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not a breach of confidence to say that they were not addressed to his
professional brothers。 Walker was a single man； which means that he
was not restricted to a single woman。 When he had finished； he walked
out of that little room of mine； leaving every hope and ambition of his life
behind him。 And he might have had another year of ignorance and peace
if it had not been for the chance illustration in his lecture。
〃It took five years to kill him； and he stood it well。 If he had ever
been a little irregular he atoned for it in that long martyrdom。 He kept an
admirable record of his own symptoms； and worked out the eye changes
more fully than has ever been done。 When the ptosis got very bad he
would hold his eyelid up with one hand while he wrote。 Then； when he
could not co…ordinate his muscles to write； he dictated to his nurse。 So
died； in the odour of science； James Walker； aet。 45。
〃Poor old Walker was very fond of experimental surgery； and he broke
ground in several directions。 Between ourselves； there may have been
some more ground…breaking afterwards； but he did his best for his cases。
You know M‘Namara； don't you？ He always wears his hair long。 He
lets it be understood that it comes from his artistic strain； but it is really to
conceal the loss of one of his ears。 Walker cut the other one off； but you
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must not tell Mac I said so。
〃It was like this。 Walker had a fad about the portio durathe motor to
the face； you knowand he thought paralysis of it came from a
disturbance of the blood supply。 Something else which counterbalanced
that disturbance might； he thought； set it right again。 We had a very
obstinate case of Bell's paralysis in the wards； and had tried it with every
conceivable thing； blistering； tonics； nerve…stretching； galvanism； needles；
but all without result。 Walker got it into his head that removal of the ear
would increase the blood supply to the part； and he very soon gained the
consent of the patient to the operation。
〃Well； we did it at night。 Walker； of course； felt that it was something
of an experiment； and did not wish too much talk about it unless it proved
successful。 There were half…a…dozen of us there； M‘Namara and I among
the rest。 The room was a small one； and in the centre was in the narrow
table； with a macintosh over the pillow； and a blanket which extended
almost to the floor on either side。 Two candles； on a side…table near the
pillow； supplied all the light。 In came the patient； with one side of his
face as smooth as a baby's； and the other all in a quiver with fright。 He
lay down； and the chloroform towel was placed over his face； while
Walker threaded his needles in the candle light。 The chloroformist stood
at the head of the table； and M‘Namara was stationed at the side to control
the patient。 The rest of us stood by to assist。
〃Well； the man was about half over when he fell into one of those
convulsive flurries which come with the semi…unconscious stage。 He
kicked and plunged and struck out with both hands。 Over with a crash
went the little table which held the candles； and in an instant we were left
in total darkness。 You can think what a rush and a scurry there was； one
to pick up the table； one to find the matches； and some to restrain the
patient who was still dashing himself about。 He was held down by two
dressers； the chloroform was pushed； and by the time the candles were
relit； his incoherent； half…smothered shoutings had changed to a stertorous
snore。 His head was turned on the pillow and the towel was still kept
over his face while the operation was carried through。 Then the towel
was withdrawn； and you can conceive our amazement when we looked
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upon the face of M‘Namara。
〃How did it happen？ Why； simply enough。 As the candles went
over； the chloroformist had stopped for an instant and had tried to catch
them。 The patient； just as the light went out； had rolled off and under the
table。 Poor M‘Namara； clinging frantically to him； had been dragged
across it； and the chloroformist； feeling him there； had naturally claped the
towel across his mouth and nose。 The others had secured him； and the
more he roared and kicked the more they drenched him with chloroform。
Walker was very nice about it； and made the most handsome apologies。
He offered to do a plastic on the spot； and make as good an ear as he could；
but M‘Namara had had enough of it。 As to the patient； we found him
sleeping placidly under the table； with the ends of the blanket screening
him on both sides。 Walker sent M‘Namara round his ear next day in a jar
of methylated spirit； but Mac's wife was very angry about it； and it led to a
good deal of ill…feeling。
〃Some people say that the more one has to do with human nature； and
the closer one is brought in contact with it； the less one thinks of it。 I
don't believe that those who know most would uphold that view。 My
own experience is dead against it。 I was brought up in the miserable…
mortal…clay school of theology； and yet here I am； after thirty years of
intimate acquaintance with humanity； filled with respect for it。 The； evil
lies commonly upon the surface。 The deeper strata are good。 A
hundred times I have seen folk condemned to death as suddenly as poor
Walker was。 Sometimes it was to blindness or to mutilations which are
worse than death。 Men and women； they almost all took it beautifully；
and some with such lovely unselfishness； and with such complete
absorption in the thought of how their fate would affect others； that the
man about town； or the frivolously…dressed woman has seemed to change
into an angel before my eyes。 I have seen death… beds； too； of all ages
and of all creeds and want of creeds。 I never saw any of them shrink；
save only one poor； imaginative young fellow； who had spent his
blameless life in the strictest of sects。 Of course； an exhausted frame is
incapable of fear； as anyone can vouch who is told； in the midst of his sea…
sickness； that the ship is going to the bottom。 That is why I rate courage
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in the face of mutilation to be higher than courage when a wasting illness
is fining away into death。
〃Now； I'll take a case which I had in my own practice last Wednesday。
A lady came in to consult methe wife of a well…known sporting baronet。
The husband had come with her； but remained； at her request； in the
waiting…room。 I need not go into details； but it proved to be a peculiarly
malignant case of cancer。 ‘I knew it；' said she。 ‘How long have I to
live？' ‘I fear that it may exhaust your strength in a few months；' I
answered。 ‘Poor old Jack！' said she。 ‘I'll tell him that it is not
dangerous。' ‘Why should you deceive him？' I asked。 ‘Well； he's very
uneasy about it； and he is quaking now in the waiting…room。 He has two
old friends to dinner to…night； and I haven't the heart to spoil his evening。
To…morrow will be time enough for him to learn the truth。' Out she
walked； the brave little woman； and a moment later her husband； with his
big； red face shining with joy came plunging into my room to shake me by
the hand。 No； I respected her wish and I did not undeceive him。 I dare
bet that evening was one of the brightest； and the next morning the darkest；
of his l