The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-03-25

STORY OF The DEAD ROOM.
BY CAPTAIN BARCLAY.



Il presume, doctor, there are many
sorrowful scenes which present them
selves in your profession" I remarked
to the surgeon of Jul regiment, as I
spent an evening in his tent, while
we were in camp.
Eyes, indeed" he replied, with an
air of nonchalance. "But, then, cap
tain, you are a soldier, and you know
how a 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 you?"
"Well no." 1 replied, that is too
true"
II remember one incident in my
life, when a student of medicine in
a New York college," continued the
doctor, that has never been erased
from my memory. 1t is full a quar-
ter of a century since it occurred, and
yet I remember it well. 1 would to
Heaven it could pass from my mind.
War is full of horrors" continued
the doctor, land I have been in hos
pitals where the shrieks of the
wounded and the groans of the dying
mingled, and went about my jusi-
hess almost as the weaver listens to
the sound of his looms. But this is
a story Of the d~ead-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
teal college at that time vas Dr.. F.,
IN English surgeon. He was a mar
If brilliant attainments, both as a
scholar and as a surgeon.
"He was probably sixty years of
age, and had no family, a. least he
never spoke of one. Why he left his
oative 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
1ished by the law of supply and de-
mand. Subjects were scarce and in
demand the winter I have named, and
prices rose accordingly.
II happened in the English profess
sor's room one morning to examine a
medical work that required my at
tention. A gentle rap came on the
door, and the doctor said, Walk in
Il knew the visitor and his calling
at a glance. His soulless eyes glanced
cautiously around the room. and then
he asked, in a whisper:
"tAll right, doctor?'
Ives; n of my Students re-
piled the surgeon.
"'Have a fresh stiff, doctor. Found
1t floating in the harbor 1T daylight
this morning. Female, about fifty,
and good form. From an English
vessel, no doubt
'What is the price, asked the
surgeon.
Cannot deliver it at the college
for less than a hundred was the re-
ply.
Too much answered the sur
geon. You are above the market
Sorry we cannot agree said the
man, with a scowl; but the fact IS,
doctor, no class OF individuals, takes
such risks and work as hard for our
money as US f~ellers, and mostly for
the benefit of science
"He was about to depart when the
surgeon called him back.
Make it seventy-fve and you can
bring the subject
Sorry, doctor, but 1 cant. You
see, Jim and I is in partnership in
this Stln, as ne happened In the boat
with me, and when we come to divide
the matter it will be only fifty each.
We honestly earned every cent we
ask
WELL replied the surgeon, bring
the subject to the dead-room tonight.
and your price shall be paid
The following Cay the professor
announced in his morning lecture
that a 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 a careful
hearing were demanded.
THE subject hal been placed on
the dissecting table in the dead-room,
and a white sheet carefully secured
it 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 The thama va. nrn-