the notes of the old
song, even to the last bar. Then the
tune was switched to die Wacht am
Rhein. BY the time this was COM
pleted the room was empty of students,
but the veteran physicians remained at
their posts Suddenly the subject sat
up. As he gazed over the row of white
aproned figures wild light sprang into
his eyes. With yell he ieaped from
the table and dealt the nearest ply
sician a stunning blow in the face then
he attacked the others. Chairs. tables,
bookcases were overturned. glasses
smashed and furniture demolished.
The physicians got outside and waited
the cooling of the Germans passion.
Gradually he became calmer until at
last he sank exhausted in chair. The
medical men advanced in q body and
demanded an explanation. The patient
could give none. For a time he was
crazy. DIR. Ricketts, was informed that
the man had been under the in
fiuenee of an anaesthetic and was asked
To assist in the operation
The patient insisted that the work go
on, and chloroform was substituted for
ether The knives were brought out
and an incision was about to be made,
for the second time. the strains of An
ME Laurie fell upon the ears of the
company. This time there was no de-
lay Everybody except DR. Ricketts,
fled to the street. few moments later
he, too. had To seek refuge from the
huge fist Of the German, who was again
on the rampage. After this second out
break the demonstration was aband
oned. The strange consequences of the
anaesthetic We're never satisfactorily
explained by the medical fraternity, but
TO this day DR.. Ricketts, cannot hear
the strains of the old Scotch song with
out quaking in his shoes and lodging
ina aginary blows