"I watched you from the moment of the first incision until the last artery was tied, and a truer hand I never saw." "Thank God that the stimulus which I had to substitute for nervous power held out as long as it did.

If it had failed a few moments sooner, I might have--" Doctor Hillhouse checked himself and gave another little shudder.
"Do you know, doctor," he said, after a pause speaking in a low, half-confidential tone and with great seriousness of manner, "when I severed that small artery as I was cutting close to the internal jugular vein and the jet of blood hid both the knife-points and the surrounding tissues, that for an instant I was in mental darkness and that I did not know whether I should cut to the right or to the left?
If in that moment of darkness I had cut to the right, my instrument would have penetrated the jugular vein." It was several moments before either of the surgeons spoke again.

There was a look something like fear in both their faces.
"It is the last time," said Doctor Hillhouse, breaking at length the silence and speaking with unwonted emphasis, "that a drop of wine or brandy shall pass my lips within forty-eight hours of any operation." "I am not so sure that you will help as much as hurt by this abstinence," replied Doctor Kline.

"If you are in the habit of using wine daily, I should say keep to your regular quantity.

Any change will be a disturbance and break the fine nervous tension that is required.
It is easy to account for your condition to-day.