Authors: Judith Mccoy; Miller
“Stick around a little longer. At least until I get a good look at this gentleman. I may need some help. Besides, I think they can do without you a little longer,” she responded, knowing that wasn’t the answer they wanted to hear.
It didn’t take more than a quick glance to know she was going to need help. “Put some water on to boil, and if there’s no water, melt some snow, lots of it. I’m going to need all of you to help in just a little while, so don’t take off,” she ordered, taking command of the situation.
Coming back toward the patient, she noted the pain reflected in his dark brown eyes. His lips were in a tight, straight line, which made them almost nonexistent, and he had turned ashen gray. As Tessie surveyed the situation, she was grateful to see that someone had placed a makeshift tourniquet around the upper leg to stop any excessive bleeding. It had done the job. A brief hand to his forehead proved there was little or no fever.
“I’m Dr. Wilshire, and hopefully, we’re going to have you fixed up in a short while,” she said, giving him her best smile.
“I’d be thankful if you could do that,” he responded through clenched teeth, watching as she walked toward the stove at the end of the room.
Quickly, she surveyed the men and, finding the most muscular appearing of the group, quietly inquired, “Have you got a strong stomach, or are you given to fainting at the sight of blood and pain?”
“I can hold out with the best of ’em,” he stated proudly, not sure what he was getting himself into.
“Ever seen your wife give birth or helped set a bone? Ever watched while someone had a cut sewn up?” she fired at him.
“Been there to help when all my young ‘uns was born—my wife does the hard part. I just pray and help the babe along when it gets time. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen much else, but I grew up on the farm and helped with the sick animals a lot,” he answered, not sure what she was wanting him to do.
“Have you ever fainted?” she asked, beginning to scrub her hands and arms in the hot water.
“No, ma’am. Ain’t never fainted.”
“Good. Scrub yourself,” she commanded.
“Excuse me, ma’am, did you say scrub?”
“That’s right. Get a bucket of that hot water and begin scrubbing. Watch how I do it. I want your hands clean as the day you were born, so you’d better get busy. By the way, what’s your name?” she asked, giving him a quick smile.
“It’s Alexander Thurston. Call me Alex,” he responded.
“Pleased to meet you, Alex, and I appreciate your willingness to become my assistant,” she replied, grinning at the look of dismay that passed across the man’s face at that remark.
“As soon as we get through washing, I want you other men to throw out the water and pour some for yourselves. Each one of you scrub yourselves the same way we have. Make sure you take your time and get good and clean,” she ordered.
None of them even thought to defy her command, each nodding in agreement as though it was commonplace for this young woman doctor to give them directives. They stood staring after her as she turned and walked back to the grimacing man on the floor.
Pulling one of the sterilized and carefully wrapped packets from her bag, Tessie produced a pair of scissors and began cutting away the remainder of the pant leg at an unwieldy angle to his body. Nerves, bone, skin, and other debris protruded from the wound, banishing Tessie’s hope the repair would be easy.
“I need to clean the wound; then we’ll begin to get you put back together,” Tessie told the man.
“I don’t believe anybody here knows your name. You feel up to talking just a little?” she asked, hoping to keep his mind otherwise occupied while she probed the gash.
“Name’s Edward Buford. I’m here visiting from England. My sister lives in Chicago, and I had been there to visit with her. Thought I’d see a bit more of the country before returning home,” he told her, attempting to keep from yelping in pain as she carefully continued cleaning the leg.
“I thought I detected an English accent earlier,” she remarked. “I am sorry you’ve met with an accident in our country. Especially at a time when you were acting as a goodwill ambassador, helping put out the fire,” she continued. “How did this happen? The men tell me you were at the end of the line, and apparently no one saw the accident occur.”
“It was a bizarre accident. A runaway team of horses pulling a loaded wagon went out of control and was headed right for me. I tried to jump out of the way and twisted my leg as I fell,” he began.
“That couldn’t have caused an injury this severe,” she interrupted.
“No. I was unable to move quickly enough, and the wagon ran over my leg. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the horses reared, which caused the wagon to tip over. I was fortunate enough to have the wagon land elsewhere, but a large barrel landed on top of my injured leg. That would account for any cornmeal you may find hidden away in that leg,” he advised, trying to make light of his condition.
