in upon my backbone, they raised and then
dumped me into the tub of ice-water below. I had always considered
myself invulnerable to bodily pain, and from early youth had schooled
myself against outward manifestation of suffering, no matter what the
circumstances might be, but on this occasion the power of resistance
deserted me entirely and I gave vent to a howl, of rage like the
bellowing of a maddened bull, and partly arising, endeavored to clutch
the throat of the unfeeling beast at my head, but too weak to accomplish
my purpose I fell back into the tub exhausted. At the same time the
orderly took hold of my own throat and almost strangling me, beat my
head against the tub several times cursing me under his breath in the
vilest of language at the same time.

"Look out you don't kill him," cautioned the other orderly at the foot
of the tub, "or we might have to go through another of those damned
investigations."

Just then the doctor and nurse came within the inclosure, and inquired
as to the cause of the commotion.

"This damned idiot has broken loose again, and I am teaching him how to
behave himself," replied the orderly.

"Well, he certainly needs a lesson in good behavior," chimed in the
nurse; "I cannot understand why he has not been sent over to the Island
for more strenuous treatment long ago."

"Why don't you do as told?" inquired the be-whiskered Dr. Savage, in a
harsh tone of voice, as he approached close to me, but I was too weak
and exhausted to answer, and merely looked from one to the other with
the utmost feeling of contempt. After censuring me sternly and advising
me to behave myself in the future, the doctor strolled away as if such
incidents were of trifling importance.

I was kept in that tub of ice-water, freezing, for fifteen minutes,
while the nurse and orderlies lazily rubbed my arms, legs, and trunk,
and poured pitcher after pitcher of ice-water over my head, in an effort
to reduce the fever. It was a barbarous method of treatment, and seemed
of several hours' duration, but it allayed that intense burning
sensation, and put new life and vigor into me. As they were about to
transfer me back to the bed again, I quietly informed the nurse that my
back was in a terrible condition, and requested that the orderlies be
instructed to handle me a little more carefully, and to take hold of my
body instead of my head and feet when lifting me up, so that the strain
would be less on the middle of my