CHAP. II.] Life at Datchet. 55 



front of the telescope, directed me to make some alteration 

 in the lateral motion, which was done by machinery, on 

 which the point of support of the tube and mirror rested. 

 At each end of the machine or trough was an iron hook, 

 such as butchers use for hanging their joints upon, and 

 having to run in the dark on ground covered a foot deep 

 with melting snow, I fell on one of these hooks, which en- 

 tered my right leg above the knee. My brother's call, 

 " Make haste ! " I could only answer by a pitiful cry, " I am 

 hooked ! " He and the workmen were instantly with me, 

 but they could not lift me without leaving nearly two ounces 

 of my flesh behind. The workman's wife was called, but 

 was afraid to do anything, and I was obliged to be my own 

 surgeon by applying aquabusade and tying a kerchief about 

 it for some days, till Dr. Lind, hearing of my accident, 

 brought me ointment and lint, and told me how to use 

 them. At the end of six weeks I began to have some fears 

 about my poor limb, and asked again for Dr. Lind's opinion : 

 he said if a soldier had met with such a hurt he would have 

 been entitled to six weeks' nursing in a hospital. I had, 

 however, the comfort to know that my brother was no loser 

 through this accident, for the remainder of the night was 

 cloudy, and several nights afterwards afforded only a few short 

 intervals favourable for sweeping, and until the 16th January 

 there was no necessity for my exposing myself for a whole 

 night to the severity of the season. 



I could give a pretty long list of accidents which were 

 near proving fatal to my brother as well as myself. To make 

 observations with such large machinery, where all around is 

 in darkness, is not unattended Avith danger, especially when 

 personal safety is the last thing with which the mind is 

 occupied ; even poor Piazzi * did not go home without get- 



* This eminent astronomer made inquiries after Miss Herschel long years 

 afterwards, as is related in the correspondence. See letter from Sir J. 

 Herschel, dated Catania, 1824, p. 174. 



