Round the fountain.

Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Round the fountain. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    He’d Harrison’s Sulcus, a rickety chest, (The “ strumous diathesis ” also I guessed) He’d pleuritic effusion added to these. With peritonitis and Hodgkin’s disease ; To sum up the list of his sufferings and woes. He’d oedematous legs and gangrenous toes. His case was unique, and a puzzle to me. So I sent the night porter to fetch the H. P., Who quickly appeared, and together we tried Infusions, tobacco, potassium bromide. Thyroid extract, hot bottles, and hospital “ phizz,” Till the whole of the surgery seemed in a whizz. But the jeers grew very loud From the fastly gathering crowd Of nurses and of porters all around. And I felt a sense of wrong From the carping of the throng. For the students they were thick upon the ground ; And one said, “ Give him beer. Just his dying thoughts to cheer ; ” And some said, “ Give him brandy,” “ Give him gin ; But I turned him upside down, His awful groans to drown. And pricked him well all over with a pin. The Warden standing by Tried the reflex of his eye. And he said, ” It’s no good doing any more ; I much object to force, But as a last resource. We’ll roll him sideways up and down the floor.” S3