Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-08

tired humanity thinks at last there is
IL respite the industrious running fly
be2s to differ with him, thus finishing
what is d truthful picture of what Il
midsummer night is in reality, with
apologies TO Shakespeare that there
cannot be more found who enjoy the
dream and les who Wrestle with the
nightmare.
One of the Augusta gentlemen who
does a great deal Of driving, told this
story. the other evening, in the Au-
gust house office.
1T was really quite fortunate that
medical man CHANGED along. There had
been an accident on a suburban road.
A horse had run away. the rig had
been smashed to smithereens, and two
women had been injured to an unknoW
extent. and had been carried into the
dining room of the roadhouse near by.
The doctor had come that way just in
time to be of assistance.
.'Of the two women, whom he found
under the care of the landlords Wife
ard the Mattresses. the elder seemed
to be more pressingly in need of his
services. while the younger struck him
as being more hysterical than anything
else. In the grave case he saw that
there was work to be done. at least two
ribs to be set and collar bone. ana
the likelihood of internal injuries.
While the doctor was at work on these
fractures the other woman was max
ing quite fuss. She was able to SIT
,lp in a chair. and showed no signs OF
injury beyond superficial scratches and
dcrangcd apparel.
while the doctor was working out
the splints for the fractured bones he
could not help hearing the moaning of
the other patient and the soothing,
There. there. you poor dear of the
attendants The girl repeating: i've
lost my leg: bring me my leg. 1t was
an absurd thing to say. and they at
tributed it to the hysteria OF fright ana
the shock And all through the opera
ton on the other patient he could near
| the hysterical girl moaning: i've lost
my leg. tell you: bring me my leg.
when the more important work had
| hccn done. and the last of the band-
ages put in place the doctor was ready
! to look after the simpler case, Tor
which he had already made out the
diagnosis of plain Mysteries.
Come now he said, in somewhat
sharp tones. don't be a baby. You're
all right if you'll only think so.
II want my leg the girl replied
It's come Off
| Nonsense the doctor answered
| TN give you little something to set
tle Your nerve and you Will be all
right for YOU will have to look after
your friend going home
But. doctor, my legs come OF;
want my leg.
Nonsense. stand up. now. and you
will see what what a silly delusion II
Is
| BUT. doctor. I cannot stand up OF
one leg: my other legs come off.
How much longer the dialogue
might have continued it would be hard
to saw. But one of the mattresses seem
ed to have an idea. and rushed out t.
the scene of the breakdown. In gather
ing UP the fragments of the broker
carriage the men had picked up piece
| of artificial anatomy clad in blact
stocking and laced shoe. but exhibit T.
ing at the upper end more or less COM
piicated and deranged machinery. or
the group of men the waitress descend
ed with the velocity of tornado. eX
| pressing herself as any woman Wouit
be expected to under such circurl
stances. She seized the leg, ran bacl
to the dining room before the doct0
and the patient had finished their cole
guy. From that on all was clear.