368 EXPERIENCES OF A SURGEON. 



through which all the superficial blood-vessels could be seen mean- 

 dering quite distinctly. I had calculated upon something similar ; 

 but, in place of these, I saw a brawny muscular member, reugh with 

 hair, and every thing in the shape of vein hid from view. I had 

 gone too far to recede, and, on tying a piece of tape tightly above the 

 elbow, I had the satisfaction of seeing a faint rising, which I rightly 

 conjectured must be the object I was in search of: I hesitated 

 before venturing farther ; all however were impatient, and the man 

 was so turbulent, and made such horrid noises, that, wound up to 

 desperation, I plunged a lancet boldly into the swelling, and was 

 instantly covered with blood. 



I had made a most capacious opening, and, in the state of vas- 

 cular and muscular excitement in which he was, the blood flowed out 

 impetuously, and very soon quieted his vehement struggles. " Bleed 

 him well ! " was shouted out, and so I let him bleed till the blood 

 ceased to flow, and he fainted. This was thought sufficient, and I 

 bandaged up his arm, as I best could, internally wondering whether 

 I had pricked the artery. I now ascertained that my patient was 

 captain of a coaster, and had been drinking and " spreeing," as 

 they called it, for several days, till he had become perfectly mad and 

 ungovernable. I left them most gladly : I had done all I could, and 

 was in a state of fidgetty uneasiness lest he should begin to bleed 

 again : I had but little comfort or sleep that night : the scene dwelt 

 in my memory, and I fancied a hundred times I heard him bel- 

 lowing out, " Swab the deck, you lubbers! d n your eyes, swab the 

 deck ! " 



Early on the following morning I was despatched to ascertain the 

 result of my doctoring: all was right the captain had been quiet and 

 was now sensible, and his arm as comfortable as could be wished. 



No. II. THE BLIND CHILD. 



I HAD successfully treated an infant labouring under a severe 

 attack of inflammation of the eyes, belonging to a hospital patient 

 of the name of Myers. The woman was of somewhat better rank 

 than was usual with those applying for relief, and was a widow. 

 When her infant was recovering, she brought down another child 

 about four years old, labouring under a similar affection, and very 

 urgently entreated me to attend to it. As it was out of the line of 

 my duty, being older than the hospital rules admitted, I, in the first 

 place, declined interfering, desiring her to take it tothe eye institu- 

 tion, offering to give her a note to one of its surgeons. The woman 

 was however so pertinacious, and expressed so much confidence in 

 my skill, that, partly moved by her distress, and partly by her flat- 

 tery, 1 consented to stretch a point, and put it on my list. 



On examining the child's eyes, I found that no time was to be 

 lost, if any thing must cure them. The lining of the eyelids and 

 the ball of the eye was of a dusky-red colour, looking like a piece of 

 flannel. The discharge was immense, and the child, in answer to my 

 inquiry " Can you see me, my deaf?* 1 replied '* Yes, Sir, a 



