Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1891 — When It Hart. [ARTICLE]

When It Hart.

An army surgeon in the late Civil War hud occasion to lance an abscess fur a poor fellow at Camp Douglas,-and as tike sore was obstinate it became necessary Is use the knife twice. The operation wa* not a very painful one, but the patient declared that it hod nearly killed Idas,, and when a third resort to the lancet wasproposed he protested that he could never go through the operation alive. The surgeon promised to make it easy for him, and culling up a few of theloungers ordered one of them to hold his hands close over the patient's eyea and; two others to grasp his hands firmly. “This arrangement," explained ttodoctor, “is said to prevent pain in sack, an operation. Now lie perfectly quiet, and when I say ‘Now!* prepare yourself." v 3 The surgeon at once began quietly witli ids work, and in a short time completed the operation without the least trouble, the patient lying as asthough in sleep. When all was done, the surgeon laid/ aside the knife, and said, “Now!" Sacks a roar came from the lips of the aide man as seldom is heard from any human being. He struggled to free himself, yelling, “O doctor, you’re killing me!” Shouts of laughter soon drowned bin cries, and he was toid that the operation had been all over before the signal wan given. It was a good joke, but it i» doubtful if the poor fellow could evssr tornado to believe that he did not fed aotual pain immediately after that fatal “Now!”—[Medical News.