108 INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL* 



who asked no pay for his services, the doctor's phil- 

 anthropic purposes were not appreciated. At least, 

 no one cared to be the first ; and as the doctor had 

 no sample of his skill with him, no subject offered. 



We had fixed the day for our departure ; and the 

 evening but one before, a direct overture was made 

 to the doctor to perform the operation. The subject 

 was a boy, and the application in his behalf was 

 made by a gentleman who formed one of a circle in 

 which we were in the habit of visiting, and whom 

 we were all happy to have it in our power to serve. 



The time was fixed at ten o'clock the next day. 

 After breakfast our sala was put in order for the re- 

 ception of company, and the doctor for the first time 

 looked to his instruments. He had some misgiv- 

 ings. They were of very fine workmanship, made 

 in Paris, most sensitive to the influence of the at- 

 mosphere, and in that climate it was almost impos- 

 sible to preserve anything metallic from rust. The 

 doctor had packed the case among his clothing in 

 the middle of his trunk, and had taken every possi- 

 ble precaution, but, as usual upon such occasions, 

 the most important instrument had rusted at the 

 point, and in that state was utterly useless. There 

 was no cutler in the place, nor any other person 

 competent to touch it. Mr. Catherwood, however, 

 brought out an old razor hone, and between them 

 they worked off the rust. 



At ten o'clock the doctor's subject made his ap- 

 pearance. He was the son of a widow lady of very 



