第 2 节
作者:津夏      更新:2021-04-30 15:57      字数:9321
  Member; and were unable to find the stone。                 It was a horrible moment。
  Both our careers were at stake。            And then it was that Dr。 Winter; whom
  we had asked out of courtesy to be present; introduced into the wound a
  finger which seemed to our excited senses to be about nine inches long;
  and hooked out the stone at the end of it。            〃It's always well to bring one in
  your     waistcoat…pocket;〃      said   he   with   a  chuckle;     〃but   I  suppose    you
  youngsters are above all that。〃
  We     made     him    president    of   our   branch     of  the   British    Medical
  Association; but he resigned after the first meeting。              〃The young men are
  too   much   for   me;〃   he   said。   〃I   don't   understand   what   they   are   talking
  about。〃     Yet   his   patients   do   very   well。  He   has   the   healing   touchthat
  magnetic thing which defies explanation or analysis; but which is a very
  evident   fact   none   the   less。   His   mere   presence   leaves   the   patient   with
  more hopefulness and vitality。            The sight of disease affects him as dust
  does a careful housewife。          It makes him angry and impatient。              〃Tut; tut;
  this will never do!〃 he cries; as he takes over a new case。               He would shoo
  Death out of the room as though he were an intrusive hen。                   But when the
  intruder refuses to be dislodged; when the blood moves more slowly and
  the eyes grow dimmer; then it is that Dr。 Winter is of more avail than all
  the drugs in his surgery。         Dying folk cling to his hand as if the presence
  of his bulk and vigour gives them more courage to face the change; and
  5
  … Page 6…
  ROUND THE RED LAMP
  that   kindly;   windbeaten   face   has   been   the   last   earthly   impression   which
  many a sufferer has carried into the unknown。
  When Dr。 Patterson and Iboth of us young; energetic; and up…to…date…
  …settled in the district; we were most cordially received by the old doctor;
  who would have been only too happy to be relieved of some of his patients。
  The patients themselves; however; followed their own inclinationswhich
  is a reprehensible way that patients haveso that we remained neglected;
  with our modern instruments and our latest alkaloids; while he was serving
  out senna and calomel to all the countryside。             We both of us loved the old
  fellow;     but   at  the   same    time;   in  the   privacy    of   our   own    intimate
  conversations; we could not help commenting upon this deplorable lack of
  judgment。       〃It's  all  very   well   for  the   poorer   people;〃    said   Patterson。
  〃But after all the educated classes have a right to expect that their medical
  man will know the difference between a mitral murmur and a bronchitic
  rale。    It's   the   judicial   frame   of   mind;   not   the   sympathetic;   which   is   the
  essential one。〃
  I   thoroughly   agreed   with   Patterson   in   what   he   said。    It   happened;
  however; that very shortly afterwards the epidemic of influenza broke out;
  and we were all worked to death。              One morning I met Patterson on my
  round; and found him looking rather pale and fagged out。                    He made the
  same   remark   about   me。      I   was;   in   fact;   feeling   far   from  well;   and   I   lay
  upon the sofa all the afternoon with a splitting headache and pains in every
  joint。    As evening closed in; I could no longer disguise the fact that the
  scourge was upon me; and I felt that I should have medical advice without
  delay。     It was of Patterson; naturally; that I thought; but somehow the idea
  of   him   had   suddenly   become   repugnant   to   me。       I   thought   of   his   cold;
  critical attitude; of his endless questions; of his tests and his tappings。                I
  wanted something more soothingsomething more genial。
  〃Mrs。 Hudson;〃 said I to my housekeeper; would you kindly run along
  to old Dr。 Winter and tell him that I should be obliged to him if he would
  step round?〃
  She   was   back     with   an  answer   presently。     〃Dr。     Winter   will    come
