The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-07-29
a Surgical Case


Ice OF rising young oeulist I'D -
Petersburg.
Doctor" he said, Il desire you TO
operate on one Of my eyes. You see
that while my sight eye IS blue the
iris Of the left is completely covered
By a white streak This IS a blernish
which | would ike to have removed
'srhat is impossible" said the doc
tor
s'Not at all, replied the patient. y
am member Of the medical profess
sion, and consider it practicable op
Grafton
"0peration2 What operationg
zone that has never been perform
ed and which thus far IS simply in
my own brain. Naturally / have de-
sired to get rid Of the blemish, so far
as cosmetics lappearancesl are con
eerned, and have laid plan for a
remedy. have with me the instru-
ments for the purpose
He produced a little bundle or fine
cambria needles and a VIAL
MY idea is 10 prick the cornea with
these needles and I'll the minute cavi-
ties with india ink of a color similar
to that Of the pupil Of my right eye,
But
doctor, l am in a great hurry. VIII
you do as / desire or compel me to
operate on myseIf"
The patient spoke eagerly, and the
oculist was unable to understand the
cause Of his haste; but, being young
man, he was readily captivated by a
new idea and acquiesced
"Sit down there" he said. referring
to his operating chair, and, filing a
dropper with a solution Of cocaine, he
held up the eyelid and put two drops
on the iris. This was to neutralize
pain and keep the eye steady.
make haste, DOCTOR said the pa
tent impatiently.
snake haste in an operation that
has never been performed before and
in which the slightest overdriying Of
the needles may cause the loss Of the
eyer
"What use Is sight without life?
Hurry, | saye'
The oculist was puzzled Was the
man insane? He was tempted to throw
up the operation. but he had become
intensely interested In trying it and
seeing what the result would be.
With the needles he picked carefully
all over the surface Of the eye affected
and when he had finished took up the
vial the patient had brought.
fare you sure the color Is rightS" he
asked. Remember, the ink cannot be
removed"
Perfectly sure" said the other. =
have prepared it myself"
The ink was applied, and after few
moments. during which the operator
critically examined the eye to see that
he had left no part uncovered, be ex-
claimed.
Bravo! Your eyes are exactly
alike
aYour fee2'' said the patient jump
ing from the chair
Nothing. 1t would not be profess
slonal to charge a brother practitioner,
Besides, your idea and the experience
have had will be worth many fees to
me In other similar cases"
There was loud ring at the office
bell
Doctor said the patient paling,
you viii not betray brother ply
sicianT
Before the oculist could reply there
were steps on the stairway, and sew
eral police stepped into the operating
room.
"A man whom we are looking for has
been traced here said one Of them;
then, turning to the doctor, you are
the oculist1"
81 am"
"Then this other must be the man we
are after" And, taking paper from
his pocket, he read. pausing to examine
the man from time to time:
"Konstantin Proker. Twenty-eight
years old. Five feet ten inches high.
Light yellow hair, Beard darker
shade Of same color Right eye blue,
left eye white. :
Looking at the eyes, he uttered an
exclamation Of disappointment The
patient cast an appealing glance at the
ocuIist.
well" said the latter, what does
this mean?"
"This man corresponds to the de-
scription, the eyes excepted, of des-
perate nihilist whose completely with a
diabolical plot has just been discov-
cred One eye should be white"
"But they are both blue"
$50 1 see"
''Those who directed you here doubt
less saw the similarity Of personal APP
pearance but did not notice the eyes.
There are plenty Of men five feet ten
with yellow boards, but not one in
thousands Of different colored eyes"
"But," stammered the policeman, "he
might have come here toto get his
eyes made the same color"
His statement was received with a
smile by the doctor and laughter by
the other policemen.
"Come, come, my friend" said the
ocullst, your zeal is getting the better
Of your common sense. Please don't In
terrupt my consultations"
4