TWIXT LIFE AND DEATH

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 4

TWIXT LIFE AND DEATH

A GLIMPSE AT THE SHADOW LAND. - , SOME HOSPim EXPERIENCES A RECITAL.

(Br P. W. Gouge.)

;;!35g^|^T6;.have;p^a^:awliifewith;;de BPSSS Ittgefbd;.; in, ■'■ ithe^na^^/boHeHand^bfrtho ySS:S;^;yilley"; bf^ijyXshatiowVand*returned; ? to :.tlio stW^SaptnritiMj-of'v-li^ S|^s;|cfac^lties :^inpair^ ■Kfts-S :'«"£f tHe; piist- f'ew'iweeks; ";v Cohsidering.that' we' SK:Sjo:3^istririrasflabb'y^ : ageV''when' ; bo ; : haye^Cunder^: ®>;.'y;j.-'gone an.-ppeiration/fori.Spje^^^ S«o ; iSKjw.:indißp^t^isJevslh^ jAfsK?';iiass of?a goli].-.toptlijf_it'-inust : .]bo be; able !^v£:,^feboast^of»^hirty^ ;y^i;oS^eribus;ilh\e;ss:S'^fmrlySroJ\^ BSS^Ki'f^rti^vfe^tole^lyjfte'gulaV^n-^ sii/iijS successfully. eludo; doctors,.; ?^iS : rtfdentistei';microj)OTy?motor--cars| policemoni^and; "jSSJir f peridiU; !vßuf sVvps;'.:'ithe^humaii;^maqhiiio' : :re^ ; iinto^a;:.masMj:of; ;;|S3; :^β^nialaay^pf?swif^^^suddm;^^and'blm^ : : :^:K^a SoSlS'Sa half;so:'fashidnable^sVappehdicitis;'.(known of, lessor nbtabili-' '3&-§£'i "Ht'e 3 ) P jltHotigfrj of vM kindred ter^iand ofiS^y^fctt/; : bo? r -nitich';;"m6re^speedi!yvi/desft ;&!i i S i >Stiyβ; ? 'inJ/it3^^ofls.e^uencβs:v:"TJh^^:i^ : ;0-K5; ttrioketi^down^ i^Si'&hiinselfitejaiho^jtal^ithbut^unnec^ssar'yder/ vßfttos'^^Jf^o:l»; : wisb;s:Anvuhernng;;\vi i;{VS-;iS^/;(&6JafJEaife;of others) iTavihg/always Tbeeh.oneV : ? 'ffiis;iis^precrse'ly"wh'ai;/ fw?ffi^^ JI/j did; •,;;NotVb p eing'x.ppssessedi 'of .= either; .the/ fi'lKs-^iJinOTme^or-J^he^unclina'tio'^^ jK^^vvstMiedlluOTry^ S^vv.Jwhadi/no : .regrets:, in jforegomgnUie^delightsVof; K?V>' J V^point-laco/bandagea .'andrbther',similar .appnrrv .^Vfpj^f..tenaMcßjofithVse''; :^ «^:A n -> /relief ; -iiV ;ilia£;ref ugeSif ;..^jsease(l7ivn^., |3«fjSsv3screpit^emocr^yy'JWl6" L^y %w*»;;ipusSvsurgeohVori '/duty/:'a3 ! ;to/thq grayitKs(if! Sft£?V;;y'iny : '^ilmenti ; varid'iF':was : :.forthwitn^labelled |||g|^TOH/s;^;;;p'i|'gp;^ !|p^S?s:'Aittmighsi^had;/suinnw^ Sufficient courag6-!tb' ErociwE ithufr'f.ar,',".li can£ jsgflitii's/niis-' iji Stiyr.'? girags.'/.J I : have a :sS3^v6tmetivevand'/unrea^p^ a^■/4 ; :;:.*niind:,with" disease,^^iismembbr.iic^.^jsfigurar , and \ death.: te -yaf ipus|foriisy.;|rief;atm6s£' \?i£si:k i'hereS'Of f- the Wf/-?o ?;* gloomy/■wards,iVan'a^j|h^ : dbngfmvy''i)f'; white-i £f ;'^>S9 ui !:^ K !> e wS^K wa y??i m Pi^^ i; :nie^BfSVi ; 'exaggeriitcaj'wake. H ; these ■'■■. in,sf itu- ; i?;lJM!? ; andjlopkcd 'piigitli ':'d : : sto?iy l e£§;at : tye\ Sg/f;;J;;ampatat«)ns,'^contus^iK'/cpricus"sm

