Chapter 26:

︻一

Never Again

︻一

I desperately wanted to have this chapter to you in time for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place last Sunday, April 9th, 2017. It's a bit late. But we will remember them.

The Canadian Corps, which included soldiers from all over Canada, fought united for the first time at the four day Battle of Vimy. The ridge was a major objective in the offensive, but other allied armies had been unable to take it. Canada did. Our soldiers won the battle, but at great cost. 3598 men died and 7000 more were wounded. It was the single bloodiest battle in Canadian history.

It marked the birth of Canada as a distinct nation and a legacy of Canada becoming a nation dedicated to peace. One might say the soul of Canada emerged at Vimy Ridge.

God bless all those who put the welfare of others above their own lives. This past Sunday, thousands of Canadians, French, and international leaders gathered at the Monument in Vimy, where a pair of black combat boots was placed on the ground to represent every fallen soldier.

"Those spires stand for peace and for freedom," Gov. Gen. David Johnston said, indicating the white towers of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial behind him.

"They stand for justice and hope. And they remind us that one cannot exist without the other. Without freedom, there can be no peace. Because freedom without peace is agony, and peace without freedom is slavery."

︻┳═一

Thursday, October 11, cont'd

︻┳═一

Mama Biggins hurried to the back of the house. "I'll light the fire. It will take a while to warm their room."

Isobel turned to Eddie. "Em should haff a hot seaweed bath.i Best thing for him."

"I'll walk down to the beach and see if I can find some." Eddie whistled for Private Barker. There was no excited clicking of nails upon the floor. "Oh, damn."

"We left him at the hospital," Isobel said blankly. Eddie shook his head.

"He'll be fine there. The boys will look after him until I can fetch him home tomorrow."

"He'll probably eat better there than he will here."

"Pardon my interruption," Jasper said, "but Cap is rather heavy."

"Put him on the settee in the parlour," Papa Biggins ordered.

"Not to be indelicate, sir, but I don't wish to ruin Mama's upholstery."

"Ah, good thinking. I'll fetch an old quilt to put under him."

"Okay."

Papa Biggins left their group to find one.

"I'll go get the seaweed," Eddie said, handing Isobel the sack of prescriptions and the bundle of paperwork.

"Are ye sure ye'll be okay on yer own?" Isobel asked. "Ye've left your cane behind, as well."

"I'll walk down to the pub and conscript a boy into service."

"Grand."

Jasper carried his captain into the sitting room and lowered him from his shoulders while Isobel pulled an armchair closer to the fire and placed a quilt upon it. Jasper sat in it and held Emmett on his lap. Emmett appeared frighteningly waxy.

"What did they use to sedate him, do ye ken?" Isobel asked.

"Chloroform."ii

She straightened abruptly and the muscles on her ribs clutched and stabbed. "Chloroform? He shouldnae still be out. Are ye certain?"

"Yes. He vomited when they held the rag over his face."

"Thank God he didnae choke." Isobel took Emmett's face in her hands. He had red marks around his lips. The drug could be terribly caustic. She checked his pulse and found it steady. His eyes were rolled back in his head. "Chloroform can be hard on the heart. It wasnae a good thing tae use on him."

"Oh, no."

She peeled back Emmett's lips. The colour of his gums was good. "He seems fine but it's verra odd he's unconscious." Sitting down, she pushed a lock of her hair back under its pin. "They took a risk by giving him that much. It's a wonder they spared it."

"They didn't want him to find a way to top himself." Jasper watched Emmett intently. "I don't know what I'll do if he goes west."

"He'll be all right once he knows he isnae going back tae war."

"I hope so. He looks awful."

"Nothing a good dose of freedom willnae cure."

"Agreed."

Isobel opened the sack and withdrew three small tins of pills. Two had her name on them, and the other was for Emmett. She sighed.

"Well, I willnae be taking this one."

"What'd Harris give you?"

"The aspirin's all right, but the other tin contains diamorphine lozenges."

"You'd be okay to use them for a couple of days, just to take the worst of the pain off, wouldn't you?"

"I'm nae going tae count on that. I've seen many men become addicted after the first dose."

"Hm. So you don't take morphine or heroin when you're ill?"

Isobel shook her head. "My mam had faith in the auld folk remedies, nae medicinal cures. For some infections, such as consumption and tuberculosis, they're necessary, and we definitely are thankful for morphine, heroin and cocaine in base hospitals, but for everyday use? I'd recommend avoiding any drug that contains them." She placed the aspirin in the pocket of her skirt and placed the heroin tablets back in the bag. Eddie could return the tin to Dr. Harris the next time he saw him. She picked up Emmett's prescription and read the label.