  round   in   an   hour   or   so;   sir;   but   he   has   just   been   called   in   to   attend   Dr。
  Patterson。〃
  6
  … Page 7…
  ROUND THE RED LAMP
  7
  … Page 8…
  ROUND THE RED LAMP
  HIS FIRST OPERATION。
  It was the first day of the winter session; and the third year's man was
  walking with the first year's man。          Twelve o'clock was just booming out
  from the Tron Church。
  〃Let   me   see;〃   said   the   third   year's   man。 〃You   have   never   seen   an
  operation?〃
  〃Never。〃
  〃Then this way; please。        This is Rutherford's historic bar。        A glass of
  sherry; please; for this gentleman。        You are rather sensitive; are you not?〃
  〃My nerves are not very strong; I am afraid。〃
  〃Hum!      Another glass of sherry for this gentleman。 We are going to
  an operation now; you know。〃
  The novice squared his shoulders and made a gallant attempt to look
  unconcerned。
  〃Nothing very badeh?〃
  〃Well; yespretty bad。〃
  〃Anan amputation?〃
  〃No; it's a bigger affair than that。〃
  〃I thinkI think they must be expecting me at home。〃
  〃There's   no   sense   in   funking。  If   you   don't   go   to…day;   you   must   to…
  morrow。      Better get it over at once。      Feel pretty fit?〃
  〃Oh; yes; all right!〃     The smile was not a success。
  〃One more glass of sherry; then。           Now come on or we shall be late。
  I want you to be well in front。〃
  〃Surely that is not necessary。〃
  〃Oh; it is far better!     What a drove of students!          There are plenty of
  new   men   among   them。       You   can   tell   them  easily  enough;   can't   you?   If
  they   were   going   down   to   be   operated   upon   themselves;   they   could   not
  look whiter。〃
  〃I don't think I should look as white。〃
  〃Well;   I   was   just   the   same   myself。 But   the   feeling   soon   wears   off。
  You see a fellow with a face like plaster; and before the week is out he is
  eating his lunch in the dissecting rooms。            I'll tell you all about the case
  8
  … Page 9…
  ROUND THE RED LAMP
  when we get to the theatre。〃
  The   students   were   pouring   down   the   sloping   street   which   led   to   the
  infirmaryeach   with   his   little   sheaf   of   note…books   in   his   hand。    There
  were   pale;   frightened   lads;   fresh   from   the   high   schools;   and   callous   old
  chronics; whose generation had passed on and left them。                    They swept in
  an unbroken; tumultuous stream from the university gate to the hospital。
  The figures and gait of the men were young; but there was little youth in
  most of their faces。       Some looked as if they ate too littlea few as if they
  drank     too   much。     Tall    and    short;  tweed…     coated    and   black;    round…
  shouldered; bespectacled; and slim; they crowded with clatter of feet and
  rattle of sticks through the hospital gate。           Now and again they thickened
  into   two   lines;   as   the   carriage   of   a   surgeon   of   the   staff   rolled   over   the
  cobblestones between。
  〃There's going to be a crowd at Archer's;〃 whispered the senior man
  with suppressed excitement。            〃It is grand to see him at work。           I've seen
  him jab all round the aorta until it made me jumpy to watch him。                       This
  way; and mind the whitewash。〃
  They     passed    under    an   archway     and    down     a  long;   stone…flagged
  corridor;   with   drab…coloured   doors   on   either   side;   each   marked   with   a
  number。      Some of them were ajar; and the novice glanced into them with
  tingling   nerves。     He   was   reassured   to   catch   a   glimpse   of   cheery   fires;
  lines of white…counterpaned beds; and a profusion of coloured texts upon
  the wall。     The corridor opened upon a small hall; with a fringe of poorly
  clad people seated all round upon benches。               A young man; with a pair of
  scissors stuck like a flower in his buttonhole and a note…book in his hand;
  was passing from one to the other; whispering and writing。
  〃Anything good?〃 asked the third year's man。
  〃You   should   have   been   here   yesterday;〃   said   the   out…patient   clerk;
  glancing     up。    〃We    had    a  regular   field  day。    A   popliteal