306 EXPERIENCES OF A SURGEON. 



struggles were continued, and a period of furious madness, heightened 

 by excruciating pain, must have ended in fainting. 



When I again became conscious, the rosy light of returning day 

 had tinged all about me. The moon was sailing in the heavens, the 

 cross was gone, and the twitterings of birds were issuing from the 

 grove. I gazed around in utter prostration of strength and 

 spirit; and, as one by one T recalled the incidents of the last few 

 hours, dejection and despair filled my mind. To brave danger is an 

 act of mechanical courage; but few men have moral nerve to look 

 death in the face, when both bodily and intellectual energies are 

 gone. 1 longed indeed for the hour of final trial, even though I 

 shrank within myself at the idea. 



The object which had so terrified me, I found to be a monstrous 

 idol, rudely carved in wood. Several others of smaller size were 

 placed about it, but all of the most grotesque and hideous forms ; they 

 seemed grinning in mockery at their victim : and, as I looked at the 

 massy and gloomy inclosure surrounding them, and called to mind 

 the rites celebrated within it, I felt that they were fit gods for such a 

 temple. 



After I had remained sinking from suffering and inanition for 

 several hours, the priests came and unbound me. I was powerless 

 as an infant, and had to be carried or rather dragged into the 

 building. Food was brought me, but, after eating a few morsels, I 

 experienced the most deadly nausea, and I lay down and prayed for 

 death. 



This boon was denied me, and I was destined to feel the full force 

 of barbarian and idolatrous cruelty. 



(To be continued.) 



EXPERIENCES OF A SURGEON. 



No. I. MY FIRST CASE. 



I HAD been upwards of sixteen months an apprentice, and 

 was more than seventeen years of age, but I had as yet seen nothing 

 of the practical part of my profession, save drugs and phials not 

 even so much as a solitary tooth extracted. I was thought too 

 young and too ignorant, I suppose, to be of any use in out-door prac- 

 tice, and nothing was done in the surgery. 



One night after the family had retired to bed, and as I was sitting 

 up reading, as was my custom, a thundering rap came to the door, 



and a hurried summons for Mr. to go to a public-house in a 



neighbouring street, to see a man who was very ill. Mr. , not 



thinking the case worth notice, I presume, told me to attend for 

 him, and to see what was the matter. I was thunderstruck, and put 

 on my hat reluctantly, and wiled away as much time as possible in 



