Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/303

 being that I did not see him for about a couple of hours. Just before reaching Zurich about 6.30 a.m. my valet came to tell me that Sir Henniker had violent pains in his stomach and that Sir Benjamin Franklin (a distinguished retired Surgeon-General) was looking after him. I immediately went to him and found him in great agony. On arrival at Zurich we telegraphed to Berne (the next place we stopped at) for a doctor to bring some morphia and other remedies down to the station; at Berne the doctor appeared, but before anything could be done the train was hurried off, and the doctor had to jump down when the train was moving and all he could do was to give me the address of a doctor at Geneva. He was somewhat easier between Berne and Geneva and I was in hopes that the gastric symptoms were improving. Within 5 minutes of his arrival at Geneva station he was in this hotel, and in another five minutes (before he had time to undress) he was in the doctor’s hands; this doctor, who could not speak English, informed me that he was suffering from an acute gastric attack and he prescribed accordingly. Some two hours afterwards my valet came to tell me that Sir Henniker was not feeling any relief and that he insisted upon having a doctor who could speak English. Sir Benjamin Franklin and I decided to call in a Professor Major who was strongly recommended to us. By the time he arrived your poor husband was practically unable to answer any questions, and Professor Major admitted that under the circumstances he could make no attempt to diagnose the case. A few hours later, Mrs Barton, an English lady living at Geneva, whom I have known for many years, came to see me and strongly recommended that a Professor Girard, whom she described as by far the cleverest medical man in Switzerland, should be sent for; and I have ascertained since beyond