i>y vtures;:-;jmd; wbsi®v,vbodilyi? ills'WthaP i^iafflii^^niankmdi^li^hff^JiyedritQ^lcaffi'^ itt-jif allacy.jof ;.thb^ :R'K theljkmdnßssV/B^piMth^^'and^uiii 1 j?asw«ryihg^deyotioftV;'toidutyii^i(nir?hoSpitar s^jiurses;^?c-i;K : vr: : ;, i;g;.- : .'J ■■■ ■:■ f aVto^^:the::riature||.o|-.:myvdes.%a-,? the' attendant' ;i!'>;to'?wh'ose.'care'l.:Had ; beeijiw»mitted^^^^^ r ard;SS^a¥ ; rt^ &Q. wardj-, and.i.tliat-1- wasjpMbably'jCfsubjeqt-ipr %', ;li«ij handeddineVovet^r ! t6 ! 'tho; nureing'i's'istSf.atf tfi'-ltpld rme : ,that' my. "b^wpuldibe-readyjairiKJtly;; ijrilav thejj meantime;' a i jliSipr 'nurse;took ."parti- ■■ pi fculars;;as;tp ; : my; ? : per;sonal;;belon&ings; ;cfe pSVnot;.require;aJ;snapshptvdf^^jyi^ !;fc-i;Whichi:cpnld;;'.only:.ih'a,v[ejr^ ;;!r ipiiTrasiitheiP 'tovmy : . couph^U;'- ;; ; ■'■.':; \ : <x:\ #WSiAt;;th^^evfte-snr^Cal ; :wa"Mf^^^t^ t';Jetate;,v<)f-.;.congestibii;v.whicK Appears-; ; to- be' : th'e , i'Welllri£s y:v.^TH < »P?fel-CNpt?pnly^as:'by6ryvj)e : d S;;.vput;::a',*;number.'df;:stretche^ gjj cenre;,pf;-th«: flop^alsdchad^their^bcbupants? ':s; : j;My,i^6nditipnlvbeingygraTC^:despitp3he'^ it ■■was ;fou^b\; V£ ,?»^ a wf^se?^^tM;pflfc^:.;tho:,Bfeet ; ;. f^v.ch^M.YL-l-vhad^eri "'• cpuplo • of 'hoursi 'S»r:P.^P,Y'? u slyy : ;'niy;>;syniptoms^b& i|ss l muar;,to;7whatrrbhe';miriitlpxpeet'to':'fq'llmy: '■•'.:.' v in ; ':ff:^ d^en^M^9oiv<^^;;yisi|(:frpm:the?medicaL a«ißupenntendent; ! ;aiid-.{itwiq'sof^the';hdUEb i ! l sur- : S;;SEe?n^.-itTHe,:'pradtise*^ive-i ; former 1 'S'ffickiy^gßos^lfuj.fc^ fß<'2iig er member: of,:the,:ivjsiting:;siirgicar ft' w "^'^sv ; siibspqueritly ! i:summbnSd;*'ih:ft"^cpnsuKatioh;v;:?Shock:: .al- : Qf- ready."- made;;;sqme. headway., irivcertain-; indisi: *>WPensable;prgans,:iand:although ; the : ihour was :' ; :;?_sqmewhat: latei-.fqr '■:;. such '.wprk-^f'-beihg' 9;SiiP- :i^ t . : 1% joperation v /mys'lif e v fe ,^.-!??"-:^ed I -V'rIhe".agp"ny J iW&Ebi n g^.an"dj-h,adVafe ;v;rme.to:recbwe;this v gr^ ; annquncem;ent^!id : ito ; ' the ilitjVof; thQijrqrst'i.bbh-' a" ASerise^pf ;"complacency t::^;pulling;(tnroughyfl]e^rdeaWwere/is!jghtf-but : ;swlj^™ed/;^,.be^imbuid>with;!;iiffii'unriatural ; : K xetolidit^ v Kv Ppy ■"■»;passiiig:tingd ■oK:rqgrot.«;«:':;' V S ;^ '-■■■■ ;&?;■;;:'& ::i ! M**-?&V:K!>r<*:-s£f f §\ ?£si P??™ ! 'on ? and'"! ts/- Effeptsi ;s? \ '.. ; ! 'iiv, upon j'iio; time 7ivas;lbst '■, in; ihaWiig :KK ;Bary->preparatidns. myi oaM fhe 'supreme" % ?^ ■ agency ■, precluded J ; the;isunimdnirig K?S-^.? n ea " s The"' sensatiohsVexperience'd'. dur-: ■iv'x ln ? V: wha't.-Tiiay S,><!'.'thpughtSj and 'ideas" seem to 'racean ia; hurried' S>corifusiqri^:The ! :mdre:'stfikinE-evhiitf of, life' ftS{iP m 9^J)ack^during;'t;-thaf;i;briS-y *^^aW n^;of:fjfe ; a",j'Btrange;-and".:; stirring adyentures-r-many.'ofa; V.^SJFi '-br-S.ass hazardous^^character-^ahd; 1 after yi-ff-all finish'.iip ;qbEcurely.'iri'tho' i .ward of ■a-pub-H.wlio.;hospital I cYet- suPb way" 4;>:w^;life.^;;Had'Hannibal;diodtat;?Watbrldoi ftp; •'■'3 ulius'jOaesai;" at. Trafalgar,jJfappte'pn Boriar: :^&haka;;they^wduldj hayp'=■ 'human; r::.f Btage"with;;uridim'med: i ;'■;;; many/pfithe.indignities ; Avliiiih•'Attended, their; v^fi^^it'iVv^AnJn-ay'^;whatever ReminiscencesVl ':;'!'