“I appreciate that bit of information, Mr. Buford,” she responded with a smile. “I’m going to wash out the wound. The water may be a little warm, but we need to get this leg cleansed.
“Alex, I’d appreciate it if you would keep the basin emptied and bring me hot water as needed,” she instructed, noting the fact that the recently initiated assistant seemed to be bearing up throughout the ministrations thus far.
Tessie repeatedly poured hot water over the wound, irrigating it into a basin positioned beneath the leg, with Alex assisting her as they turned Mr. Buford to permit access from all angles. Her patient’s lips once again formed a tight line, and his eyes closed securely with each new movement or the rush of water. A low groan emitted when she gave a final dousing of the area with iodine.
Looking toward the three men who had been busy scrubbing themselves, she noted all of them, with the exception of one, seemed up to the job at hand. Gathering them around, she dismissed the young man who looked as though he would pass out at any moment and explained to the remainder how she was going to pull the bone back into Mr. Buford’s leg and then position it to join together. They needed to retract the bone far enough to ease it into position, which would require all of them working together. Carefully, she explained where each of them should stand and exactly what they were to do when she issued the orders, making them individually repeat the instructions and wanting to feel assured that each knew his duty.
Returning to Mr. Buford, she leaned over him and took his hand. “Sir, I need to set your leg. Since it will be a rather painful procedure, unless you object, I am going to give you some anesthetic to knock you out for a short period of time,” she explained.
“Dr. Wilshire, had I known you had ether with you, I would have requested it an hour ago and foregone the pain of your cleansing my wound,” he said, giving her a weak smile.
“I take that to mean that we may proceed, Mr. Buford.”
“As quickly as possible, my dear woman, and feel free to knock me out for more than just a few minutes,” he replied as she placed a pad with the drops of ether over his nose.
“Quickly, gentlemen—let’s take our positions and get to work,” she called out as soon as the anesthetic had taken effect.
Uttering a fleeting prayer that God would guide them, Tessie called out the orders, “Pull, twist right, relax, pull, twist left, relax.” Finally, they had the leg aligned to her exacting specifications and sat watching while she carefully sewed the wound—with the exception of Alex. He continued to anticipate her needs and fetch items until she completed the operation.
“You’ve been a very able assistant, Alex. I appreciate all you’ve done to help, and if ever there’s anything I can do for you or your family, I hope you’ll call upon me.”
“Was my pleasure, ma’am. Wait ‘til I tell the missus I helped with a real operation. She’ll never believe it.”
“Well, if she doesn’t, you have her come and see me the next time she’s in town, and I’ll tell her just what a wonderful job you did,” she assured him.
Just as Mr. Buford was beginning to regain consciousness, Charlie walked into the station. “We’ve finally got the fire out,” he announced, taking in the scene of men with rolled-up sleeves who were gathered around Tessie and her patient.
“How are things going in here?” he inquired.
“We’re making progress,” she answered. “Mr. Buford’s leg has been set, and as soon as we get some splints on it, I believe we’ll be finished.”
“I’ll take care of that, Doc. I know where there’s some pieces of wood that would work real good,” responded one of the men who had assisted in setting the leg.
“Thank you,” she called after the disappearing young man. “You look as though you could use a basin of water and a little rest yourself, Charlie.”
“That’s an understatement,” he confided, settling onto one of the wooden benches close at hand. “Tell me about your patient,” he requested, indicating the groggy form of Mr. Buford.
Sitting down beside him, she wrung out a clean cloth in the basin of water Alex had brought to her. Reaching toward him, she sponged the soot and ash off his face and dipped the cloth back into the water once again and began rinsing.
“Thought I’d better get a few layers of that soot off and make sure it was really you I was talking to,” she joked. “My patient is Edward Buford. He’s here visiting from England. He tells me he had been to Chicago visiting his sister and, before departing, decided to see a little more of America. I gather he knows no one in the area. Since he must stay off that leg, I’ll need to find some accommodations for him.”
“I think Mr. Vance would agree the railroad should provide him a room at the Harvey House since he was helping with the fire. I’ll see if I can get one on the first floor. Otherwise, I’ll make other arrangements,” he assured her.
