Year: 1871

s E . Doctor NJ, one of the most eminent surgeons of Pesth, was summoned at day break one morning to see a person who pressingly sought to be admitted to him. While waiting in the ante. room the vis- itor desired the servant to add that every moments delay was dangerous, as he stood in need of instant help.

 The surgeon, hastily throwing off his night.robe, gave orders for him to be shown up at once.

 |. It was an entire stranger, but one whose dress proclaimed him man belonging to the best class of society. His pallid cheeks spoke of some deep inward bodily and mental pain; and his right arm rested in a ! silken sling. Though he succeeded per- fectly in controlling the expression of his countenance, low murmur of pain, in spite of all his efforts, broke forth repeat | ly from his lips.

 Have the honor of addressing Doctor 1 N? he asked, in weak, almost faint ing voice, as he approached the surgeon. Yes, sir

 1 Pardon the question. do not live in Pesth; came from the country. and know you by reputation only. I regret not to be able to make your acquaintance under happier circumstances

 The surgeon, seeing that his visitor could scarcely stand on his feet, begged him to rest on his divan

 I an weary; for whole week have not closed my eyes. have been having pain in my right hand to which can give no i name. In @the beginning I f It only a slight pang, but in short time it com. menced to burn with constantly increas- ing violence, growing to be torture be- yond the slightest alleviation. I have tried every obtainable remedy. far and near, but nothing relieves me--there re- mains the same pier cing cutting, deadly pain Finally could bear no more; I got into a carriage, and hastened here to you, that you might free me from my torment by an operation-the knife or iron, for can sup. port it no longer

 The surgeon here endeavored to encour- age him, saying his suffering might be overcome by milder means than the use of the knife.

 No, doctor; neither plaster nor yet any palliative can relieve it. What need is the knife. For that alone did I come here.'

 Doctor N asked to be permitted to look at his hand, on which the sufferer, set ting his teeth hard, held 1t forth. The surgeon, using the greatest precaution be- gan to loosen the bandage.

 Let me entreat you, in advance, doctor, not to be overcome by anything you will see. My pain is so strange, SO extraordi- nary, that it will certainly take you una wares Hesitate at nothing, pray you

 The surgeon assured the stranger that he was accustomed to everything in his profession, and pledged himself to hesitate ~t aAathine -NAunrthnlass. whnn tha hand appeared, he shrunk back involuntarily, letting it fall heavily. The hand was ap. parently as sound, healthy looking and perfect as any other-not a spot was to be seen upon it. s4 -..i ..-..,.. .... .....

 A sharp cry from the sufferer, as he lift ed the dropped hand with the left, proved that he had come in no jest, but that he suffered cruelty. la. s. ...-..

 Where does it pain you?'

 Here, doctor,' said the stranger, point ing to place on the upper surface of his hand, where two veins parted from each other in faint blue lines. The surgeon marked him shudder, as he touched the spot with his finger. You. feel it paining here?' @ I

 'Frightfullyr' l

 And you suffer from the pressure when I touch the place with my fnger?' .e

 The stranger was not in condition to an- swer. Tears started to his eyes, so dread full was the suffering.

 Wonderful! I distinguish nothing here. ,

 And yet experience there so inexpress- ible pain that I could dash my head against the wall' '-'

 The surgeon took Q microscope, exam ined the place, and shook his head. The skin is clear and healthy; the blood courses in ho fhowo ic Qox no apparent hurt. The place is precisely in it's natural state.' .,..s

 T think it somewhat redder.'

 'Where?

 The stranger took a pencil from his pocketbook, and drew a line round the spot the size of half-kreutzer. Here

 The surgeon carefully looked at the spot, and began to think that his patient was insane. Remain here, he said; may be able to assist you few days .....,.

 T cannot wait. Do you think. sir, that you have mad man before you? That is a misfortune of which you will have to cure me. The place have indicated caus- es me such agony that, repeat it, I have only come here to have it cut out

 Which, however, will not do, said the surgeon. #-. 5s p 1sa1

 And why notT .4a

 Because your hand is perfectly sound 1; so far as can see, there is no more the matter with it than there is with my own hand.' 9 ssa2g. @ 4 ss

 You are, therefore, ready to decide that am mad-you cannot believe me testing, returned the stranger, taking note for a thousand guilders out of his pocketbook, and laying it on the table. There, see that this is no child's play, and that the service l ask at your hands is of the high est necessity and importance to me-. I en- treat you, cut this spot from out of my handP, 9a

 And I say to you, sir. that all the wealth of the world would not induce me to look on sound member as diseased, or make the slightest incision in such a one. To do it would be to do what my surgical knowledge condemns-in word, my duty forblds 1t. The whole world would main tain that you were lunatic, but of me they would say either that I had been un- principled as to profit by your mania, or that was too ignorant to preceive the er-, TOT into which you had led me-

 So be it. At least you can accord me. this favor. will perform the operation myself. My left will, it is true, be some- what unskillful, but let that pass. I will soon finish. You will surely have the good ness to dress the wound for me-

 The surgeon marked with amazement beyond words that the stranger was in sad aarnnst fnr ho laid oci1o hic coat turnod