River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-05-31

sirOus of my attendance. 4 must starr
for Europe Immediately after perform
ing the operation on your breast, and,
before | could make the slightest re-
sistance, he had me in his arms, and
was carrying me into the study. where
was long surgical table, covered with
green baiZe On this he laid me, and
holding me down with one hand, with
the strength of a maniac. he brought
forth severallo long leather straps, which
bore evidence of having recently been
cut, with which he secured me to the
table with the skill of an expert. 1t
was but the work of a moment to I'M
loose my robe and bare my bosom.
Then, after carefully examining my
left breast. he said:
MADAM. your husband has made
mistake. ! find no necessity for my
intended operation
At this | gave long-drawn sigh of
relief, and prepared to rise.
But" he continued, 81 have made the
discovery that your heart is as large as
that Of an OK! | will remove it, so that
YOU can see for yourself, reduce it to its
natural size by a curious process Of my
own unknown to medical science, and
of which | am sole discoverer, then re-
place ii again"
He began to examine the edge of the
cruel knife, on which / closed my eyes,
while every nerve was in perceptible
tremor.
''The mechanism of the heart is like
a watch" he resumed: "if it goes too
fast. the great blood-vessel that sup
plies the force must be stopped, like the
lever of a watch. and the works must
be cleaned. and repaired, and regulat-
ed. 1t may interest you TO know that
[ was present at the post-mortem eN-
animation held over the remains of the
beautiful Louisa of Prussia. Had |
been consulted before her death. /
would have saved her by taking out her
heart. and removing the polypi, be
tween which it was wedged as in wise.
but was called too late. The king and
| had little difference; he was Ger
man, | am French. | trust that is suf-
ficient explanation"
He now bent over me, his long, white
beard brushing my. face. | opened my
eyes beseechingiy. trying to think OF
some way to save myself. "Oh. sir, give
me an anaesthetic. that | may not feel
the pain" pleaded.
Indeed. indeed, madam, | would
comply with your wish We're YOU not
the wife of a physician-of skillful
surgeon. | wish you to note with what
ease ! perform this difficult operation,
so that YOU may tell your husband of
the great savant whose services he Sc
cured. fortunately in season"
As he said this he made the final test
of the knife on his thumb. How pre-
oious were the moments now! They
were fleeting all too fast, and yet an
eternity seemed compressed in every
one. | never tainted in my life, and
never felt less like swooning than now.
as / summoned all my presence of mind
o delay the fearful moment. fervently
praying in the meantime for my hus-
bands return.
Doctor" said /. with assumed COM
posure. 81 have the utmost confidence
in Your skill; I would not trust my life
to another: but. doctor, you have for
gotten to bring a napkin to stanch the
blood. If you will have the goodness
to ascend to my sleeping chamber, at
the right of the hall, you will find
everything you need for that purpose
in the bureau"
"Ah. madam" he said, shaking his
head sagaciously. 81 never draw blood
during a surgical operations; that is
another one of my secrets unknown to
the faculty"
Then. placing his hand on my bosom,
he added, with horrible espicglerie:
"I'H scarcely mark that skin whittier
than snow. and smooth as monumental
alabaster.'
20 God!" | cried, as felt the cold
steel touch my breast; but with the
same breath came deliverance.
Quick as thought a heavy wooden
piano-cover was thrown over the head
and person of the mailman, and bound
tightly around him. As quickly was
| released, and the thongs that bound
me soon held the maniac. My husband
held me in his arms. He had noiseless-
" approached and. taking in the hor-
ror of my situation al glance. had. by
the only means at hand, secured the
madman, who was the very patient he
had been summoned to attend. but
who had escaped the vigilance of his
keeper soon after the departure of the
messenger, who had now returned
with the doctor in pursuit of him. As
the poor wretch was being hurried
away. he turned to me, and said:
Madam, this is plot to rob me of my
reputation. Your husband is envious
Of my great skill as surgeon. Adieu,"
afterward learned that the man was
once an eminent surgeon in Europe.
but much learning had made him mad.
When he bound me to the table, nay
hair was black as a raven; when I left
IT, it was as you see it now-white as
full-blown cotton. San Francisco
NruOnaut