"Well, here's a happy surprise."

"What's that?" Jasper asked.

"I was afraid Harris would prescribe morphine for Emmett, but he's quite the modern doctor. He's given him potassium bromine."

"That's used for epileptics, isn't it?"

"Bravo. It's a useful sedative that's distilled from seaweed, actually. I was worried I'd haff tae distill mae own. It's much safer than morphine although it still has a few side effects Em won't like."

"Like what?"

"It may make him care about things less. He willnae be so emotional."

"That sounds pretty good right now. Can I have some?"

"He'll be impotent."

"Permanently?" Jasper yelped.

"No, just while he's on it."

Jasper's shoulders sagged. "Oh." He cleared his throat and glanced at her and away. "I don't want any after all."

She hid her smile. "I'll bet. Hopefully, Emmett willnae haff tae be on it verra long."

It wasn't long before they heard Eddie's voice in the front hall, followed by a small child's high-pitched, enthusiastic, "Thanks, gov!" Isobel rose from her seat and hurried into the hall.

Eddie handed her a flour sack full of seaweed. "It's dry. I hope that's okay. I didn't want to get water all over Mama Biggins's floors."

"That was a good thought. It will easily be wet again." She stuck her head into the parlour. "Jasper, I'll run the tub for Emmett now. Bring him up in ten minutes, please."

"Yes, ma'am."

Isobel washed the seaweed in the sink as she waited for the tub to fill. A bath sounded divine but she didn't want to impose on Mama Biggins's water bill. Besides, she'd have to wear her corset and water would damage it. And speaking of damage, she had a responsibility to change out of her tartan skirt before her husband developed any more hives. Exiting the lavatory, she nearly bumped into Mama Biggins.

"Papa and I have made up the beds."

"Thank ye sae much. Would ye mind helping me out of mae skirt?"

"Not at all, my dear. You should put on your nightgown."

Isobel held open the door to her lodgings so Mama Biggins might enter. Eddie was resting in his chair by the window, enjoying one of his Rothman's. "No, I'll be needing tae tend Emmett," she answered.

"I can do that," Mama Biggins said. "And I imagine Jasper and Eddie…"

"Ye'll all be a great help. But I'll haff tae examine Emmett and tell ye what to look for."

"Bella." Eddie flicked ash into his tin, then took another long draw. "Emmett has burns everywhere. That dreadful doctor. I think he was running experiments on him. When we removed Cap from the electroshock machine, he had pinch clips with wires attached to his masculine parts."

Isobel leaned against the foot of the bed for support. "The barbarian!"

"Indeed." Eddie turned his body to face the window, crossed his legs and closed his eyes.

"Were there marks on him, Eddie?" Pushing upright, she indicated the ties and buttons on the skirt that Mama Biggins should undo.

"Yes. I hate to say it, but you're going to have to examine him."

"Gracious," Mama Biggins murmured.

"Ye willnae mind?"

"Of course not." Eddie took another cigarette from his box and lit it from the stub of his first. "You're a nurse, Bella. I know it doesn't mean anything. But he won't like it. Jasper won't either."

She turned to Mama Biggins. "I'm wearing three petticoats but I only need one."

"Of course, dearie. Just let me get my old fingers in the knot. Ah, there we go."

Isobel's extra layers swished to the floor. She stepped aside so Mama Biggins could pick them up. "Perhaps ye can supervise from the doorway, Eddie. I'll examine Emmett while he's in the bath. Hopefully, it won't wake him." She pulled her uniform skirt from its hanger.

"Will you have to use iodine?" Eddie asked bleakly.

"I sincerely hope not."

"Yeah."

With Mama Biggins's help, Isobel managed to get her uniform skirt wrapped around her and tied. She retrieved an apron from the drawer and pinned it to her bosom while Mama Biggins tied the bow in back. Then she marched to the lavatory to turn off the water and drop the seaweed into the tub to stew.

A few moments later, Jasper carried Emmett through the doorway, wrapped in a bath sheet. "I undressed him before I brought him up, so if you will excuse us, Missus …"

"I'll go out while ye put him in the bath, but I maun examine him, Jasper."

"That's not appropriate."

Isobel hummed a laugh. "That's what Eddie told me before I examined him."

"And you ended up married." He managed to scowl, which would have been frightening with his disfigurement had she not known him to be such a pussycat.

