1 33
2 of his lameness. Thus the mystery of this case was solved, my
3 fame was established, and the Arab surgeons, or more properly
4 barbers, were cast into the shade.
5 Pasha Dohud was at this time waging war with the Arabs,
6 between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and I was sent, at
7 the request of the minister, to Hilla, where I had the op-
8 portunity of seeing the ruins of ancient Babylon. On the
9 road, between Bagdad and the camp, I beheld a horrid
10 spectacle, namely, a pyramid of some hundreds of the heads of
11 Arab rebels. I had only followed the expedition from Hilla
12 to Sugeshuck (Schuka-Shu), when the Pasha ordered me, by
13 a Tartar express, to return to Bagdad. The same messenger
14 brought me a letter from my companion, from which I learned
15 that a princess of the Pasha’s had been delivered of a deformed
16 child, where indeed no surgical assistance was required, but
17 he had seized the opportunity to send for me, under the pretext
18 of consulting me about the state of the patient ; while his real
19 motive was, to draw me out of my disagreeable situation. I
20 wrote to him, stating that in this campaign we were feeding on
21 sand rather than on bread, which made such an impression on his
22 feelings that he caused me to be recalled. On my return, I had
23 only the Tartar and one servant with me. By the Pasha’s orders,
24 we made forced marches, changed horses, crossed the Tigris, and
25 arrived one evening very late at a small town named Mumilla,
26 situated on the left bank of that river. There I met with the
27 inspector of the provisions for the army, who was afflicted with
28 an inflammation of the eyes, and requested my medical assist-
29 ance. I bled him, and prepared a colly rium of acetate of
30 lead, laud. liqu. Sydenh., camphor, and mucilage of quince-
31 seeds, which caused a burning pain at the commencement, but
32 effected in the meanwhile a visible amelioration. In his joy for
33 the happy result, he ordered a sheep to be killed as an offering
34 (kurban), and accompanied the feast with musicians and dancers,
35 and he made me a present of fifty piastres in small Para pieces.
36 Fatigued as we were, we wished rather to rest ourselves, than to
37 be amused, and accordingly dismissed the assembled people, a
38 proceeding which we thought excusable, and then continued