Chapter 62 - Page 2

cases."

"Surgeon Wedge, of the Malay," said Cuticle, in a pet, "be pleased
to give _your_ opinion; and let it be definitive, I entreat:" this
was said with a severe glance toward Bandage.

"If I thought," began Wedge, a very spare, tall man, elevating
himself still higher on his toes, "that the ball had shattered
and divided the whole _femur_, including the _Greater_ and
_Lesser Trochanter_ the _Linear aspera_ the _Digital fossa_, and
the _Intertrochanteric_, I should certainly be in favour of
amputation; but that, sir, permit me to observe, is not my
opinion."

"Surgeon Sawyer, of the Buccaneer," said Cuticle, drawing in his
thin lower 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 not amputation the only
resource, sir?"

"Excuse me," said Sawyer, "I am decidedly opposed to it; for if
hitherto the patient has not been strong enough to undergo the
extraction of the ball, I do not see how he can be expected to
endure a far more severe operation. As there is no immediate
danger of mortification, and you say the ball cannot be reached
without making large incisions, I should support him, I think,
for the present, with tonics, and gentle antiphlogistics, locally
applied. On no account would I proceed to amputation until further
symptoms are exhibited."

"Surgeon Patella, of the Algerine," said Cuticle, in an ill-suppressed
passion, abruptly turning round on the person addressed, "will _you_
have the kindness to say whether _you_ do not think that amputation is
the only resource?"

Now Patella was the youngest of the company, a modest man, filled with
a profound reverence for the science of Cuticle, and desirous of
gaining his good opinion, yet not wishing to commit himself altogether
by a decided reply, though, like Surgeon Sawyer, in his own mind he
might 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 the wound; but then, as, notwithstanding his present debility,
the patient seems to have a strong constitution, he might rally
as it is, and by your scientific treatment, Mr. Surgeon of the
Fleet"--bowing--"be entirely made whole, without risking an
amputation. Still, it is a very critical case, and amputation may be