She laughed aloud then. "Being married isnae the end of the world!"

"Oh, so you're going to marry Cap, too?"

"Aren't ye the funny one! That was hardly the reason we married. I have tended thousands of men, mae dear. Eddie's the only one that made me swoon."

"Swell." Jasper rolled his eyes. "You may as well help me with Cap, then."

"Excellent. Thank ye for being reasonable." Isobel helped to unwind Emmett from the sheet and Jasper lowered him into the murky tub. "I'll hold his head steady while ye wash him," she said, the occasional chuckle still escaping her.

Jasper procured a clean washrag from the cupboard and knelt beside the tub while Isobel kept Emmett's head above water.

"Eddie was right," she murmured, falling sober. "Thon doctor burned him all over. The welts are healing but they're apt to scar. Bastard."

"I know." He held Emmett up while Isobel washed his hair, then she took his place while he gave the captain a good scrub all over. Then, heedless of his own clothing, Jasper hoisted Emmett out of the water, leaving both of them soaked. Isobel wrapped Emmett in the bath sheet. Eddie appeared in the doorway.

"How is he?"

"He's lucky to be here. Dreadful Doctor Morton's made a right mess of him."

"Did you look at his Johnson?"

"Well," she glanced at Jasper. "Not yet."

"Ensure you do."

Eddie's directive cut down Isobel's distress substantially. Jasper wouldn't be able to argue with his order. "O' course."

Jasper carried Emmett down to their room. Emmett didn't stir at all when Jasper placed him on his bed, which concerned Isobel greatly. She waited by the fire while the ensign dried him, dressed him in a nightshirt, and tucked him under the covers.

"Well," he said, scratching his nose, "I guess if you're going to look at him, this is a good time."

Isobel expertly turned back the covers and lifted Emmett's nightshirt. She gasped, placing her hand against her mouth. "The poor mon. The poor, poor mon."

Jasper peered over her shoulder, his long hair tickling her ear. "Is that a blister?"

"Yes, it's a second degree burn, and that horrible doctor has torn his frenulum. See here?" She manipulated his foreskin but was careful not to retract it. "It's a verra bad tear. The pain must have been tremendous. I'm glad now that Harris put him on the potassium bromine."

Jasper began to speak and stopped himself. Isobel turned her head to look at him, then, turned her face circumspectly away. "It's all right tae ask me questions, Ensign."

"W-why would the doctor do that to him?"

"Some doctors are mad to know how bodies work. It's a known fact that electrical stimulation can cause erections but we dinnae ken why. Perhaps Morton's one of thon types. Or perhaps he was trying tae prove tae Em that he's still virile, in hopes he would be inspired to get strong again. I dinnae ken, but it's a good thing Dr. Dreadful isnae here and that I dinnae haff Eddie's gun, because if I had one right now I'd blast the bastard a spare orifice."

Eddie, who'd just come through the doorway, snorted. "Threatening violence to the establishment again, Bella?"

"Ye were right, Eddie. Cap has burns on his …"

"Masculine parts?"

"Yes. And his foreskin is badly torn."

Eddie winced. "Are you going to BIPP it?"

Isobel considered the options. "I'm afraid that might create scars that could stiffen the tissue so it wouldnae retract. And then he would haff tae be circumcised."

Jasper swore under his breath and Eddie sucked air through his teeth.

"An outcome heartily tae be avoided. I think it would be best tae try lanolin," Isobel said. "It's wonderful for healing but it will also keep the skin soft. I shall ask Mama Biggins if she has any." A brief trip to the kitchen yielded the desired result. Isobel returned to the men, holding up a small jar of lanolin as if it were a prize.

"Yes, she had it. Now, Jasper, come and see how to apply it, for ye will be instructing Emmett next time."

Jasper held up his hands. "No way. I'm not touching Cap there."

Isobel blinked at him. "Well, Eddie cannae do it."

Eddie crossed his arms and took a step back. "Keep the sheep oil away from me or I'm outta here."

Isobel looked up at Jasper expectantly. "If I do it, I'll get lanolin in mae skin and I willnae be able tae touch mae husband without giving him a horrible rash. Unless ye want Mama Biggins tae do it, this one's on you, Jasper."

"Aw, nuts." Jasper smacked his hands down on his thighs. "Cap will top me if he finds out about this. What do I have to do?"

"Just take a wee dab and smear it around. That's the ticket.iii He should apply it several times a day until this heals. And I think we'd best leave him exposed to the air."

"But Mother Biggins may come in!"

