Birthday Celebration. 349 



it we enjoyed our chocolate and English biscuits, whilst in the 

 next room were sixteen dead and dying, and in the corner of 

 our room a heap of cut-oft arms and legs. 



It was past eight p.m. when we, tired as hunters, arrived in 

 Amiens, not however to rest or sleep, for much work awaited 

 us in the museum. Of course the wounds had been dressed 

 on the battle-field in a hurried manner, and had to be re- 

 dressed again now. Poor surgeon-general Dr. Wagner, of the 

 second army corps, who died afterwards of typhus, Professor 

 Busch, some other doctors, Miss Runkel, and myself worked 

 until three o'clock a.m., when we went to our well-earned rest, 

 — but only for three hours. At six o'clock next morning we 

 were up again, for a renewal of the battle was expected ; but 

 as there was only slight skrimishing going on, and doctors 

 enough in the field. Dr. Busch thought chat his presence would 

 be of more avail in the hospital. 



Amongst the many wounded was an artilleryman, whose 

 face was one black mass, a hardened crust covering it like a 

 vizor. One hand was also burnt, and his foot was pierced by 

 a long shaft of iron, torn off from the carriage of the gun 

 when the caisson exploded, being struck by a shot. The Pro- 

 fessor feared that he would lose both his eyes, but gave him in 

 charge of Miss Runkel, who, with the greatest patience, 

 bathed his poor eyes with a sponge to soften the crust, and 

 after many days she at last succeeded in removing it. Lifting 

 with a little lint the much swollen eyelids. Miss Runkel was 

 delighted on hearing him exclaim that he could see. His eyes 

 were indeed saved, and his other wounds also healed. 



The 25th of December was poor Felix's birthday and mine 

 also; it was the first 1 had passed without him, and I was 

 extremely sad. To overcome my thoughts, I worked all day 

 in the hospital. Somebody had told my good landlady that it 

 was my birthday, and she invited all my friends to a celebra- 

 tion dinner at seven o'clock p.m., but I could not take part in 

 it, though my brother-in-law was rather angry with me, for my 

 non-appearance grieved the kind people of the house. Next 

 day, however, when the birthday of Prince Alfred was cele- 

 brated, I could not refuse. 



I had arranged in Amiens a kind of private hospital of my 

 own, where were lying officers ill with typhus, to whom, after 

 the battle, were added some wounded. Amongst these latter, 



