“If it is the rule of this hospital to be discharged by the doctor, then I want to see you. Outside of that I do not need you.”
“Are you preparing to leave here?”
“I am. Why should I remain here? I am not sick.”
“You are not able to leave. I see that you are in a very dangerous condition.”
“Tell me why you say and think so.”
“I am going to say to you that I have seen many such cases as yours—delirious. They do not feel ill and know not what is wrong, and think they are in the very best of health. I will take your temperature.”
“One moment, please—”
“Temperature 104. You are a very sick man. You must remain in this ward.”
“I must save the accused prisoner. He did not hurt me. I distinctly remember that I was saying to him, ‘Be careful!’ and he was not even looking toward me.”
“Well, sir, I fear that you do not understand. I have been attending some of our officials who have been hurt very badly by the same prisoner, and we have him in the mad-house, very dangerously injured by the officer who found them a few minutes after the act had been committed, just as you were found, and he pleaded innocent, just as he did in your case.”