Behind the Surgeon's Mask [antikvár]

FOREWORD The learned Counsel looked at me over his glasses and said pompously : " The girl was a ward in Chancery, so naturally I asked Mr. Provis-the surgeon who had been called in-to explain to my satisfaction how he had arrived at his diagnosis and exactly what he proposed doing." I looked at my large rubicund friend. " And what did Provis answer ? " I said, with an inward chuckle, knowing Provis. " Oh, he didn't seem able to explain at all," he replied. " He lost himself in technicalities and was quite annoyed when I could not understand. Why are you fellows so difficult to follow ? Why do you use such obscure language ? Why can't you explain things simply ? " he added querulously. Thinking of the incomprehensible jargon of the law, I had to smile at this. But I could see his point. The girl was in his legal care ; the surgeon proposed doing a dangerous operádon ; and he wanted to understand what it was all about. My mind switched over to Provis, a man with the most beautiful operating hands, and immense knowledge and experience, but a poor lecturer, a man with a halting flow of words. And I contrasted him mentally with my learned friend, bursting with eloquence but ignorant of the elements of medical vii