Year: 1860

/ Some years ago the medical world was
agitated on the subject of galvanism. The
most extraordinary results were ANTICIPATED
! from it, some persons even maintained that
by It's influence the vital spark could be re-
stored to the dead body Almost every
physician who had any pretension to science,
made numerous experiments with various
surprising results. These experiments
were commenced on frogs, but eventually
they were almost wholly confined to persons
who had met their death by violence, such
as hanging or drowning; of course no ex-
| periments were made with those who had
died Of wounds or organic disease.


| In 1880 there lived on Blackfriar's S road
London, surgeon of the name of Stewart.
Tie was very strange man, passionately
attached to his profession, and although he
had settled there few years, he had al
ready gathered large practice. He was
extremely taciturn, and rarely entered into
conversation on any subject except those
Immediately connected with his profession
Mr.. Stewart was an experimentalist He
might almost be called heterodox in his
view Of the science of medicine, for he
| condemned no innovations until he had
| tested them himself, and then if he found
them worthless he made no business of ex-
posing their pretensions in the medical jour
mails Of the day.


Among other things that claimed his at
tention was the subject of galvanism. To
this strange principle in nature he devoted
more than common attention, and at last
he became so enthralled by his researches
that he devoted all his spare time to inves-
legations in room at the top of his house,
that he had fitted up especially for that
purpose, having erected powerful galvan-
ic battery there.


One day Mr.. Stewart was called to at
tend young lady living in Princess street,
not very long distance from his residence
His patient was very sick, and under his
care she soon recovered. Strange to say,
however, the surgeon did not cease his Wis
its to Miss Aston, for such was the young
lady's name, but every evening after he
had finished his afternoon calls, would find
him at Mr.. Atoms residence.


1t was soon evident that this saturnine
man was in love; even his investigations
in galvanism were suspended, and he now
| devoted the time he had before spent in
his attic to the young lady s society.
Emma Aston was charming girl, TWEEN
ty years of age, exceedingly handsome, and
possessed highly cultivated mind. She
was attracted to the moody surgeon by his
intellectual abilities, and took great pleas
ure is hin society. In her presence Mr..
Stewards natural character appeared to
give way to gentler influences; with all his
unpromising exterior, he was susceptible
to poetry, and Miss Aston was surprised
to find that her admirer had a profound
knowledge of the old and modern poets,
and would entertain her for hours together
by repeating all the best passages from
their works.


Mr.. Stewards visits continued for some
months. At last he thought he had re-
celved sufficient encouragement from EN-
ma to propose to her. In plain, blunt
and manly way he made known his passion,
and to his extreme JOY he was accepted
The young lady's mother offered no OBJ bjec-
ton, for although Mr. Stewart was much
older than her daughter Emma, he possess
sed considerable property, and was in every
way what is called by anxious parents a
good match


The wedding day was fixed, the sur
geon's house was newly furnished, and in
one short week Mr. Stewart was to convey
to his home the beautiful young bride


Three days before the period appointed
| for the ceremony, when the surgeon rose
in the morning fearful news was whisper
ed in his ear. Emma Aston had been
murdered the previous night! At first he
did not believe it, but immediate investiga-
ton only proved that it was too true. Bur
glars had broken into the house, and the
young girl, making some resistance, had
been barbarously y murdered, dagger had
been plunged into her heart. The murder
er had, however been taken, policeman
having seen him leave the premises He
proved to be villain who was known by
the name of Henry Liscomb, and against
whom several indictments for burglary had
already been issued. When he was arres-
ted he was covered with blood, and the
poignard with which he had inflicted the
wound was found on his person The evi-
dence against him was most clear, and he
was committed to take his trial at the next
assizes for wilful murder.


The fearful news of the death of his
promised bride preyed SO much on the
surgeons mind that he was attacked
with brain-fever, and for two weeks it
was not known whether he would live or
die His strong mind was shaken to the
foundation, and in his deirium he did moth
ing but rave of his murdered Emma At
last his naturally strong constitution pre-
vailed, and he slowly regained his senses.
By the most active antiphlogistic means
the Inflammation was subdued, and in three
,vooLs ba roca from, his had conyo louoort