An Awkward Predicament.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 95, 25 April 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

An Awkward Predicament.

At a recent banquet a prominent surgeon told the following story about a well-known young physician who was present. Calling tho attention of all present to the young man, ho said:- - " • I Jiavo a good joke about John. Hβ had a very bad case of pneumonia which he had treated skilfully. His pabienb pulled along very well, tind was nearly recovered. John told him so, bub said thab in bhrea days ho would call again to see if anything further was needed. In three days he called. His patient's brother mot him-at the door with a long face and said :— 'I have sad nowa for you, doctor; brother is dead." • John stood there for a minute and thought— ' " Well, how am I going to get oub of bhis ? I have to let my ; -olf down easy." Ho began to run over in his mind all the causes thab produced a sudden death, and finally decided on one that he thought would do. He said— • " Such things happen now and then. Sometimes one cause and sometimes another brings ib on. I expocb that wibh your brobhor a clob of blood suddenly formed in the heart and killed him.' 'He ratbled this off, atd kepb talking for several minutes without giving his listener time to say a word. Hβ stood with his mouth open and gazed at the doctor as he fired technical terms ab him. Finally, as John stopped to bake breath, he said, in the most serious tone— • " No, doctor ; thab ain'b whab killed brother. He wenb down to the canal, and fell in, and was drowned." ' John did nob say a word, bub lefb at once, and had never had the hearb bo eend in hie bill.'