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〃Nobodydressers。 One has charge of the instruments and the other
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of the puffing Billy。 It's Lister's antiseptic spray； you know； and Archer's
one of the carbolic…acid men。 Hayes is the leader of the cleanliness…and…
cold…water school； and they all hate each other like poison。〃
A flutter of interest passed through the closely packed benches as a
woman in petticoat and bodice was led in by two nurses。 A red woolen
shawl was draped over her head and round her neck。 The face which
looked out from it was that of a woman in the prime of her years； but
drawn with suffering； and of a peculiar beeswax tint。 Her head drooped
as she walked； and one of the nurses； with her arm round her waist； was
whispering consolation in her ear。 She gave a quick side…glance at the
instrument table as she passed； but the nurses turned her away from it。
〃What ails her？〃 asked the novice。
〃Cancer of the parotid。 It's the devil of a case； extends right away
back behind the carotids。 There's hardly a man but Archer would dare to
follow it。 Ah； here he is himself！〃
As he spoke； a small； brisk； iron…grey man came striding into the room；
rubbing his hands together as he walked。 He had a clean…shaven face； of
the naval officer type； with large； bright eyes； and a firm； straight mouth。
Behind him came his big house… surgeon； with his gleaming pince…nez；
and a trail of dressers； who grouped themselves into the corners of the
room。
〃Gentlemen；〃 cried the surgeon in a voice as hard and brisk as his
manner； 〃we have here an interesting case of tumour of the parotid；
originally cartilaginous but now assuming malignant characteristics； and
therefore requiring excision。 On to the table； nurse！ Thank you！
Chloroform； clerk！ Thank you！ You can take the shawl off； nurse。〃
The woman lay back upon the water…proofed pillow； and her
murderous tumour lay revealed。 In itself it was a pretty thingivory
white； with a mesh of blue veins； and curving gently from jaw to chest。
But the lean； yellow face and the stringy throat were in horrible contrast
with the plumpness and sleekness of this monstrous growth。 The surgeon
placed a hand on each side of it and pressed it slowly backwards and
forwards。
〃Adherent at one place； gentlemen；〃 he cried。 〃The growth involves
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the carotids and jugulars； and passes behind the ramus of the jaw； whither
we must be prepared to follow it。 It is impossible to say how deep our
dissection may carry us。 Carbolic tray。 Thank you！ Dressings of
carbolic gauze； if you please！ Push the chloroform； Mr。 Johnson。 Have
the small saw ready in case it is necessary to remove the jaw。〃
The patient was moaning gently under the towel which had been
placed over her face。 She tried to raise her arms and to draw up her
knees； but two dressers restrained her。 The heavy air was full of the
penetrating smells of carbolic acid and of chloroform。 A muffled cry
came from under the towel； and then a snatch of a song； sung in a high；
quavering； monotonous voice：
〃He says； says he；
If you fly with me
You'll be mistress of the ice…cream van。
You'll be mistress of the〃
It mumbled off into a drone and stopped。 The surgeon came across；
still rubbing his hands； and spoke to an elderly man in front of the novice。
〃Narrow squeak for the Government；〃 he said。
〃Oh； ten is enough。〃
〃They won't have ten long。 They'd do better to resign before they are
driven to it。〃
〃Oh； I should fight it out。〃
〃What's the use。 They can't get past the committee even if they got a
vote in the House。 I was talking to〃
〃Patient's ready； sir；〃 said the dresser。
〃Talking to McDonaldbut I'll tell you about it presently。〃 He
walked back to the patient； who was breathing in long； heavy gasps。 〃I
propose；〃 said he； passing his hand over the tumour in an almost caressing
fashion； 〃to make a free incision over the posterior border； and to take
another forward at right angles to the lower end of it。 Might I trouble
you for a medium knife； Mr。 Johnson？〃
The novice； with eyes which were dilating with horror； saw the
surgeon pick up the long； gleaming knife； dip it into a tin basin； and
balance it in his fingers as an artist might his brush。 Then he saw him
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pinch up the skin above the tumour with his left hand。 At the sight his
nerves； which had already been tried once or twice that day； gave way
utterly。 His head swain round； and he felt that in another instant he might
faint。 He dared not look at the patient。 He dug his thumbs into his ears
lest some scream should come to haunt him； and he fixed his eyes rigidly
upon the wooden ledge in front of him。 One glance； one cry； would； he
knew； break down the shred of self…possession which he still retained。
He tried to think of cricket； of green fields and rippling water； of his sisters
at homeof anything rather than of what was going on so near him。
And yet somehow； even with his ears stopped up； sounds seemed to
penetrate to him and to carry their own tale。 He heard； or thought that he
heard； the long hissing of the carbolic engine。 Then he was conscious of
some movement among the dressers。 Were there groans； too； breaking in
upon him； and some other sound； some fluid sound； which was more
dreadfully suggestive still？ His mind would keep building up every step
of the operation； and fancy made it more ghastly than fact could have been。
His nerves tingled and quivered。 Minute by minute the giddiness grew