A DISSECTING ROOM HORROR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1953, 8 October 1889, Page 4

A DISSECTING ROOM HORROR.

A correspondent writing in a Transatlantic contemporary tells the following “story”:—When the Duke of Sutherland was on his way to Florida last fall he had with him a medical gentleman, who, besides his great knowledge of medicine, was a first-class reconteur. He amused the Duke s, party with many anecdotes of English, celebrities. One day he told the| following story to explain why “ Sixj George M’Donald,” the celebrated surgeon, had given up the practice of his profession for five years, just when five years’ practice was most valuably to him. “When Sir George. M'Donald,” he said, “began his medical career the Fates seemed to smile on him. From the time he entered Edinburgh University he was, recognised as a man of genius, and the great eminence to which he has raised, himself was confidently predicted both, by his professors and his fellow; students. He knew that a few years: after he graduated a professor's chairi would be waiting for him, and in thoj more distant future were visions of wealth and honours incalculable., .Suddenly it was reported through! Edinburgh that M’Donald, the promising young surgeon, was suffering from nervous prostration, and then the news followed that be had thrown aside his brilliant career and would practice his profession no more. The news was true. One night M’Donald went home an enthusiastic surgeon, and when next seen he was evidently borne down by some great secret grief, and the very mention of a surgical operation seemed to fill him with horror. He went abroad, and for five years he remained a wanderer without occupation. Then he was persuaded to return and resume his profesI sion. In the days when the present Sir George was plain Dr M’Donald science had not taken the immense strides which it has since. The seekers after great truths were still groping in darkness. Vivisection was then practically unknown, and the only means medical men had of throwing, light on mysterious deaths ■ was by dissection. The bodies of the un-, fortunates who died in prison or in the public; wards of the hospitals were the only ones legally obtainable, and as these were far too few to supply the demand, grave-robbing was resorted to, and big prices were paid by surgeons and medical students for dead bodies. One afternoon, as Dr M’Donald was leaving the lecture hall of the university, he was approached by a well-known purveyor of subjects and told: that a man had died suddenly the day before of what was supposed to be heart disease, and for a certain consideration the body might be obtained. After a few minutes’ conversation M’Donald walked on and the purveyor hurried off. _ Ihat night, just as the moon was rising over the tops of the Edinburgh houses, an apparently empty waggon, with two men on the seat, drove up to Dr M'Donald’s house. After a careful look about oue of the men gave a low whistle, and almost immediately a window on the ground floor was opened. Against this window the waggon was backed, and the two men lifted a long, heavy object, wrapped in a sheet, and passed it into the house! The sound of money changing hands followed; then the window was closed and the waggon drove away. In lifting the heavy bundle the wrappings had been disturbed, and when Dr M’Donald turned from closing the window the moonlight was shining on the placid face of the corpse. Quickly he lit a number of lights, and then drew a heavy curtain. From one side of the room ho pushed a long table, on which were dark stains, showing that it had been used many times before. Oa this he lifted his purchase and carefully examined it. It was the body of a man in the prime of life, and except that ‘ rigor mortis ’ had set in, and that every joint was like a bar of iron, the man looked as though be were asleep. There were no signs of wasting disease. His face was full, and, except for its ghastly pallor, looked as it did ih life. It was evident the man had died suddenly, and heart disease was the doctor’s specialty. From a chest M’Donald brought his instruments and glasses, his little basins and sponges, and laid them out in order by the side of the corpse. The subject died of heart disease, and so the ; heart was the part to be examined. Just as the knife touched the man’s breast Dr M’Donald sprang back with a startled look. Was it possible that the eyelids had quivered ? No; it was only some passing draught which had made the light flicker oyer the dead face, hut still he would make sure 1 There was no pulse ; everything proved the man was dead beyond a peradventure. Then he proceeded with his dissection. Slowly and carefully he removed the outer* skin. Then two ribs and part of the breast bone were taken out and laid aside. At last the deceased’s heart, which had been the cause of death, lay revealed. All this had taken time, and the doctor was hungry. He put his instruments aside, and from a closet produced a lunch, which he ate, throwing occasional glances at the body on the table When he had finished he resumed his' work. The heart to be properly examined must be removed, and this he proceeded to do. Ho cut round the gvoat organ of life, and he was about to take it from the body when he chanced to look up. Ihen slowly, and as if every movement was a

physical torture, he straightened himself. The hair on his head began to rise, and his eyes were riveted on the face of the subject. The last time he noticed that face the eyes were closed, and it was the expressionless face of the dead—now all was The eyes were open and were glaring at him with a horrible expression of reproach, At the same instant the body on , the table rose to a sitting posture, and the perfect stillness of the room seemed broken by a single whispered word, “ Murderfcr.” With his ©yes glued to, the mutilated form Dr M’ Donald , staggered back until he! felt the wall behind him, and couldi retreat no further. Dor, fully two, seconds those eyps glared at the; doctor, and th© air seemed to resound with that awful, accusation. In , that time he realised that the map never, had been dead, pnd had known and felt every event of that horrible night. Then the mutilated body fell back. Shriek after shriek:filled the house.; The sleeping family, awakened by this! terrible noise, rushed down. They; found Dr M'Donald just outside his office door, with his arpis stre,c,chad, out’ barring the passage. ‘ son’,t go in! don’t go in'! ’ he shrieked, and Then fell insensible/ Before daylight the same two men backed their ,wagg®n against, the doctor's window^'and the bundle, Wrapped in,'a sheet, was parsed out to them, but Dr M’Donald was delirieus upstairs.”