Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-03-28
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A STORY OF The DEAD.ROOM.
By CAPTAIN BARCLAY.
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6OEEOWlul sCSueB WnlCH pTSSSuI lu6uL-
selves in your profession, F" I remarked
to the surgeon of our regiment, as
spent an evening in his tent, while
we were in camp.
"Yes, indeed" he replied, with an
air of nonchalance. "But, then, cap
tain, you are a soldier, and you know
how fellow will get used to most
anything. You do not shudder now
at seeing dead men lying around loose
as you used to do, do your"
"Well, no." 1 replied, "that Is too
true"
II remember one incident in my
life, when a student of medicine in
New York college," continued the
doctor, "that has never beer erased
from my memory. 1t Is full quar-
ter of century since it occurred, and
yet / remember it we'll. l would to
Heaven 1t could pass from my mind.
WAR is full of horrors" continued
the doctor, "and l have been in hos
pitfalls where the shrieks of the
wounded and the groans of the dying
mingled, and went about my 5usi-
ness almost as the weaver listens to
the sound of his looms. But this is
q story of the dead-room, where no
sound is heard but the sharpening of
the scalpel and the almost noiseless
tread of the surgeon.
Among the professors IL the med
zeal college at that time was DR.. F.,
an English surgeon. He was man
OF brilliant attachments, both as
scholar and as surgeon.
HE was probably sixty years of
age, and had no family, at least he
never spoke of one. Why he left his
native land, and why he hardly ever
smiled, no one seemed to know, and
probably no one cared to ask. We,
as students, paid our money for a
knowledge of medicine and surgery,
and did not trouble ourselves about
the history of those who taught us.
"The winter season of lectures had
commenced, and students from nearly
every section of the United States
were in the city to attend them. Sub
jects for dissection were required,
and sometimes, like other articles in
the market, the supply exceeded the
demand, and at other times the dead
room was short. Body-snatchers
were employed at the current rates,
and were paid for the bodies fur
nished by the law of supply and de-
mand. Subjects were scarce and in
demand the winter have named, and
prices rose accordingly.
II happened in the English profess
sor's room one morning to examine
medical work that required my at.
tention. A gentle rap came on the
door, and the doctor said, Walk in
II knew the visitor and his calling
at glance. His soulless eyes glanced
cautiously around the room, and then
he asked, In whisper:
"'All right, doctor?'
Yes; one of my Students re-
piled the surgeon.
Have fresh stiff, doctor. Found
1t floating in the harbor at daylight
this morning. Female, about fifty,
and good form. From an English
vessel, no doubt
What is the price?' asked the
surgeon.
Cannot deliver 1t at the college
for less than a hundred, was the re-
ply.
Too much, answered ths sur
geon. You are above the market
Sorry we cannot agree said the
man, with scowl; but the fact il,
doctor, no class of individuals takes
such risks and work as hard for our
money as us fellers, and mostly for
the benefit OF science
HE was about to depart when the
surgeon called him back.
Make 1t seventy-flve and you can
bring the subject
Sorry, doctor, but l can't. You
see, Jim and l is in partnership in
this stiff, as he happened In the boat
with me, and when we come to divide
the matter 1t win be only fifty each.
We honestly earned every cent we
ask
WE'LL replied the surgeon, bring
the subject to the dead-room tonight,
and your price shall be paid
"The following Gay the professor
announced in his morning lecture
that fine female subject had been
obtained, and that in the afternoon
he should dissect it in their presence
and for their benefit in the science of
obstetrics. A full class and careful
hearing were demanded.
"The subject hal been placed on
the dissecting table In the dead-room,
and a white sheet carefully secured
1t from view. A full class was in
attendance at the afternoon exer-
cises.
"The professor dwelt with warmth
upon this delicate branch of medical
science, and said ne theme was pro-
found and in part revealed the won
der of our creation.
stepping from the platform with
scelpel In hand, he then advanced to
the table, removed the sheet from
the corpse, and while gazing on the
face Of the dead woman, the color
left his cheeks, the scalpel shook in
his hand. he gasped for breath, and
said;
Jane! Jane! Great Heaven, II is
janet! and fell in my arms.
"Restoratives were applied to his
bloodless lips, and when he had re-
covered sufficiently to speak, he said:
Gentlemen, am i'll There viii