Isobel touched her finger to her lip and Jasper closed his mouth, but he was right. Mama Biggins was a prim old lady and if she accidentally got an eyeful of Emmett, they'd both be mortified. "I'll tell ye what. We'll make a bolster out of a couple of these cushions, and place one to the outside of each of his hips tae hold the sheet off him. But the air maun get through, or it willnae heal."

"Yes, ma'am!" They busied themselves with their work and when Emmett was nicely settled, Isobel went to the kitchen to brew a pot of tea. The doorbell rang and she heard cheerful voices in the hall. Then, Private Barker chased Tiggywinkle right under Isobel's skirts.

"Ten, hut!" She snapped, and decided it prudent to set down Mother Biggins's glorious Chintz teapot. Private Barker dutifully sat, tail wagging. He was soaking wet and muddy. With a loud hiss, Tiggywinkle flounced away, her small, pale nose in the air. "All right, then, at ease." Private Barker yapped and bounced and wriggled all over. "How did ye get home, then, ye wee beastie?" Isobel grabbed a rag and rubbed him dry.

Eddie stuck his head through the kitchen door. "Doctor Harris and Katy are here. They want to talk to all of us."

"Should I bring the tea?"

"That would be nice. It's gone cold and wet outside."

Isobel reached the large Brown Betty down off its shelf, rinsed it, filled it from the kettle and added the tea ball. She prepared enough cups for all of them and crumbled some shortbread on the tray. Lifting it pained her dreadfully but one had to soldier on. As she approached the kitchen door, Papa Biggins came out of his study and hastened to take it from her.

"You shouldn't be working so hard, girlie."

"Thank ye," she said, holding her side. "I'll bring the tea." She pulled up the tea ball and set both pots on a silver tray, but just as she went to lift it, Jasper appeared.

"Bella! You shouldn't be working so hard." He yanked the tray from under her nose and marched for the sitting room.

"I think I may be hearing a lot of that for the next while," she said to the ceiling. "God help me." With a slight chuckle, she followed Jasper.

Katy and Harris, being the wettest, had been afforded the seats closest to the fire. Eddie and Jasper sat together on the piano bench and Mama and Papa Biggins took the horsehair sofa, leaving one of the two Queen Anne chairs for Isobel. Mama Biggins poured the tea and passed it out in her fine china mugs.

"Oh, that's lovely." Harris blew on his tea while using the cup to warm his fingers. Katy cuddled her cup, looking around the room as if she'd never seen anything so fine. "Thank you, ladies."

"You're most welcome, I'm sure," Mama Biggins said.

"Hello, Nurse. How is McCarty?" Harris asked.

Isobel set her cup on her saucer and leaned forward. "I'm worried. He isnae awake yet."

Harris leaned forward. "He's still out?"

"Yes."

"How are his vitals?"

"His colour is bad. His nail beds are blue and he has electrical burns all over, most of them to the first or second degree. The worst one seems to be on his manly parts. Temperature is normal. His breathing sounds rough but his reflexes are good. His heart rate is holding steady at 120 over …" her gaze flickered toward Jasper and back to Harris. "One twenty over thirty-seven."

"That's very low!" Harris placed his teacup on the tiny table beside him, picked up his black bag and stood. "I should like to see him straightaway."

"Yes, Doctor." Isobel set aside her cup, rose and led him to Emmett. Jasper trailed faithfully behind.

Jasper and Emmett's room was cozily warm, and a single gas lamp cast a glow over the sleeping captain. Harris cracked open his bag, dug for his stethoscope, and got straight to work. He did all the checks that Isobel herself had done, and then several other tests of Emmett's reflexes that Isobel had never seen before. Some required contortion of his limbs. Through it all, Emmett never stirred.

Harris liberated one of Emmett's feet from the bedclothes. After digging through his bag, he lit a cigarette, took a drag from it, and blew out the smoke. "Please, God?"

Isobel cried out and Jasper gasped as Harris pressed the tip of the cigarette to the top of Emmett's foot.

Emmett didn't wake.

"Damn," Harris said. His hand shook as he took another draw on his Dunhill. "Damn it, McCarty. You need to wake up. You're a civilian now. You're home in your house!" He handed the Dunhill to Jasper and tucked Emmett back in, surreptitiously swiping beneath his eyes. Isobel's lip trembled. Hefting his bag, Harris motioned for Isobel and Jasper to follow him. Isobel took Jasper's hand as though he were a lost child, and led him away.

Harris cleared his throat. "Everyone at once?"

