CHAPTER LXII.
A CONSULTATION OF MAN-OF-WAR SURGEONS.
It seems customary for the Surgeon of the Fleet, when any importantoperation in his department is on the anvil, and there is nothing toabsorb professional attention from it, to invite his brother surgeons,if at hand at the time, to a ceremonious consultation upon it. Andthis, in courtesy, his brother surgeons expect.
In pursuance of this custom, then, the surgeons of the neighbouringAmerican ships of war were requested to visit the Neversink in a body,to advise concerning the case of the top-man, whose situation had nowbecome critical. They assembled on the half-deck, and were soon joinedby their respected senior, Cuticle. In a body they bowed as heapproached, and accosted him with deferential regard.
"Gentlemen," said Cuticle, unostentatiously seating himself on acamp-stool, handed him by his cot-boy, "we have here an extremelyinteresting case. You have all seen the patient, I believe. At first Ihad hopes that I should have been able to cut down to the ball, andremove it; but the state of the patient forbade. Since then, theinflammation and sloughing of the part has been attended with a copioussuppuration, great loss of substance, extreme debility and emaciation.From this, I am convinced that the ball has shattered and deadened thebone, and now lies impacted in the medullary canal. In fact, there canbe no doubt that the wound is incurable, and that amputation is theonly resource. But, gentlemen, I find myself placed in a very delicatepredicament. I assure you I feel no professional anxiety to perform theoperation. I desire your advice, and if you will now again visit thepatient with me, we can then return here and decide what is best to bedone. Once more, let me say, that I feel no personal anxiety whateverto use the knife."
The assembled surgeons listened to this address with the most seriousattention, and, in accordance with their superior's desire, nowdescended to the sick-bay, where the patient was languishing. Theexamination concluded, they returned to the half-deck, and theconsultation was renewed.
"Gentlemen," began Cuticle, again seating himself, "you have now justinspected the limb; you have seen that there is no resource butamputation; and now, gentlemen, what do you say? Surgeon Bandage, ofthe Mohawk, will you express your opinion?"
"The wound is a very serious one," said Bandage--a corpulent man, witha high German forehead--shaking his head solemnly.
"Can anything save him but amputation?" demanded Cuticle.
"His constitutional debility is extreme," observed Bandage, "but I haveseen more dangerous cases."
"Surgeon Wedge, of the Malay," said Cuticle, in a pet, "be pleased togive _your_ opinion; and let it be definitive, I entreat:" this wassaid with a severe glance toward Bandage.
"If I thought," began Wedge, a very spare, tall man, elevating himselfstill higher on his toes, "that the ball had shattered and divided thewhole _femur_, including the _Greater_ and _Lesser Trochanter_ the_Linear aspera_ the _Digital fossa_, and the _Intertrochanteric_, Ishould certainly be in favour of amputation; but that, sir, permit meto observe, is not my opinion."
"Surgeon Sawyer, of the Buccaneer," said Cuticle, drawing in his thinlower lip with vexation, and turning to a round-faced, florid, frank,sensible-looking man, whose uniform coat very handsomely fitted him,and was adorned with an unusual quantity of gold lace; "Surgeon Sawyer,of the Buccaneer, let us now hear _your_ opinion, if you please. Is notamputation the only resource, sir?"
"Excuse me," said Sawyer, "I am decidedly opposed to it; for ifhitherto the patient has not been strong enough to undergo theextraction of the ball, I do not see how he can be expected to endure afar more severe operation. As there is no immediate danger ofmortification, and you say the ball cannot be reached without makinglarge incisions, I should support him, I think, for the present, withtonics, and gentle antiphlogistics, locally applied. On no accountwould I proceed to amputation until further symptoms are exhibited."
"Surgeon Patella, of the Algerine," said Cuticle, in an ill-suppressedpassion, abruptly turning round on the person addressed, "will _you_have the kindness to say whether _you_ do not think that amputation isthe only resource?"
Now Patella was the youngest of the company, a modest man, filled witha profound reverence for the science of Cuticle, and desirous ofgaining his good opinion, yet not wishing to commit himself altogetherby a decided reply, though, like Surgeon Sawyer, in his own mind hemight have been clearly against the operation.
"What you have remarked, Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet," said Patella,respectfully hemming, "concerning the dangerous condition of the limb,seems obvious enough; amputation would certainly be a cure to thewound; but then, as, notwithstanding his present debility, the patientseems to have a strong constitution, he might rally as it is, and byyour scientific treatment, Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet"--bowing--"beentirely made whole, without risking an amputation. Still, it is a verycritical case, and amputation may be indispensable; and if it is to beperformed, there ought to be no delay whatever. That is my view of thecase, Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet."
"Surgeon Patella, then, gentlemen," said Cuticle, turning roundtriumphantly, "is clearly of opinion that amputation should beimmediately performed. For my own part--individually, I mean, andwithout respect to the patient--I am sorry to have it so decided. Butthis settles the question, gentlemen--in my own mind, however, it wassettled before. At ten o'clock to-morrow morning the operation will beperformed. I shall be happy to see you all on the occasion, and alsoyour juniors" (alluding to the absent _Assistant Surgeons_)."Good-morning, gentlemen; at ten o'clock, remember."
And Cuticle retreated to the Ward-room.