Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-02

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The following interesting piece of
fiction regarding dangerous surgical
operation by a number of noted physf-
clans In the interests of science, and
Its unsatisfactory results was written
for the Courier by DR.. G. E. Huband:
Early in the spring some years ago
young pedestrian of eccentric char
ac.erlstics found his way into my Of
flee. He believed himself to be the
victim of some grave disease and,
Frustrated with grief over the sad SIT
uation, he tried to prevail upon me
to administer some narcotic that
would enable him to sleep from time
to eternity.
After listening to his pathetic story
decided nat there was little actual
disease present, and that he was suf-
fering from nostalgia. or home sick
ness, which by the way is very la
mentable thing to the individual him
self and can only be corrected under
certain circumstances by the wise and
judicious administrations Of skillful
physician. Then, too, from observa-
ton he proved to be addicted to the
use OF erythroxylon, Judging from the
thick green incrustations upon his
teeth and the odor of his breath. We
might add thee is always tendency
in these subjects to suicidal intent as
the effects of the drug are passing
off. Our subject, a young negro, was
an ex-slave and was grieving over the
/ loss of his former home and a master
who was very kind and good to him,
but who had recently passedsinto the
realms from which the soul never re-
turns.
1t was to his master that this
young negro wished to go, but he did
not care to go by an act of his own
hand. Was / not fortunate? During
the long winter months I had been
studying Hamlet, Paradise Lost. OAR
win, Biology, and the like, and was
deeply mystified not only regarding
the source of life, but more especially
as to the habitation of the soul. / say
"habitation" but perhaps rendezvous
would be a better word, the the
souls dwelling place is certainly hid
den one and exceedingly difficult to
; find.
became less and less restrictive re.
garding the mutilation of the body, in.
!. vaded one cavity after another in
:. plicated structures of tissue.
We are as deeply in darkness today
as any have been from time imme'
!, mortal.
!. According to NEUROLOGICAL teaching
I the seat or the soul Is believed to be
in the pineal gland, small body, less
than the size Of a pea, at the base OF
the brain. 1t is well fortified from the
outside Interference by cbulwark OF
the strong, bony substance Of the
skull.
/ 1t is impossible to move this gland
from Its geographic al location, with.
out removing the brain itself, in
which case, the soul would have de-
parted from regions unknown. From
anatomical research, had devised a
novel and unique way of egress, pro
, vided, hov, ever, could get the sub.
jects consent, for the necessary surgi
cal procedure was rather hazardous
1, accordingly, made the Respondent
man a liberc.l proposition to become
my subject. | explained to him that
the object was to locate the soul in
a living, human subject to see it in
all it's glory, and study it in it's mystic.
rious movements All this was ex
plaired to him in tones that were kind
and soft, but firm that he might not
I become frightened at so gigantic an
undertaking.
Our subject, crouched down deeper
into his chair and drawing his breath,
said: -.
"Sposen the soul gifts out =, dar
AM neber wakes up from de opera
j tion?"
i. well" SAID taking him firmly by
the hand >tnd placing the 9th r upon
his shoulder; at the same time giving
MIN a hearty shake to arouse his cour
age which was beginning to wane:
Suppose you do not wake up, you
would die With the honor of being the
first man to brave SO great an era.
ton, and for such a noble purpose
Think Of it, even granting the worst
that could happen, you would die a
hero to great scientific cause"
"Well, sir, is1.'t you gwine to tell
me what youse gwine to do?"
Haven't l been explaining that to
your
well, wants to know what part
of me youse gwine to cut, and whether
1t will leave me permanently injured?'
81 answered, not necessarily. will
briefly explain. You see the skeleton
here" 1 unveiled perfectly articu
J lated frame which hung in the corner
"Those bones are the remains Of q
young man, who died hero. He was
engaged in one, of the most deadly
and bloody conflicts ever fought. His
blood was spilled to liberate you"
Thar, thar, doctor, Use willing tc
spill mine if it will do science and
4 humanity any good"
you see, as was about to remark
the operation is necessarily a surgical
one. 1t merely consists in dislocating
the lower jaw. as you see like this
and then dividing the cheek muscle
on each side, allowing me room
!, enough to work with both hands. OF
course, all the upper and lower teeth
must first be extracted. The next
stem in the operation is to divide the