Isobel nodded curtly. She tugged Jasper back into the sitting room and sat him in the chair beside hers. The cigarette burned, unheeded, in his fingers. Isobel took it from him and placed it on an ashtray. She gripped his clammy fingers.

Harris rubbed his forehead. He took two paces in the confined space, stopped, and sighed. "He may recover, he may not. There's no way to tell. I am so sorry. This should never have happened."

"What's wrong, Doctor?" Eddie asked.

"McCarty … Captain McCarty has had a stroke."

Mama Biggins sagged against her husband and pressed a hanky to her face. "Oh, no!" He patted her, his expression stricken.

"A stroke?" Isobel yelped. "But isnae that due to a brain bleed? He hasnae been through a traum …" She stopped mid-word, and she and her companions stared at each other. Had Morton sentenced Emmett to death?

"Yes, it could be from electric current," Harris said. "Either the current itself, or he may have struck his head during a convulsion. Now the odd thing is, the heart murmur is pretty much gone. And his limbs do respond, although his muscles are atrophied; and there's not much distortion to the face, so I'm not surprised you didn't recognize it. But everything points to a stroke. And the main symptom, at this point, is coma."

"Is he going to die?" Jasper asked bleakly.

"I don't know. I wish I could give you a better answer, old chap. McCarty has demonstrated such fortitude. He's been through a lot worse than this, so I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls through. We'll just have to pray he wakes up soon."

"How long will that be?" Eddie asked.

"I don't know. Say his injuries begin to heal. He likely has a massive headache. When his brain stops hurting, he may feel well enough to join us. He's home, and with people who love him—you should talk to him, by the way. He may wake up in the next couple of days. Alternatively, this may go on for a while. Or … he may slip away."

Jasper suddenly lurched to his feet and dashed from the room. Isobel rose to follow.

"Bella," Eddie said softly. "Leave him." She sank slowly onto her chair.

Those assembled sat in awkward silence. Harris cleared his throat. "So, there have been some … developments." Everyone waited expectantly. "I'm going to petition Humphries for Morton's dismissal. But Morton has a lot of clout and he kicked up quite the fuss today. Ashby, amazingly, listened to the director and shut Morton down. The man may actually have a heart."

"Shocking," Eddie said.

Harris nodded. "I have McCarty and Hale's military discharge papers here. It might do McCarty some good if all of you take turns reading them to him. Sometimes patients who awaken from comas remember things people have told them."

"Thank you for these," Eddie said as he accepted them. "It's great to have you on our side, Sir."

"There is one more issue, Lieutenant, which I hope you and these good people may resolve satisfactorily."

"Yes?"

"Katy."

"Katy?" Eddie echoed, turning toward her. "What's up?"

"Our sweet little girl here had a fantastic temper tantrum on Humphries today in defence of McCarty. I never thought to see the director quail, but he most certainly tucked his tail in front of this threatening specimen."

Katy blushed furiously.

"Oh, I wish I'd been a fly on the wall," Eddie said with relish.

"She's been dismissed. I will, naturally, give her an excellent reference. But I thought, perhaps, you might have need temporarily of a private nurse."

"Room and board, plus one shilling a week," Eddie offered.

"I'll take it!" Katy said, eyes twinkling. "Thank you."

"Thank you."

Mama Biggins stood. "Bella, put her in the room at the end. I'll fetch you the key."

︻┳═一

"There's one more thing, Eddie," Harris said as everyone dispersed.

"I don't know how many more volleys I can take," Eddie chuckled bleakly.

"I want you to think about something. As much as I'd hate to lose you, an opportunity has been presented to me."

Eddie cocked his head to the side. "A job opportunity."

"Yes. I've been offered a post. At a new shell shock hospital. In a tiny town near Inverness. But my wife wouldn't fare well in the climate, and our children and grandchildren are here."

"So you're staying at our hospital, right? Or am I out of a job?"

Harris hummed a laugh. "Rather the opposite. What I'm suggesting is that I recommend you for the post."

"I haven't any training!"

"You have more training than a lot of doctors, and a talent for leading men. Besides, you're young. You have time to learn."iv

Eddie's jaw was hanging. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll think about it."

Eddie pressed his lips together and attempted to assemble his thoughts. "I'm not even going to consider moving to the north of Scotland while Emmett and Jasper are in such precarious health."

"Take them with you."

"To Scotland? In the winter? And what about the Bigginses?"

"The job doesn't begin until April."

