round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第58章
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〃Walker was one of the best men in Europe on nervous disease。 You
must have read his little book on sclerosis of the posterior columns。 It's
as interesting as a novel； and epoch…making in its way。 He worked like a
horse； did Walkerhuge consulting practicehours a day in the clinical
wardsconstant original investigations。 And then he enjoyed himself
also。 ‘De mortuis；' of course； but still it's an open secret among all who
knew him。 If he died at forty…five； he crammed eighty years into it。
The marvel was that he could have held on so long at the pace at which he
was going。 But he took it beautifully when it came。
〃I was his clinical assistant at the time。 Walker was lecturing on
locomotor ataxia to a wardful of youngsters。 He was explaining that one
of the early signs of the complaint was that the patient could not put his
heels together with his eyes shut without staggering。 As he spoke； he
suited the action to the word。 I don't suppose the boys noticed anything。
I did； and so did he； though he finished his lecture without a sign。
〃When it was over he came into my room and lit a cigarette。
〃‘Just run over my reflexes； Smith；' said he。
〃There was hardly a trace of them left。 I tapped away at his knee…
tendon and might as well have tried to get a jerk out of that sofa…cushion。
He stood with his eyes shut again； and he swayed like a bush in the wind。
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〃‘So；' said he； ‘it was not intercostal neuralgia after all。'
〃Then I knew that he had had the lightning pains； and that the case was
complete。 There was nothing to say； so I sat looking at him while he
puffed and puffed at his cigarette。 Here he was； a man in the prime of
life； one of the handsomest men in London； with money； fame； social
success； everything at his feet； and now； without a moment's warning； he
was told that inevitable death lay before him； a death accompanied by
more refined and lingering tortures than if he were bound upon a Red
Indian stake。 He sat in the middle of the blue cigarette cloud with his
eyes cast down； and the slightest little tightening of his lips。 Then he
rose with a motion of his arms； as one who throws off old thoughts and
enters upon a new course。
〃‘Better put this thing straight at once；' said he。 ‘I must make some
fresh arrangements。 May I use your paper and envelopes？'
〃He settled himself at my desk and he wrote half a dozen letters。 It is
not a breach of confidence to say that they were not addressed to his
professional brothers。 Walker was a single man； which means that he
was not restricted to a single woman。 When he had finished； he walked
out of that little room of mine； leaving every hope and ambition of his life
behind him。 And he might have had another year of ignorance and peace
if it had not been for the chance illustration in his lecture。
〃It took five years to kill him； and he stood it well。 If he had ever
been a little irregular he atoned for it in that long martyrdom。 He kept an
admirable record of his own symptoms； and worked out the eye changes
more fully than has ever been done。 When the ptosis got very bad he
would hold his eyelid up with one hand while he wrote。 Then； when he
could not co…ordinate his muscles to write； he dictated to his nurse。 So
died； in the odour of science； James Walker； aet。 45。
〃Poor old Walker was very fond of experimental surgery； and he broke
ground in several directions。 Between ourselves； there may have been
some more ground…breaking afterwards； but he did his best for his cases。
You know M‘Namara； don't you？ He always wears his hair long。 He
lets it be understood that it comes from his artistic strain； but it is really to
conceal the loss of one of his ears。 Walker cut the other one off； but you
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must not tell Mac I said so。
〃It was like this。 Walker had a fad about the portio durathe motor to
the face； you knowand he thought paralysis of it came from a
disturbance of the blood supply。 Something else which counterbalanced
that disturbance might； he thought； set it right again。 We had a very
obstinate case of Bell's paralysis in the wards； and had tried it with every
conceivable thing； blistering； tonics； nerve…stretching； galvanism； needles；
but all without result。 Walker got it into his head that removal of the ear
would increase the blood supply to the part； and he very soon gained the
consent of the patient to the operation。
〃Well； we did it at night。 Walker； of course； felt that it was something
of an experiment； and did not wish too much talk about it unless it proved
successful。 There were half…a…dozen of us there； M‘Namara and I among
the rest。 The room was a small one； and in the centre was in the narrow
table； with a macintosh over the pillow； and a blanket which extended
almost to the floor on either side。 Two candles； on a side…table near the
pillow； supplied all the light。 In came the patient； with one side of his
face as smooth as a baby's； and the other all in a quiver with fright。 He
lay down； and the chloroform towel was placed over his face； while
Walker threaded his needles in the candle light。 The chloroformist stood
at the head of the table； and M‘Namara was stationed at the side to control
the patient。 The rest of us stood by to assist。
〃Well； the man was about half over when he fell into one of those
convulsive flurries which come with the semi…unconscious stage。 He
kicked and plunged and struck out with both hands。 Over with a crash
went the little table which held the candles； and in an instant we were left
in total darkness。 You can think what a rush and a scurry there was； one
to pick up the table； one to find the matches； and some to restrain the
patient who was still dashing himself about。 He was held down by two
dressers； the chloroform was pushed； and by the time the candles were
relit； his incoherent； half…smothered shoutings had changed to a stertorous
snore。 His head was turned on the pillow and the towel was still kept
over his face while the operation was carried through。 Then the towel
was withdrawn； and you can conceive our amazement when we looked
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upon the face of M‘Namara。
〃How did it happen？ Why； simply enough。 As the candles went
over； the chloroformist had stopped for an instant and had tried to catch
them。 The patient； just as the light went out； had rolled off and under the
table。 Poor M‘Namara； clinging frantically to him； had
