{"id":"01KG8AMGMF104XYMQ9ZR3H7DMF","cid":"bafkreievz5hhthkerahv4nyinwnwxdvcrlmzaipttffg25kogvdhvm4np4","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":9892,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:36.274Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":9822,"text":"Surgeon of the Fleet; that is, I mean, if you are fully persuaded of\r\nits necessity.”\r\n\r\nThe other surgeons said nothing, maintaining a somewhat reserved air,\r\nas if conscious that they had no positive authority in the case,\r\nwhatever might be their own private opinions; but they seemed willing\r\nto behold, and, if called upon, to assist at the operation, since it\r\ncould not now be averted.\r\n\r\nThe young men, their Assistants, looked very eager, and cast frequent\r\nglances of awe upon so distinguished a practitioner as the venerable\r\nCuticle.\r\n\r\n“They say he can drop a leg in one minute and ten seconds from the\r\nmoment the knife touches it,” whispered one of them to another.\r\n\r\n“We shall see,” was the reply, and the speaker clapped his hand to his\r\nfob, to see if his watch would be forthcoming when wanted.\r\n\r\n“Are you all ready here?” demanded Cuticle, now advancing to his\r\nsteward; “have not those fellows got through yet?” pointing to three\r\nmen of the carpenter’s gang, who were placing bits of wood under the\r\ngun-carriages supporting the central table.\r\n\r\n“They are just through, sir,” respectfully answered the steward,\r\ntouching his hand to his forehead, as if there were a cap-front there.\r\n\r\n“Bring up the patient, then,” said Cuticle.\r\n\r\n“Young gentlemen,” he added, turning to the row of Assistant Surgeons,\r\n“seeing you here reminds me of the classes of students once under my\r\ninstruction at the Philadelphia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Ah,\r\nthose were happy days!” he sighed, applying the extreme corner of his\r\nhandkerchief to his glass-eye. “Excuse an old man’s emotions, young\r\ngentlemen; but when I think of the numerous rare cases that then came\r\nunder my treatment, I cannot but give way to my feelings. The town, the\r\ncity, the metropolis, young gentlemen, is the place for you students;\r\nat least in these dull times of peace, when the army and navy furnish\r\nno inducements for a youth ambitious of rising in our honourable\r\nprofession. Take an old man’s advice, and if the war now threatening\r\nbetween the States and Mexico should break out, exchange your navy\r\ncommissions for commissions in the army. From having no military marine\r\nherself, Mexico has always been backward in furnishing subjects for the\r\namputation-tables of foreign navies. The cause of science has\r\nlanguished in her hands. The army, young gentlemen, is your best\r\nschool; depend upon it. You will hardly believe it, Surgeon Bandage,”\r\nturning to that gentleman, “but this is my first important case of\r\nsurgery in a nearly three years’ cruise. I have been almost wholly\r\nconfined in this ship to doctor’s practice prescribing for fevers and\r\nfluxes. True, the other day a man fell from the mizzen-top-sail-yard;\r\nbut that was merely an aggravated case of dislocations and bones\r\nsplintered and broken. No one, sir, could have made an amputation of\r\nit, without severely contusing his conscience. And mine—I may say it,\r\ngentlemen, without ostentation is—peculiarly susceptible.”\r\n\r\nAnd so saying, the knife and carver touchingly dropped to his sides,\r\nand he stood for a moment fixed in a tender reverie but a commotion\r\nbeing heard beyond the curtain, he started, and, briskly crossing and\r\nrecrossing the knife and carver, exclaimed, “Ali, here comes our\r\npatient; surgeons, this side of the table, if you please; young\r\ngentlemen, a little further off, I beg. Steward, take off my coat—so;\r\nmy neckerchief now; I must be perfectly unencumbered, Surgeon Patella,\r\nor I can do nothing whatever.”\r\n\r\nThese articles being removed, he snatched off his wig, placing it on\r\nthe gun-deck capstan; then took out his set of false teeth, and placed\r\nit by the side of the wig; and, lastly, putting his forefinger to the\r\ninner angle of his blind eye, spirited out the glass optic with\r\nprofessional dexterity, and deposited that, also, next to the wig and\r\nfalse teeth.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJTJS3AFC49VHXZ381X49","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AMGMFCHRSG1QPFJ6PX1N8","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AMGMFH4Z26WP7EVK7S8DS","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:39.567Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:51.040Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}