Eddie sighed. "It's a lot to consider." Didn't they have a lot of sheep in Scotland? And didn't everybody wear wool? "I'll have to think about it."

"They want an answer by January."

"After Christmas." Eddie nodded. "I can do that."

"You'll do it? You'll take the position?"

He spread his hands. "No, I'll give you an answer by January."

"Fair enough." Harris stood. "It's been a pleasure meeting your family, Eddie. I want you back at work bright and early on Monday."

"Yes, Sir." They shook hands on it, and Eddie walked Harris out.

Eddie knocked softly on Cap and Jazz's door, then tiptoed in. "Jazz?"

Jasper was weeping brokenly, draped over Emmett's chest. Eddie's heart lurched. "Is he gone?"

"No," he said, snuffling and choking. Eddie walked over to the bed. Cap was still lying on his back, peacefully asleep.

"Snotting all over his shoulder isn't going to encourage him to rise and shine. At least, it wouldn't inspire me. Buck up, Ensign."

"He can't even hug me back. What'll I do if he goes west? I'll be all alone!"

"You need to think positive. Help me roll him over. He needs to be turned." Eddie took Emmett's arm and pulled him onto his side, and Jasper scooched up behind him to keep him there. Eddie walked around to Jasper's side of the bed, kicked off his shoes and put his knee up on the mattress.

"What are you doing?" Jazz demanded.

"Hugging you. You're not alone. Neither of you is alone. And he's not going west."

"How do you know?"

"He'll stay to take care of you. You mean the world to him."

"I love him."

Eddie was about to say that he loved Cap, too, when it occurred to him that perhaps that wasn't exactly what Jasper meant. "I know."

"It's like …" Jasper's sobs racked his body. "There's a big h-hole in my chest."

"Hush." Eddie said against Jasper's back. "What if you upset him?"

"Then maybe he'll bloody-well wake up and tell me this is going to be okay!"

"Tell him. Tell him to come back."

"Em, come back! I need you to wake up, damn it. You're scaring me! Please." He clung more tightly to Emmett and tucked his face into his neck. "Please."

It took a long time for Jazz to settle down. Eddie shifted on the bed. It was still early but he was exhausted, achy and in want of Bella.

"I'm not a Nance," Jasper said suddenly.

"I know."

"I'm just … very attached to him. That's all."

"I know." Eddie slid off the bed and stretched. "Katy's going to come in to check Cap's vitals a couple of hours from now. Get some sleep, okay?"

"You're not … nervous of me, are you?"

He stopped halfway to the door. "For what?"

"Okay."

Eddie walked back to the bed and gave Jasper a pat. "I'm a musician, eh?"

"Yeah."

"I've met quite a few Nancy boys in my time. Even counted a couple of them good friends."

"So?" he said defensively.

"So, if it should happen that one of my brothers were a Nance, it really wouldn't bother me overmuch. He'd still be my brother, eh?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Sleep tight, Ensign."

"Night, Mace."

i Seaweed baths were used from Edwardian times onward for medicinal purposes. They helped in the treatment of burns and contained potassium bromide, which was calming and had the ability to stop seizures if ingested.

ii Chloroform is a highly dangerous drug. It was still used regularly in Edwardian times although alternate drugs had been discovered. Of course, it still exists today but it's very easy to give someone a fatal overdose. The scent of chloroform is determined by its strength. If the drug is highly watered down, it has a faint, sweet, chemical scent. It will make a person swoon but not pass out. If it smells funky (often compared to stale ejaculate), it's strong enough to knock a person out, but will likely leave contact burns on the face, may cause vomiting and may cause memory loss. The unconsciousness doesn't normally last much past the time the cloth is pressed over the face. If it smells rotten, it's poorly diluted and may be a deadly dose. If you ever come into contact with chloroform, don't try to smell it. People have knocked themselves out.

iii That's the ticket: that's perfect, that's just the thing. This expression has been around since the early 1800s. There are several possible origins, but it possibly came from the French, "C'est l'etiquette," which means, "That's the proper thing."

iv In Edwardian times, there were no strict rules as to who could practise medicine. One didn't need a medical degree or any sort of license. Most doctors were not college graduates. They usually went to medical schools, where experienced physicians taught them skills. Often, classes took place in the evening so the men could work during the day. Yes, the occasional woman managed to attend, although she might not gain a respectable position. Additionally, there were very few rules in place to protect patients, probably because the Hippocratic Oath was held sacrosanct and its first tenet is to Do No Harm. Still, researchers could justify a lot of experimentation in the name of finding cures, and abuses obviously occurred.