Year: 1862

GU urge tnat there is no romance IN
our profession"


ITO be sure do ; things happen queerly
sometimes. and we make strange acquain-
tances in the course of our practice, [ ad-
nit; but that anything positively romantic,
as the word is understood, occurs in the
practice of surgery, deny" = -


Thus discoursed two young gentlemen
who wrote NJ. D. at the end of their names


Charles" said the elder of the two,
''light your cigar and listen. Two years
before received my degree, the events here
narrated occurred"


He opened portfolio, and commenced
reading as follows:


During period of time occupied by
me ina tour through the New England
States, in the year 1856, I was on board
steamboat crowded with passengers The
State of Maine had attractions for me, and
to one of its towns was destined Among
the many groups that were enjoying the
sight of the sea in their chosen positions on
the steamers deck, few hours after our
departure, the attention of many observers
was attracted more particularly to family
party OF three persons-an elderly gentle
man of intellectual appearance and two
ies-daughte-s=-one an-iepel;ea, I'd :,
the other the incarnation of health and beau
ty. The object Of their journey was the
restoration of the health of the afflicted one,
by change of scene, and the magic potency
in most cases, of the invigorating sea breeze
Having selected seat near this party, for
no motive of listening to their discourse, the
earnest manner of the elderly lady prevented
any other result [ heard her fathers re-
peated cautions, and he earnestly entreated
her to be careful if she remained upon the
deck alone


''There is no danger, father" said she,
II would not wish to live if am to be the
slave of fear"


For the first time, I had become interes-
ted in her character, and silent prayer
went forth from my heart, that her path
through life should be guarded from any
cause for the fear she seemed with all her
heart to despise. left as her father ended
a fresh caution-''E ELLEN, my dear, hope
no harm will come of your want of care,
led the younger sister to the cabin below.


A short time afterwards, while standing
near the place appointed by the engineer
watching the movements of the complicated
machine, with powerful precision propelline
US against wind and tide, some dozen miles
an hour, on sudden the engine was stop
ped in obedience to the signal bell and
heard considerable hustle on the deck above
A fishing boat had attempted to cross the
track of the steamer. and, to avoid collision
the abrupt stoppage had been deemed neces
sary by the captain. The fishing boat hac
passed in safety by, and the steamer was
again under full steam. AS walked lei
surely to the after part of the boat, saw
crowd near the ladies' cabin, and, borne il
the arms of her father apparently dead, wa
the young lady whom I had left, and wht
subsequently became an object of interest tt
many on board. hesitated in forcing my
way to her, supposing that it might be
ease of fainting, and there were enough tc
apply the remedies on such occasions. Af
ter lapse of some minutes, from the agita.
ted appearance Of those who had accompani
ed the young lady into the cabin, it was
evident to me that serious accident hao
occurred. I entered the cabin with the
captain, and bcheld, reclining on a settee
the form of that lovely girl, to all appear.
ance dead. her father and sister bending
over her in agony, chafng her temples,
pressing her with their hands. calling upon
her name in vain, their anguish subsidine
in foods of tears. Messengers had been
dispatched to. different parts of the boat to
ascertain if there was among the passengers
a surgeon, who could ascertain the nature
and extent of the injury. No one had yet
been found. | asked how the accident oc-
scurred, and was informed that when the
boat stopped the young lady was leaning
over the rail of the promenade deck the
passengers anxiously rushing to one side to
see the fishing boat pass, caused the steam
or to careen, when the poor girl fell to the
deck below, striking her head upon corner
of the chain box.


A medical gentleman entered the cabin
4 young man entered with him. Upon
examination. it was found that the skull oi
the young lady was fractured, and every
indication of compression of the braiu.-
The intelligence was impaired to the unhap
py paret Of tue girl, with the candid -ac-