. been .'inclinQditb-indulge^h-wei-e- - 'Si Vfo;Jvthd?little;fqurrTyheeled : ,str6tche ;ivv ~i i theV sur-' S-.:v^qhsi'and^/a^n^mbw*;of; : K: "oVera'Us. : »C;V:3^r:jtheVfirst.vtimdV;li:experiencM ; iaVfeeling 'ifi-:- thd'ic^lih/i^oplj;'and ■col-; v;S;: .lectedv appearahoe ; '.'df vpVcrybpdyVJlt'.itemed ■;.: ;;.;.tial,;dissection. : as;a ;>'ery.commonplace-■-I'riol-1 undent;iri;.tho: night'f jprpgrammeV^AJl.'my^pre-i S^^cpnceiyedv'riotibusVof-the;" -iudifference'V."to; ii;;v;;;;Huirian andv.generalV hardness iV of <>. ':■.:' heart?, of; nospital '.liiirsqs'; received; dire •■con-' :';a. ;;rbundmgeV. ;iTher<> ..was; an' -entire;' absence" of' W;; • the' dr-v "I'm XsprryVforV- your 3i< ;: aiff and. it : ■ft;:.sßeemed;:;onlysnecessary ,-that .we 'shoiiid'have , . Av''■-''a "little:,lively ;; .music' to. opnyincp/.nio :thatl' ;-.5 ■'~Tras''.the.iceritral, l; flgiire'vin: ;a ";'v'eryl ^a greeable' ';•'■';:; and ■' pleasant v entertaiiimerit." : ; f Being" dtilyde-' rg. : .':J! : ; .quasted -%.;:br , eathe;rqgiJa'Hy,' : iT6r : ::Vwords- ; to •;;}.;:vthat' l s:^^thetic;:pump, : .prTwh^te'ye'p: ; it^s^wa'a ;pjace'd. ;;>V; ;: ,oy9r.:my';face.':,Stn ajfbw.^.mo^jpnt's',the ? -.atmq-rS-v;-6phe're:,was:reek;irig : chlqrdr *#■ y form;.;- (I : .had\been:sbuiide'd before tlie-opera-: v : /:l i tibh'was.;ordered); VlV'took ;|a ; ;:'lasty : ;: ■,-'.;;-.lirigering-;look.at the impassi_yeinurse3,.who "MVj.weroV} awaiting •■'■ my • .annihilatidni£an'd',->then i ■'.'■'.:■•; ; lapsed into;a blessed oblivion; ; ■■■ .",;--.: v . . : .. VKv; yfi'%o:^<- ' The'.AfjermathiV '&£% >' W*(, ■ '.;,:'■; 51' regained consciousness some, four i;v [:VVhourß^ -gical/Wartl,' wsthVthe sister in charge holding

smyhand; on. one side, and the night nurse on: tho other;'■■■■!■ It was like tho awakening Irp'm a drunken.'drcam or a ; nightmare, and : some.;'timo elapsed .beforo'.l;/ could, realiso whoK! 'J , was or. what had brought.me.there. If I'ihad.anyvdpubta oii the first point, the -pther'fipatieriis''. in-, tlip ..ward., or. • thoso, :in' ;/,tho ; ; - female ■'J.i'meilical .ward . "overhead ../.could:;,' scarcely '-"haVo. V'entei-tained , any,;. as;:-it appeared:-.."-" that, '■'■'.' while under the blissful:ineensibility of;.thp anaes.tihotio/v.l.'had'treated/,tilbm 'all to an unrehearsed programme iipt calculated to impress somb;sixty/ailing'and sleopless people as "a. , .concord of sweet .Bounds;- , ., In.other words, while -in /a -.Btato .of ■ uiicohsciousnoss I had ■;bqon inaking an ; unbai-tlily: row.; ' No 1 ' doubt, iny"/audionoo would-havo 'applauded with/a briok.had-it'been feasible. ViAfter-expcrience staught mei.that. this was not an -uncommon, •failing with people in'sucha condition; although '-,:the. degree of noisiness varies considerably,? aiid some,patients arc so"exceptionally well-behavodi OS-.either to enliven tho, ,6iiatches..of song or refrain frohlvraising 'any; distiirb.ince.,/ .'v..