Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-03-30
The Unknown
> Surgeon
By CALVIN HENDRICKS


copyright, 1924. Western Newspaper Union.
The head surgeon turned to his as
E.stants.
1T is no use proceeding, gentlemen"
lie said. "The bullet has penetrated
lie pancreas. We might remove 1t
aud close the wound, but we could not
control the hemorrhage. The patient
las just as much chance Of recovering
without an operation as with one
tat is to say, none whatever"
The wounded man, a gangster, shot
IL street bruwl, lay motionless up !
Oh the table.
Excuse me, gentlemen, but 1 can
fil,ish that operation"
The voice came from the amphithe-
a.gr, which was packed with students.
E, eryone turned to look at the speak
en-. who was on his feet. He moved
al, lg the aisle and stepped down to-
ward the table.
You are a surgeon, sir?" inquired
the one who had operated, and the
SIT anger nodded.
"You are tying the main artery" ex-
ella med the head surgeon. my dear
sir, who taught you thati 1t has been
tri ID dozens Of times ia every hospital
In America, with uniform record
of failure. 1t cannot succeed"
j at the operator continued his
work. At last the operation was ended.
''de will live" said the stranger.
''AIay l ask your name, sir?" in
qui ed the head surgeon.
"Jean Klein," answered the other,
removing his rubber gloves.
'You are connected with some hos
pital here?"
"Not at present" answered Klein.
.You have studied under master,
sir. Would you be willing to be a
candidate for post hereT Klein
nodded and went out.
A week later he was installed at the
hospital 1t was soon realized that
one of the most accomplished sur
geons in America had been obtained.
'Do you know who that ISL" the
whisper ran. swell, he is Jacques
Drouin. / saw him in Paris"
Jacques Drouin! Everybody knew
it within a month after Doctor Kleln's
appointment. The story of Drouin
was one of the saddest In medical an
nails. A brilliant surgeon, and, even
at thirty, known throughout France,
he had acquired the drug habit, and,
while irresponsible, committed a
crime which ended his career. There
had been no prosecution. The scan
dial was suppressed. So, three years
earlier, Drouin had disappeared.
Soon everybody knew the story
Everybody pitied Klein. II was well
known that he never touched alcohol
or drugs.
Perhaps 1t was Nurse Lincoln who
pitied Klein more than others. She was
: the head nurse and had been nine years
. in the hospital. During that time she
had come to understand many things
) that the sight of human suffering
teaches.
+ Above all else Nurse Lincoln wanted
| Doctor Klein to know that she haC
| heard his story and regarded it as
S dead element in his life. But she hat
e not the power to tell him SO.
SO the weeks rolled by, and tn
4 months, until the international con
n gress met in the city, the famous sur
r geons from all parts of America AM
e Europe gathered to witness, amon
l. other, things, the Klein operation.
o Since Drouin had disappeared tn
Y operation had hardly ever been per
o formed with success.
!, 1t was only a chance that CAV
e Klein the opportunity to perform hi
|. operation before the congress. TIL
IF word was passed, and, like eager STU
IS dents, the surgeons hurried down t
4 the hospital.
k Nurse Lincoln's heart beat pitifuli
r fast as she stood by Klein and watche
L his impassiye face. She guessed whs
A he must be suffering, he the outcas
p standing under an alias before man
d Of his old confreres.
e Then Klein, cool and collected, pr
is ceeded, while all heads were bent an
all eyes fixed, and dead silence pr
le vailed throughout the crowded the
v ter.
ie Klein proceeded, impassfye as a lie
turer, expounding now and then In
ie low voice as he worked.
= 1t was over! Nobody had realize
III 1t, so deftly did Klein work. He TOT
:. off his gloves and bowed.
- Suddenly there came. demonstr
" tion such as the staid little theat
:. had never known. Everybody kne
- who Klein was. All cheered tnel
- selves hoarse. But 1t was Drouir
= name. not Klein's, they called.
q Professor Munczewsky, an old mi
:, of nearly ninety, rushed up to Kle
IN and kissed him on both cheeks.
to "Come back to France, Drouin,"
!. said. Eve cannot spare you. Coz
back to your work and to your COZ
J trymen."
a