round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第43章
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pillow； supplied all the light。 In came the patient； with one side of his
face as smooth as a baby's； and the other all in a quiver with fright。 He
lay down； and the chloroform towel was placed over his face； while
Walker threaded his needles in the candle light。 The chloroformist stood
at the head of the table； and M‘Namara was stationed at the side to control
the patient。 The rest of us stood by to assist。
〃Well； the man was about half over when he fell into one of those
convulsive flurries which come with the semi…unconscious stage。 He
kicked and plunged and struck out with both hands。 Over with a crash
went the little table which held the candles； and in an instant we were left
in total darkness。 You can think what a rush and a scurry there was； one
to pick up the table； one to find the matches； and some to restrain the
patient who was still dashing himself about。 He was held down by two
dressers； the chloroform was pushed； and by the time the candles were
relit； his incoherent； half…smothered shoutings had changed to a stertorous
snore。 His head was turned on the pillow and the towel was still kept
over his face while the operation was carried through。 Then the towel
was withdrawn； and you can conceive our amazement when we looked
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upon the face of M‘Namara。
〃How did it happen？ Why； simply enough。 As the candles went
over； the chloroformist had stopped for an instant and had tried to catch
them。 The patient； just as the light went out； had rolled off and under the
table。 Poor M‘Namara； clinging frantically to him； had been dragged
across it； and the chloroformist； feeling him there； had naturally claped the
towel across his mouth and nose。 The others had secured him； and the
more he roared and kicked the more they drenched him with chloroform。
Walker was very nice about it； and made the most handsome apologies。
He offered to do a plastic on the spot； and make as good an ear as he could；
but M‘Namara had had enough of it。 As to the patient； we found him
sleeping placidly under the table； with the ends of the blanket screening
him on both sides。 Walker sent M‘Namara round his ear next day in a jar
of methylated spirit； but Mac's wife was very angry about it； and it led to a
good deal of ill…feeling。
〃Some people say that the more one has to do with human nature； and
the closer one is brought in contact with it； the less one thinks of it。 I
don't believe that those who know most would uphold that view。 My
own experience is dead against it。 I was brought up in the miserable…
mortal…clay school of theology； and yet here I am； after thirty years of
intimate acquaintance with humanity； filled with respect for it。 The； evil
lies commonly upon the surface。 The deeper strata are good。 A
hundred times I have seen folk condemned to death as suddenly as poor
Walker was。 Sometimes it was to blindness or to mutilations which are
worse than death。 Men and women； they almost all took it beautifully；
and some with such lovely unselfishness； and with such complete
absorption in the thought of how their fate would affect others； that the
man about town； or the frivolously…dressed woman has seemed to change
into an angel before my eyes。 I have seen death… beds； too； of all ages
and of all creeds and want of creeds。 I never saw any of them shrink；
save only one poor； imaginative young fellow； who had spent his
blameless life in the strictest of sects。 Of course； an exhausted frame is
incapable of fear； as anyone can vouch who is told； in the midst of his sea…
sickness； that the ship is going to the bottom。 That is why I rate courage
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in the face of mutilation to be higher than courage when a wasting illness
is fining away into death。
〃Now； I'll take a case which I had in my own practice last Wednesday。
A lady came in to consult methe wife of a well…known sporting baronet。
The husband had come with her； but remained； at her request； in the
waiting…room。 I need not go into details； but it proved to be a peculiarly
malignant case of cancer。 ‘I knew it；' said she。 ‘How long have I to
live？' ‘I fear that it may exhaust your strength in a few months；' I
answered。 ‘Poor old Jack！' said she。 ‘I'll tell him that it is not
dangerous。' ‘Why should you deceive him？' I asked。 ‘Well； he's very
uneasy about it； and he is quaking now in the waiting…room。 He has two
old friends to dinner to…night； and I haven't the heart to spoil his evening。
To…morrow will be time enough for him to learn the truth。' Out she
walked； the brave little woman； and a moment later her husband； with his
big； red face shining with joy came plunging into my room to shake me by
the hand。 No； I respected her wish and I did not undeceive him。 I dare
bet that evening was one of the brightest； and the next morning the darkest；
of his life。
〃It's wonderful how bravely and cheerily a woman can face a crushing
blow。 It is different with men。 A man can stand it without complaining；
but it knocks him dazed and silly all the same。 But the woman does not
lose her wits any more than she does her courage。 Now； I had a case only
a few weeks ago which would show you what I mean。 A gentleman
consulted me about his wife； a very beautiful woman。 She had a small
tubercular nodule upon her upper arm； according to him。 He was sure
that it was of no importance； but he wanted to know whether Devonshire
or the Riviera would be the better for her。 I examined her and found a
frightful sarcoma of the bone； hardly showing upon the surface； but
involving the shoulder…blade and clavicle as well as the humerus。 A more
malignant case I have never seen。 I sent her out of the room and I told
him the truth。 What did he do？ Why； he walked slowly round that
room with his hands behind his back； looking with the greatest interest at
the pictures。 I can see him now； putting up his gold pince…nez and staring
at them with perfectly vacant eyes； which told me that he saw neither them
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nor the wall behind them。 ‘Amputation of the arm？' he asked at last。
‘And of the collar…bone and shoulder…blade；' said I。 ‘Quite so。 The
collar…bone and shoulder…blade；' he repeated； still staring about him with
those lifeless eyes。 It settled him。 I don't believe he'll ever be the same
man again。 But the woman took it as bravely and brightly as could be；
and she has done very well since。 The mischief was so great that the
arm snapped as we drew it from the night…dress。 No； I don't think that
there will be any return； and I have every hope of her recovery。
〃The first patient is a thing which one remembers all one's life。 Mine
was commonplace； and the details are of no interest。 I had a curious
visitor； however； during the first few months after my plate went up。 It
was an elderly woman； richly dressed； with a wickerwork picnic basket in
her hand。 This she opened with the tears streaming down her face； and
out there waddled the fattest； ugliest； and mangiest little pug dog that I
have ever seen。 ‘I wish you to put him painlessly out of the world；
doctor；' she cried。 ‘Quick； quick； or my resolution may give way。' She
flung herself down； with hysterical sobs； upon the sofa。 The less
experienced a doctor is； the higher are his notions of professional dignity；
as I need not remind you； my young friend； so I was about to refuse the
commission with indignation； when I bethought me that； quite apart from
medicine； we were gentleman and lady； and that she had asked me to do
something for her which was evidently of the greatest possible importance
in her eyes。 I led off the poor little doggie； therefore； and with the help of
a saucerful of milk and a few drops of prussic acid his exit was as speedy
and painless as could be desired。 ‘Is it over？' she cried as I entered。 It
was really tragic to see how all the love which should have gone to
husband and children had； in default of them； been centred upon this
uncouth little animal。 She left； quite broken down； in her carriage； and it
was only after her departure that I saw an envelope sealed with a large red
seal； and lying upon the blotting pad of my desk。 Outside； in pencil； was
written： ‘I have no doubt that you would willingly have done this
without a fee； but I insist upon your acceptance of the enclosed。' I
opened it with some vague notions of an eccentric millionaire and a fifty…
pound note； but all I found was a postal order for four and sixpence。 The
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whole incident struck me as so whimsical that I laughed until I was tired。
You'll find there's so much tragedy in a doctor's life； my boy； that he would
not be able to stand it if it were not for the strain of comedy which comes
every now and then to leaven it。
〃And a doctor has very much to be thankful for also。 Don't you ever
forget it。 It is suc