-.: .-.-.-■■■ ■;' .'/■■;.' Complete l ' restoration ■" to ■' 'conscioiisnes3' ibrought! with : . it. an, awakened- sense of • ter-. vrible.pain--and : a parching thirsts-This-last-.:me'ntionod-(tee}ing .(jibt always unusual .under '.normal conditionß), is.a : :natural; consequence ;of tho. loss-.ofj blood and operation of the an- ! apathetic;/while the' suffqririg,.which ; :l! had en-■dured-<.beforo. the operation seemed : tb have i/bjM'farigmfintß'd-fourfold ;hy the long; aching I necessary, to remedy tho inter'jnal^do'ra'ugbment..;From", botli causes,l eri"idured;.<lrcadful.''agony l ,\and, I fear, , heartily .wishpdvjtliat'lihad':never,-.recovered ;,. teiiei-;. bili.ty.: , '.-I;felt;'that I- would: clieerfuiry-have .given..the last "dr.bp. of -blood in;'.my body.i'or ■a'gallbn of cool 'drink,' but the' nurses assured Jpe;^that ; , to:/drink /at that stage of'; my/ill-,' ness'-'would, ue\ ; dangerous,''"if; not fatal, that ;it:yas,';hv;fact,-|<)ut;pf the.question, and that. :I'mu'st'-sulfcr.'ph. : i After /.some time; '.il-'i was .allowed.; to :ririso.my;-mouth!/with^water J ./but: ./this': brought slight, relief,; as ;Ii was'forbidden ■ ■to swallow;-tlie. fleid;-:. I[ craved for/morphia,;, rpfany/thing" that'would ease,the paiii or-serid ime; but this , was/also impossible.; ,:.;*

f : ; ' : "^^hpu^ui*sa'sjW^rdV.Uoti ; ';v V;' "ji .thd 'vicinity, of 2 a.m. : :;.;but--j" , uncpinplaimrig 1 -' ':sisto'r')rfA<p:whosq: care.sl 'had been ;.committed Jttjiajij'eiyjjnip'gj leave-my bedside.. ■'^■;)B^d^fen^bn ; ;.duty_ ! :Bihce.; : ;6 o'clock the 'pTeyidiiS'.morriingj and in theiordinary course' ! suo>pd"hayC.b'een:,finished. fprthe, day/;wheu: my ;TOtimely.:.feirriyjil:,aiid'; subseguent ■'■ b'pera-. '.td/Jkpeni .her; ffbniVherV welli;earned'. | i;e'Bt , .Vyßut\'.'oh'6fihe,a'rs noV word of 'grlimblihg ipr';''.proiest"ffroni -'these -devotetV ■youiig i ladies, ..however arduous or exacting. 'or/howpyer-the- resources ;of. their ■own. energy : and ■endurance are:; taxed by l-peevish'. and .troublesome patients. ■;■ ■: Neither -is" there.any; ! overtim,e;;;aUowance' : for 'nurses in;:publicHhospitals,; fqr;;^'eseiiion v w3Ee,''Vor i'rnMds.-ll.iwa^ejVbrVeven'.fti'v'livirigVi.^g'e.'ln , '.these iti^itutiqris.their priceless" and .aj)le'professi6rial;sery'ices to Buffering human-: tity;;ara;jewarded ;.with ::salaries.':cpnsiderably :lowerrthaii ; thd' smwlest ; V'' ! niinimum.''. : s.wage dpledVoutfea^hq .tbjp'pssessiany vpf/their:bducatibrijVskill, ;'or •knowledge,'pr.itq undertake fragVmeiitary,Vpdrtioivjof Vtheir : of.- ; this;<inore ■ aridii;. : <:' In", the ' case,:mV.qu<Jßtion v'my"i'ward was:':at \\wf; post ", S' ; few,:liours? .laier...the',- ; isaine', , 'morrii Ing,';'.■hotwithsta'ndingVthq.twenty."hours' con-,. 'tinudM : the previous :;day.?S-K'K^yS l V' ; Svv;y;;i'V^;;^'V. s ;;vvVvv;v: i ;;v r & ; Mi^j^^F}!^^|^^!on^vv^'\V^'"-^i

