TOD SLOAN 



In a previous chapter I have mentioned Sir Tatwell 

 Thomas of Liverpool, who kindlj^ attended me at the 

 request of Lord Derby, then Lord Stanley. His lord- 

 ship kindly gave me a carriage to take me to the 

 Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. It was after the accident 

 when riding Maluma. My ear was nearly off, and I 

 was in great pain. I was put in a cot in my bedroom 

 and the great surgeon came to me. He refused to 

 perform the operation without chloroform ; in fact he 

 said he couldn't with success or justice to himself. 

 He had a medical man Avith him to administer it, but 

 when I had the first whiff I showed fight and 

 threatened all sorts of things if it were gone on with. 

 I was such a fresh kid ! I was in agony, however. 



Sir Tatwell then began putting in the stitches one 

 after the other until I counted ten. " Can I speak to 

 you ? " I asked. " If you want to make me happy, 

 you'll leave off at that and not put a single one more 

 in." 



" Perhaps that's enough," he answered. " At all 

 events we'll make it do." 



Looking back I can remember all the details exactly, 

 and my suffering. I think if he had gone on another 

 minute my heart would have given out. As it was, 

 when I got up off the cot, my knees collapsed and a 

 friend who was with me and the surgeon had to lift 

 me up — I was down and out. 



I hope these little personal incidents will not annoy 

 a public, who perhaps wants to hear some more excit- 

 ing details of other people, but this is after all " Tod 

 Sloan," and must be told if only as an appreciation of 

 what others have done for me. In very truth the 

 greatest possible kindnesses have been received from 

 the greatest in their profession. 



252 



