REHEARSING AN OPERATION 



think in Berlin — Dr Bernays performed a most 

 wonderful operation on the spot which was reported 

 everywhere and staggered those present by its skill 

 and originality. It may seem strange that I could 

 take so much interest in it all, but I knew the man 

 and what he could do. 



I had an extra knowledge of him from my repeated 

 conversations with him : he would find a ready and 

 willing listener in me at all times. He would some- 

 times say : " Tod, I have an operation to do to- 

 morrow morning which I have never had before, with 

 all my experience. I will tell you what it is, and what 

 I am going to do." Then he would rehearse it and I 

 would sit silent and wondering at the — what shall I 

 call it ? — the genius of the man. It was flattering to 

 me to have his confidence and I more than half under- 

 stood what he was talking about. 



WTiat a loss to everything and everybody he was 

 when he died ! He was quite a young man, not much 

 over fiftv. Given the chances and the education, I 

 have often thought that I should have liked to be a 

 doctor. Fancy "Dr Sloan" on the brass plate out- 

 side ! I couldn't have stood the " old ladies' 

 physician " stunt, but real practical surgery, lunacy 

 cases or something exciting I feel I should have made 

 a mark at. But what's the use of thinking — I was only 

 a jockey and now am ex- jockey, a would-be trainer, a 

 would-be at many things ! As a child I learned an 

 old saying about " making your bed and lying on it " 

 — but in all honesty others tucked in those hard sheets 

 I had to make acquaintance with. I'm not wailing 

 nor snivelling ; but that I should have to go through 

 life without that chance I have prayed and longed 

 for seems too terrible. 



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