“Will these work for splints, Doc?” the young man inquired, walking through the front door, proud of his find.
“Those will be wonderful.” She beamed at him. “Bring them over, and we’ll finish this job.”
“I’ll go check about a room at the Harvey House while you finish,” Charlie told her.
“Good,” she replied and moved toward her patient. “Alex, give us a hand, would you?” Together they placed the wooden splints on either side of the leg and bound them in place.
“That’s about all we can do,” she told the men. “I’d appreciate it if several of you would remain to help move Mr. Buford. Charlie should be back shortly,” she advised.
Checking his vital signs, she was pleased to find they were normal. “Mr. Buford, I’m afraid you’re going to be required to remain in our fair city for a period of time. I’m hopeful you’ll walk without a limp if you follow instructions and remain off the leg as long as I deem necessary,” she told him, not sure what his reactions would be to this change of plans.
“After you’ve worked so diligently to make me whole again, how could I fail to follow your prescribed instructions?” he asked, a woozy smile on his face.
“Everything’s arranged at the Harvey House,” Charlie announced, coming through the front door of the station. “I’ve explained he’s had an injury, and they’re expecting him.”
“Thank you, Charlie. Men, if you’d carefully lift Mr. Buford onto one of the benches, I believe we can carry him over to the Harvey House,” she instructed.
“Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll carry him as if he were a babe,” Alex assured her as they gently lifted Mr. Buford onto the bench. “You just walk alongside and give a holler if we’re doing anything to cause him pain,” he instructed the young doctor.
Upon their arrival at the Harvey House, the entourage was met by Mrs. Winter. Resembling a drum major in a Fourth of July parade, she led the procession down the hall to the designated room. Tessie stood back and allowed the matron to remain in charge until it was time to move Mr. Buford onto the bed. Mrs. Winter’s cheeks visibly colored at the praise Tessie heaped upon her.
“I believe you’ve won Mrs. Winter’s allegiance,” Charlie whispered to Tessie as the men carefully placed Mr. Buford on the bed.
“That was my intent. I want my patient to receive excellent care while he’s residing here. The best way to ensure that is through Mrs. Winter. Don’t you agree?” she whispered back.
Charlie leaned his head back and laughed delightedly at her response.
“Mr. Banion! You’re going to have to keep your voice down if you want to remain in this room. Just think what damage could have occurred if your rowdiness startled Mr. Buford and caused him to twist that leg,” Mrs. Winter reprimanded, with hands on hips and eyes shooting looks of disapproval.
“Yes, ma’am,” Charlie replied, giving her a salute while backing from the room and trying to keep from doubling over in laughter. “I’ll meet you outside,” Charlie loudly whispered to Tessie, peeking his head around the doorjamb and then quickly receding when Mrs. Winter started toward him.
“Thank you all for your able assistance. Now, if I could have a few moments alone with my patient, I believe he’ll soon be ready for a good night of sleep,” Tessie said to the gathered assistants.
As they filed out of the room, Tessie stopped Mrs. Winter. “I’d appreciate it if you’d remain, Mrs. Winter. Since you’ll be in charge of the day-to-day care of Mr. Buford, I’d like you to hear my instructions.” Mrs. Winter once again took on the cloak of self-importance as she ushered the delegation from the room and then returned to Mr. Buford’s bedside, hands folded in front of her, prepared for instruction.
“You’ll be pleased to know, Dr. Wilshire, that I’ve had previous experience nursing the infirm,” Mrs. Winter offered.
“That does please me,” Tessie responded, smiling at the woman and then her patient. “Mr. Buford is visiting from England, and I am hopeful that we can show him not only the best of medical care but the fine hospitality of our country while he’s required to be bedfast. Mr. Banion located his trunk, and I feel certain he has all necessary items with him. Mr. Banion has requested that if Mr. Buford needs anything, the purchases be placed on his bill and presented to the railroad,” she explained.
“I’m hopeful there is a strong young man working for you who is able to follow instructions and can assist Mr. Buford daily with bathing and dressing. With his leg splinted, it will present some special problems, and I certainly don’t want him to bear weight on that leg for a period of time,” Tessie continued.