; ; vAa; .tlio ;mornrag> wore yoii; \my.Vpairi, eased :sonieTrhat;-'a;i\§ens.e: : '"pf.; : listtessneES-Van'd/.'.dull.'' ■passivity "Mtefover; me V,l''seeraed:deybid"'of ;inteWSt,*in«^iyitKing-; j the; tthirlyVpatients o)iVeach-side7failcd.''to Awaken • tleVslightc st^curiosity ;; the 'arriyaV. df; ;the'.,da.y;'nurees a;mii ;; tliq cleaning' V.up ■ djeliybrj- • of,; breakfastVtoi such: of my fellqjvs' in Vmis'f ortune.asVwere able. ;tp '■■! partake.'; of .;.it; did not: arouso any'lotgnig or enthusiasm. Seven: trusted 'friend ;aßclfcoj^jyior;;Vik^ . :tlie:'.Vprevious : • l -myV' 'lii'each'ed ■ the doctrine /of^Uope : ;'- Later oh I - was' given' a drink of ,'peptoiiised, sbnable' quantity qf.it I;,desired. :!'was'sufr :,fpringV Vfroni'.'-thdVeffepts ;qf' i: :tho' 'follows, the .administration of struck "-me as ■a/most -villaindus; perrer'sioii,bf the legitirilate .uses;;of •thb':cdw;S",:":.-I::had;:proyibuslyl:enter- ; tainqd-. a Jiigh respect ; f or 'that- useful. : domestic janimaljvbut-Va ; :few;'days .'subsistence on , , this' vtii'rible preparatibn ;paus6d me. tomiodify 'my -■vibw'BV/donsigqrably,'-i-Tho man;. \vho' could -Jen;'. .-ipyisuclv'anVirifamous.'beyefago 'UeveiVb'pl'cap'able^pf.grabbing 'aidying-fceggar.': ■I?,fd;.:'tliat;; ; lycan)rivrVigiiin: eregard..tbe 'ap.parb'ntly honest of a poTV withput;fcelings. •■pf.i'emot-iqnH"^ 'wholeilbbvine'isp"eoies,:'>vhicn;nothing, loss -than •riyers.Vbf pure: ;, and -undiluted milk.:caii "wipe )]■ Punctually Vbri \ the 1 ; strokei'of: 'the;: visiting •;hpurV"ther.d;camq'ral.png old:and/valued fripnds, - ::.whp;V'are,;,'twp -".of ; • ..Wellington's.. re-- ; spected:.citizens.V. I;had.sent'them"word of "myVillnossydurin'g' the' previous dyening,'..and :they:hadßpont : :an anxious night; concerning me.ft.Wp;' had,- beeh'-schdohnates:'more' Vthan-: : twenty ago,' arid, ajthdu jjj; our paths in : .life;had'afterwardß ; led-in"diverse;;direptidiie,' : ;the>dldVfeelihg:.begpttenVpf i'esrlyy."comrade-; ship;-re'niained .uriphanged';and•;; Sckiioss, "like adve"rsity,\, ; so'ems to '■: draw,'*us ;clbser..t'q ouririends, ; arid.although these,con-; •nbctihgvrlmks iwithjmyj-hoyhoPd-s: happyYand ; .irreßp6n'sible' : :'days';were; : :onlyV/'allqwed. one. "minutb'i;.iiiteryiewVat.'Vmy,;.bedside,; I-experir enbed mpfo. genuine .pleasure; from their\wel-!, and "familiar. ■facesVthaii'VifilVhad're".ccivedV 7 a: i"King'sV ; ransomi" v ;.;;The•;■ ldng ; ;■ andmdnptqnoUs'Sveeks'of :my 'Uhvess. werp ;relieved: •;by•./inany.i sub'sequentVyisits from';those- arid. vdtliCTftvaliied Vf nends^-aridl'theiry ittle;.:l:iridr nesses-vdidiniiifih.."to brighfeiv the long".days', ".and-Jillumine,';.the still; Ipngdr nights' of .'my. Vtardy. : • ;■' "l"'/. -''-h■ • ?'>■¥V''v;;.V' V;' '.■

