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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
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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。〃
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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
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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