1842-43- SURGICAL OPERATION. 151 



make them an argument for the use of anaesthetics, which, t> 

 had they been then in use, would have robbed this expe- 

 rience of the greater part of its horrors. 



The operation was an interesting one in the annals of 

 surgery. He says to James Russell shortly afterwards, " I 

 do not wish to trouble you with surgical details, but you 

 will be glad to know that the operation I underwent was a 

 novel one (tried on me by Professor Syme for the second < 

 time only), which leaves me the whole leg, depriving me 

 only of the foot. It was more protracted and painful than 

 the ordinary one, but it leaves me a more useful limb ; and 

 the doctors hold out the hope of my being able to limp 

 about with a wooden foot, or stuffed high-heeled boot, with- 

 out betraying to every eye the amount of my loss." 



A time of miserable suspense followed, from the fear that 

 his strength was too far gone to rally ; and quiet being 

 enjoined, for days there seemed not a sound in the house. 

 In a diary of James Russell's, we find the following entry 

 on the 1 6th of January, illustrative of 'the state of things : 

 " Appalling ju/ comfortable news of George's amputation." 



A letter to him from Dr. Cairns remains as a photograph 

 of those days of trouble : 



"January 17, 1843. 



" MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, You are no doubt discom- 

 posed, as I myself have been for some days, by the opera- 

 tion performed on Dr. Wilson. As I happen to have been 

 thinking of him perforce for some time with peculiar in- 

 terest, you will, I have no doubt, welcome every particular. 

 Everything, by the special blessing of God, has as yet gone 

 admirably ; so much strength of mind as to resolve to keep 

 all to himself till the crisis ; so much coolness and presence 

 of mind as to impose on all who saw him ; so great firmness 



