HEN AS HOSPITAL PATIENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 128, 30 May 1914, Page 17

HEN AS HOSPITAL PATIENT.

THE HOUSE SURGEON'S SURPRISE. -MISS BETTY."

Sitting in the out-patients' department of the Boilngbroke Hospital, on Easter Monday, with a very sorrowful face, was a little, lad of about eight. Outwardly he looked quite well, and It "was seen that he was carrying very tenderly a fairly large basket. Frequently he cast anxious glances In tbe direction of the house surgeon, who eventually asked, "Well, . and what's the matter -with you, my little man?" To his surprise, the little fellow replied tearfully, "It isn't mc; it's Bet, !" "Betty, and who is Betty?" asked the kindly doctor, and for a reply the boy slowly drew forth from 'his treasured •basket a fluttering hen. which, .although somewhat frightened at its surroundings, appeaared Quite tame. The boy then told the story of how his feathered pet had met -with an accident, and had broken its leg. This the surgeon carefully examined, and it was decided to place "ißetty" under treatment, although the "oase" -was cot one which really came within the purview of an ordinary 'hospital. The lad explained that he had saved !up all 'his penniess to buy the hen, and ■his pitiful entreaty met with a sympathetic response. The efowrs leg was qnickly •placed in splints, an operation which was performiHl without much flutter under the watching eyes of the bird's yonng owner. The bird was then tenderly replaced in the basket; and the boy, his face wreathed in smiles, careful'y eboro it way to his home in Battersea, re-narking that he •would call again with his feathered patient. The curious interlude in tbe ordinary day's proceedings at the hospital created much interest among the doctors and nurses on duty, and -the "case" was dealt with on the same lines as that surrounding the treatment of a human patient. The bird was snbsequenily entered in the hospital book? as "Miss Bony." The owner of tbe fowl. Percy Healh,; who lives at I-at/'hTnere-grove. Uattersea.! duly attended with the "patient" nt the hospital a few days later, and was very plesased to be told that "Miss Betty ' iv ijettlns well again.