bf Isolation;} ;VV^V-y : :".- ; .j;' ; .dp ;iiqt .pr/ppseLtp'.labour; the. details of my "te'dibus 'and moi'e-:tha'n-usually protracted .restoration..to health;, , ; I .Suffice it. to say v that, this; was .delayed -by co.mplicatidhsi ..tP... .which, fit .somewhat, .shattered;, constitution rendered ; me'Vparticularly liable;■•'.My; system 'TOs'."fpurid':dencientJ.in;tne - :recuperativp■ quali-V ties-wliiclr.legitima'telyVniight: have; been'.exipected;,:. and. it: was .only, by the best..medical. ;.sl£ill l ',,ajdqd:'byVth.e-"m , I;wasV_eriabled'; to 'pull ' tfirpugh.'-. In this- cdn-'nMMd'n«Fdw6Va:^dep-debt orgratitude to ithd then-medical/suporintendent (Dri'Ewart), the operating; surgeon- (Dr.:;H: ; J. 'Jl'Leah); • the house surgeons,' and nurses: for their unfailing' care,;ahd'.att«ntipn.:V Some. Vfive'C. weeks vhad .elapsed'[before.-1- was, alilpVtoVbe.-.allowed, to J sit :vUp;Jin;Vbed or partake' , 'ofVmeat diet. A few.days'latorlvwas permitted ; t*' in ■a';whee).-chair..:But.misfortijne;seemed'to dog my:;convalescence.. : On ;: tlre.,'yery;: : first.- day leva's : butof be<l I-.'eshißjttd'certam 'symptdins' ;resembling'"scarlet■ fever.-.1 - forthwith isolated"fas.'a '.'suspect.'i.jnVa.rooni , attached l-tq.Ward 3." There I.rofiliiined in solitary cbnfinenient_'f or, somo .week's,;-the. a'liiiable and- excellent and ; her''fissistaiit. nurses ■ doing all that was: me" comfortable ,and .relieye-the todiuni'ggthe "dull days dui'ing ■whibh-;l;was:,'QUt';<iff !; fr.6m-!all.;qutside\ ; 'qommii-. ■nicatibn;V';VAf terVs'on>e?l'fme" lUvasValldwed ; to ■gqt/ui>'" i andj ; yardV'abutting'joii i'mp;apartment/:.but I -was' still Vdenied tKpV.'qh'eerihg ' solnce."<6f-;visitors. Thus',: the' Christmife'lestivitie's-; caineV' and :went.. : ; I,".h'ad^ah'^ab'nndant"-'s^pply. , '"qf;' , -iiWa-. manyVpW: friends/:> ; 3yh'at"-: an- : irony:; they, seemed .in ■. such-u, amongst, these■.ddmmunicatibiw idajne, i : a > .'■ breezy''.' note from.m'y G'.■•■■.P.-'Br6wn.?;..'Hft-ie.nt';alp'rig a 'bulky.".packet containing; particulars: of the,;.'.'chance Vof a lifetimei";.to invest in a ' niriety : horse-power .motor-car, ,-illiistratod. catalogues, of the very latdst'rdesigns in' toasting-forks,. debt-dollect-' ing' dodges; and carpet -cleaner's; details, of a schbmo,to securo. a nine-roomed ,houso ;and ' forty acres of" land ■ on :tho Gothenburg system; and : "a'n assorted ' quantity; of .kindred literature. -To.:thp,samo thoughtful and fertileVsp'urce I-: credited .tlio ;receipt of-' a dozen ponny•: amongst "other gems," "ThV; Bloody VPu'tty,: .Knife,.", or ; thePainter's Revengo," ' "Oozo, the Dwarf, or the Mystery; of a Skylight;" and other similar high-class fiction.: -No' other.humorist:living' in.' Australasia .could havq designed such a' grateful'' panacea.to my'dreariness, and ..the sapient joker must have'chnckled i as he reflected pn.his immunity from, reprisals. -.But: T/warn hiri'rthat 'a gfinland awful reckoning is;at''hnnd..VV,:V;-' : ' , : ' '-'.:■ .:■■ ':■'■';■■;■ ■ •,'';.

