my neighbors had struck his axe into the upper part of his foot,
and cut it nearly through. Happening to be at home when the accident
occurred, which was in my own immediate neighborhood, I was soon on the
spot, and ready to afford assistance; and, as good luck would have it,
the man was not at all weakened by loss of blood, at my arrival.

My lesson from an old surgeon[D] was not yet forgotten. I still knew, as
well as any one could have told me, that to put together the divided
edges of the wound and keep them there, was half the cure. But how was
this to be done? Slips of adhesion plaster would bring the divided edges
of the wounded surface into their place, but would the deeper-seated and
more tendinous parts unite while left without touching each other? Or
should a few stitches be taken?

The wound was lengthwise of the foot, and no tendons were divided. I
made up my mind to dress it without any sewing, and acted accordingly.
The bleeding soon ceased. When all was secured, the patient inquired
what he should put on it, to cure it. Had he not raised the question, I
might, perhaps, have followed out my own ultra tendencies, and left it
without any application at all; but as it was, I concluded to order
something on which he might fasten his faith,--something which, though
it should do no good, would do no harm.

"Nothing is better for a fresh wound," I said, "than the 'Balsam of
Life.' Just send Thomas over to Mr. Ludlow's, and get a couple of ounces
of his 'Balsam of Life.'" It was soon brought, and the surface of the
wound and its bandages moistened with it. "Now," said I, "keep your foot
as still as you can till I see you again. I will be in again before I go
to bed."

I called again at nine o'clock in the evening. All appeared well, only
the patient had some doubts whether the Balsam of Life was just the
right thing. Several of the neighbors had been in, as he said, and,
though they admitted that the Balsam might be very good, they knew, or
thought they knew, of something better. However, I succeeded in quieting
most of his rising fears for the present, by assuring him that nothing
in the wide world was equal, for its healing virtues, to the "Balsam."
My voice here was law, for _I gave no reasons_!

On making inquiry, afterward, with a view chiefly to gratify
curiosity,[E] I found that the first individual who came in after I had
left the house, assured them there was nothing so good for a fresh wound
as a p