570 EXPERIENCES OF A SURGEON, 



of eye or limb indicative of vitality. The sound had been so 

 generally diffused, that I could fix upon no place from whence it 

 might have proceeded. While thus standing with my looks fastened 

 on the body, another low groan ran through the room, but clearly 

 had not its origin in the deformed subject. I sat down, took the 

 scalpel in my hand, and strove to believe the sound could have no 

 connexion with the building, but must have been borne there on the 

 night-wind. I re-commenced my task, when in a few seconds a 

 groan louder and more distinct echoed through the room, and chained 

 me with awe and fear : my fancy was at work, and had soon created 

 a sort of Frankenstein from the mouldering remains in the room 

 below. Hastily collecting my apparatus, and freeing myself from 

 my dissecting dress, I determined, come what might, to abandon 

 the place with all speed. The candle was burning low I rose 

 cautiously, with my cloak wrapped round one arm, and the key of 

 the outward door in the other hand; and, advancing to the stair-head 

 on tiptoe, listened in breathless silence for a repetition of the sound : 

 it soon came with frightful distinctness, and, as it swept past me, I 

 expected to see some horrible phantom ; it died away, and step by 

 step I descended, endeavouring vainly to keep my eye from resting 

 on the interstices between the banisters, through which my tortured 

 imagination was conjuring up a hideous and demoniac face. I had 

 reached the landing, when another loud and prolonged groan issued 

 from beneath my feet, and was followed by a faint rustling sound as 

 if some one was turning painfully on the floor. I experienced at 

 that moment one of the most singular and extraordinary feelings I 

 have ever undergone an universal creeping of the flesh, as if the 

 entire muscles of the body were detaching themselves from their 

 sheaths: my hair bristled, my knees knocked, and an inarticulate 

 mutter took place of the exclamation, which I had intended should 

 express my uncontrollable terror. 



Desperation is the best cure for unseen causes of fear : imagination 

 and superstition generally clothe these with something far too 

 dreadful for reality, and hence reason has but little scope for 

 exercise. In my present case the shuddering which had crept over 

 me was the paroxysm of extreme fright ; and when it had subsided, 

 I looked more calmly and cautiously about me : I lowered the 

 lantern so as to illuminate the lobby through which I had to pass to 

 get to the door. The space from the bottom of the stairs to this 

 point was hardly four yards across, yet it seemed as if the effort 

 to accomplish it would be greater than would have been required to 

 have surmounted the ascent of Mont Blanc or Chimborazo. I 

 had one ground of comfort, the door of the dissecting-room was fast 

 locked, and the passage was clear of all impediment. I re- 

 commenced my descent, treading as cautiously as if on the brink of 

 a crater, when the same loud and deep groan sprung from beneath 

 me, followed by the same rustling, and sounds of difficult and 

 painful motion : I stood still, and satisfied that the being from 

 whom these portentous sounds emanated was at least mortal, and 

 apparently suffering great agony, my courage having something 

 more tangible to grapple with, returned, and determined me to 



