A MEDICAL STUDENTS GRUESOME ADVENTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MEDICAL STUDENTS GRUESOME ADVENTURE.

It happened at the end of the last century. Those of us who have read Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities " will remember Jerry Cruncher end his gruesome calling. My grandfather, who was then a medical student at a great London hospital, was no better than his fellows, and when he wanted a subject for his studies resorted to gentlemen of Mr. Cruncher's description. Late one winter night, just as he was starting off to spend a jolly time with some kindred spirits, a. low tap at his window warned him that the subject" had come. Quietly opening his door, so that his landlady might have no suspicion of the ghastly visitor, he ushered in a man who carried a heavy sack upon his shoulders. Hastily depositing his burden upon the floor, he received payment, and my grandfather dismissed him. My grandfather then proceeded to untie the sack, but-so unaccountable is poor human nature— feeling of shame at the dastardly deed of disturbing the dead in their graves stole over the careless but chivalrous Irishman, and, laying it gently down, he went out, carefully locking the door be hind him and pocketing the key. All that evening conscience was busily at work, and he told his friends that for th« future he intended, not only never to patronise " body-snatchers" again, but to do all in his power to influence others to follow his example. It was very late when he returned to his lodgings, and after unlocking his door he instantly struck a light— as i you or I strike a match, dear reader, it was ! long before the days of Bryant and May— however, when the light was struck he turned towards the fireplace, where a dreadful sight met his eyes. Seated in his armchair, and stretching two thin white arms over the dying embers, was the nearly naked figure of a girl, whose long, damp hair, mingling with the folds of a dirty sack, hung over her shoulders, the tout ensemble being weird and ghastly. For one short moment my grandfather made certain that he was either drunk or dreaming. Then the "subject" turned her head slowly, and fixing her wide-open dark eyes upon him, shuddered, and said: — * " I am very cold." No more 'dreaming! I have called my grandfather a chivalrous Irishman—and, indeed, the whole of his life, spent in generous help and work for others, has amply testified to it. George Skipton, M.D., F.1.C.5., was lovingly remembered by many long after the guns had been fired over his grave at the Cape of Good Hope. Tearing off his coat and wrapping it round the poor creature was the work of a moment. After pouring out some spirit, and making her drink it, he flew up to his room, and, returning with a blanket, folded her close in its warm shelter. Then bidding her sit still, he quickly mended the fire, throwing on fresh wood and making a cheerful blaze. His next step was to awaken his landlady, and explain the rather awkward circumstances to her. She, however, after giving him a good scolding for such unlawful ways, and fur bringing " dead bodies into her house," came tc the rescue like a true woman. Having an empty bed at her disposal, the half-stupefied "girl was placed in it, and the good woman, acting under the directions of the young student, had the pleasure of seeing her unremitting efforts on behalf of her patient crowned by success. In a comparatively short time, the girl had made such progress towards recovery that she was able to return to her friends. It transpired that she had been governess in a rich family living in London, and had been taken ill with what they considered adangerous fever. Evidently she must have fallen into a state of coma, and been pronounced dead. Owing to her employer's fear of infection, she was buried with most indecent haste in a slovenly, ill-constructed grave, thereby falling an easy prey to men of Mr. Cruncher's calling. After her somewhat startling adventures, she made a perfect recovery, thanks to the kindness and care of my grandfather and his charitable landlady," they also having the pleasure of restoring her to her relatives. Under the circumstances, it suited all parties to hush up the matter. And, indeed, later on, the frightful crimes which the detection of the Burke and Hare murders brought to light gave a final blow to the disgraceful custom of stealing the dead for the sake of science.

Still, good comes out of all evil; and but for Cruneher and science a fair young life would have been lost in a most terrible

way. After the journey through the frosty night the reaction caused by coming into my grandfather's warm room had revived her dormant heart, and his speedy measures for her restoration completed ihe cure. I never heard the girl's name. Though she was young and very pretty, and he also young and very handsome—if our old miniatures are to be* believed—still no romance or marriage resulted from their strange meeting, and they never crossed one another's path in life again. But my grandfather's devotion to women was a life-long trait in his character, and if he did wrong in his youth he amply atoned for it by a useful, unselfish life.—M.M.B.