South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-29
81. eos eHh'S
TIShd W4kA
Body Said No and
VIII Yes as the
Dreaded Hour
Came

novice in hospital experience. But
more wonderful TO me than that was
the perfect self-control OF the nurse.
When 1 was compelled for a week TO
lie on my side for the better draining
of the wound my arm would cramp
and ache. The panacea was friction
applied with the nurses hands, and
at night l had but TO speak her name
TO bring her TO my relief. Sometimes
| would endure the pain q long time
before calling her, but 1 could not de-
ceive her.
You mustn't do that" she would
say 1T doesn't matter how many
times you call me, when 1 lie down L
go to sleep at once.
She was thinking of her case as well
as Of my comfort. Her conscience
would not permit Ter TO rest while 1
was suffering, however well / might
endure it. There was her report OF
the night to be thought OF. IL must
show as many hours Of rest for the
patient as possible. Ia fact, il grad
ually dawned upon me that the sur
geOn had done his work, had gone as
far as ne could toward saving my life.
The sequel rested with the nurse. As
she performed or neglected her duty
the work of the knife would avail.
To the nurse the SURGEON and the
physician must trust for the compile
ton of what they have begun. for the
completion Of the cure. She works
under their instructions, but she must
have intelligence to comprehend,
judgment to decide and courage 10 act
White the surgeon and the physician
sleep she is keeping her lone vigil by
the bedside, watching every symptom,
marking every change and with her
treatment and spirituality building up
-
In week the strain was over.
Though I knew nothing about IL the
result was what / knew ii would be.
The professor said / was out Of dan
ger, and / could see the change in the
faces of those who had been watching
me more than in myself There was
more frankness and certainty in their
smiles and there was notable change
in the atmosphere Of the room II
seemed TO have been relieved OF a
tensity OF which I was conscious, per-
haps. but Of which L had taken little
notice.
Food BegFD TO Appeal.
The food began TO assume a little
more substantial form and gradually
/ took more interest in il. In fact. 1
began 10 crave things that ha0 been
misplaced, as / thought, on the list
XpurgatOriOus, instead OF appearing
on the Dill or rare. But II was Adr
cry from liquid 10 solid nOurishment,
and If the nurse had not kept me
under subsection with her tact ]
might have openly rebelled. Event
ually, however, toward the close OF
three weeks. the diet reached the
beefsteak stage. though 4 was eau
toned 10 swallow only the juice.
1t was almost like being born again
when / left my bed for the first time.
That had been preceded by the pro-
fessOr's order TO set him up and send
him home tomorrow. When the
nurse set me up my head reminded
me Of a toy balloon Ii wabbled about
so I was afraid OF falling out OF bed,
but il wasn't that bad. and in the af-
ternoon 1 got up and walked about
the room supported on my wigglins
legs by the nurses strong arm. Then
a wheeled chair was brought in and
1 enjoyed a ride up and down the
corridor.
The next morning my manhood re-
asserted itself and I put on nay clothes.
.. the JOY OF restoration and reestab-
lishment, the pride in returning
strength. the gratitude OF the heart
toward those who had done this Won
derful thing,
I rode down in the elevator and
walked out OF the hospital new
man. Remade in body and chGstened
and renewed in spirit.