The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-14
A Surgical Case
toriginaI.l


 operate on one of my eyes. You see that while my right eye Is blue the iris of the left Is completely covered by a white streak. This Is blemish which would like to have removed" That is impossible" said the doc tor.
 Not at all," replied the patient. q am a member of the medical profes- sion, and consider 1t practicable op- eratlon."
 Operation? What operationT
 "One that has never been perform ed and which thus far Is simply in my own brain. Naturally have de- sired to set gid of the blemish, 30 far as cosmetics (appearances) are con cerned. and have laid a plan for a remedy. have with me the instru- mentS for the'purpose."
 He produced little bundle of fine cambrie needles and vial.
 'My Idea Is to prick the cornea with these needles and i'll the minute cavi- ties with India ink of color similar to that of the pupil of my right eye"
 But
 Doctor, am in a great hurry. Will you do as I desire or compel me to operate on myselfT
 The patient spoke eagerly, and the oculist was unable to understand the cause of his haste; but, being q young man, he was readily captivated by a new idea.and acIuiesced
 "sit down there" he said, referring to his operating chair, and. filling dropper with a solution of cocaine, he held up the eyelid and put two drops on the ris. This was to neutrallze pain and keep the eye steady.
 Make haste, doctor" said the pa tient impatiently.
 Make haste in an operation that has never been performed before and in which the slightest overdriving or the needles may cause the loss of the eyer
 What use Is sight without life? Hurry, I say!"
 The oculist was puzzled. Was the man insane? He was tempted to throw up the operation, but he had become intensely interested fin trying 1t and seeing what the result would be.
 With the needles he picked carefully all over the surface of the eye affected and when be had finished took up the vial the patient had brought.
 "Are you sure the color Is right!" he asked. Remember, the ink cannot be removed"
 Perfectly sure" said the other. "I have prepared 1t 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, he ex- claimed:
 Bravo! Your eyes are exactly alike"
 Your feeY" said the patient jump ing from the chair.
 Nothing. It would not be profes' sional to charge brother practitioner. Besides, your idea and the experience have had will be worth many fees to me in other similar cases"
 There was a loud ring at the office bell.
 Doctor" said the patient paling. you will not betray a brother phy- sician|
 Before the Oculist could reply there were steps on the stairway, and 'sev- eral police stepped into the operating room.
 "A man whom we are looking for has been traced here," said one of themi then, turning to the doctor, You are the oculistI"
 "I 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 a 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 oculist.
 Well" said the latter. what does ! this meanp
 This man corresponds to the de scrlption, the eyes excepted, of a des- perate nlhilist whose eOmpliclty with a dlabolical plot has just been discov- cred. One eye should be white"
 But they are both blue"
 "So see"
 Those who directed you here doubt less saw the similarity of personal ap- pearance, but did not notice the eyes. There are plenty of men i've 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 oculist, "your zeal is getting the better of your common sense. Please don't in terrupt my consultations"
 The police withdrew, their leader casting doubtful glances at the sus- pected man. As soon as they were gone the patient grasped the oculises I hand.
 "You have saved me-" he said. ''To'