THE FIRST OPERATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 7

THE FIRST OPERATION

A TRUE REMINISCENCE BY WARD MUIR, LATE R.A.M.C. Nurse was an extremely pretty girl. I hud (I confess) remarked tho fact tho momout I entered the ward to report myself for duty as orderly. -Thereafter nurse was a mere pleasing, occasionally glimpsed decoration in the background of a morning of hustle under the commands of our potentate, "Sister," But towards mid-duy I had the privilege of making the closer acquaintanceship of nurse. She and I were detailed to convey a patient to the operating tneatre. Said pationt, when we brought him back, would bo minus a leg. I had never in my life before been present at an operation, and I was not at all certain about my powers of witnossI ing horrors unmoved. It occurred to me that I should look singularly unsoldierliko if, when tho blood began to Bow, I collapsed in a faint on tho floor of tho operating theatre. And when I glanced at nurse—trim, slender, pink-and-creani coraplexioned, about ten years my junior—when I stole a glance at this selfpossessed chit I trembled inwardly. She wouldn't blench. She and I had'never set eyes on each other before; but I had to concede that,she was tho blase expert and I tho timid novice. Presently I was wheeling the patient into tlmwhite-wallcd sanctum and helping to dispose his unconscious form upon tho operating table. The surgeon approached. "Sister" ami other acolytes hovered round him. I stood back, waiting to be called for when needed, but careful to have a clear view of the operation. On tho other side of tho room, similarly stationed, stood nurse. Slio was prettier than ever—serious and serene and blue-eyed. And in due course the amputation was completed. Instead of being horrified by the spectacle's ugliness Thad been enthralled by tiio spectacle's beauty; the beauty of ail exouisite skill exquisitely exercised. We wheeled our patient back to tho want, nurse and I. There is a camaTnderic in hospital. She and I had never been introduced and never would lie. yet wo were already able to chat familarly, and I said: "Been here long, nurse?" "Not verv." "Really?" I was surprised. "Long enough though to have grown accustomed to things. Now that operation was my first. I was awfully afraid I shouldn't stick it." "What! Your first operation!" Nurse's blue oyes were round. "And you never said a word! Oh. orderly!-! thought you'd been at dozens. You were splendid." This was delightful. I felt a hero, be. neath the naively admiring gaze of those blue eyes. "What did ynn f«el like at vour first operation nurse?" I asked. "This morning's was mv first operation!" she said. And then-reallv she was rather a darling, this nreftv childshe added: "But T didn't know Hint men could stand these things as well as women!"