;■•• After -some; tlueo weeks of this compulsory meditation and chastening of spirit, I .had my sphero of activities '.enlarged by being allowed out in the grounds fronting the institution; and 1 was enabled to enjoy the sweet converse-of any follow; mnu—nt a sufo..distaiico..i. of this privilege to the fuilost... It enabled:'. mo, ■ freshly :liborated as I was, to. gloat over ■the restrictions 1 of. the Fever Hospital convalescents,' amongst whom I recognised with malicious triumph niy excellent ; friend, the housesurgeon, from whom I-was supposed to havo caught the- infection. There was a seriso of seltis'n enjoyment: and poetic, justice- in■• contemplating .the 'genial doctor at .the wrong side of. the fence while.,l was more or less at.,.1arg0... ■Wβ had 'some very pleasant and entertaining conversations over, that fence, and they helped to relieve the ennui from which each,; was suffering in no small .degree; On ono. occasion we were joined in our morning confab by the.' pleasant ohaplain of -one of : . our three! leading churches; "and;.twitted . each other in good-humoured banter, on; tho;'-merits' of our respectiveprofessions. ; The. maiv of medicine' -sturdily maintained'that. whilo his kind accomplished practical .alleviation of human ; Borrow and suffering, the church did ho more than hold forth, a promise of benefits whioh he could not; clearly/figure.' \ I brightened the. debate- b,v depicting :tho ; .many lives' that, had been gladdened by \ the , outpourings. of : the intellect,. : .'and;'/' modestly.;. related ■ how•.' a humuje contribution ;■ of,: my own- had '.'once caused spontaneous combustion on a .wool ship.in the. icy.'.vicinity of:Cape-Horn. , ; The chaplain-admonished us. on the fate''of the scoffer, and finally .retreated , on the ; Home lor ; Incurables'. .... r ■'..'.-'■ 7 '■■■'■ ..'.''■,.-■'.■ -- ;

':■■■■:'-:''■. ; i-''.:-•'Ceheral -,conclusions. ■'■ :; '■'■; Having, completed some: ten weeks of the Simple: Life;' I -was \again turned loose on .a long-suffering , public, .-'and /enabled '.to:' resume ;the ' strenuous pursuit]'of; the .elusive shilling, which -man- must gain to live. My 'time in;the:hospital had'been made :as -en.durablo as such periods of. .existence can generally he.- I had had-.opportunities,, for : sturlyjng human, infirmity in. various phases; and draivit. fromv"various-, walks of life, ■as patients in a' public, hospital necessarily; aro, I;miist, say.that;in the :raaiiv they were a resgectiible./and well-conducted 'body of men,' who: .appeared; highly, appreciative . of,': the efforts, -matte:. in their ■ welfare, 'and bore their - sufferings.: with becoming fortitude 'and .resignation." Only once did I hear the lan T giiapn'.'or the gutter .uttered," and "the sorely • stricken':individual whoioffended '.was scarce-..I ly.ri'sponsihle ;at; The: Wellington 'Hospital - authorities '.are to be congratulated ,'oh: the'general-/management of. their,/estabV: lishmerit—especially in' the face of'cramped , accommodation".'-.and '•:■ other .disabilities'— and those iwho ,are necessitated' to sojourn: with- | .incite walls can .be' "-;'h ssured -.'of:; as, expert treatment; .-.whatever their;.ailment,', and of as vkindly... attentipns'during itheir illness, as Ir;am;;sure'u:oiin/.bb:;secureu..within ; the, Do"minion";'or;/outside '.it... '//■':■ :>',:, ; :,/. -;:V. ; .' I' - ; ':,/<