The Hive, or, Mental gatherings.

Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Hive, or, Mental gatherings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    US A FRAGMENT. DY SIR FBAHCIS B. HEAD, BABT. Ieeland, 1827. Coming down the steep-paved street, I saw, at some little distance before me, several people dressed in dingy- black, standing on each side of a house door j which was open. A small group of idle, gossiping old women were watching the individuals who went into and came out of this house; and, as it was evident that some ceremony was going forward, in a whisper I asked an old woman who was standing near me whether it would give offence if, as a stranger, I were to enter. And sure they would be plased to see ye, replied the woman. But what is there to be seen ? said I. She answered, Nothing but a young man who has just died of the dropsy. Sure, she added, he was tapped on Monday, and Dr. took from him sixteen quarts and a pint (new measure), but 'twas no service to him at all, poor man. Without listening to any more I advanced towards the door, and walking along a narrow passage, I turned to my right and entered a large room. I slowly seated myself in an old chair which was at the foot of a bed, upon which the corpse was lying in a common wooden coffin, the lid of which rested against the side.