https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:55:58 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/303/the-curious-case-of-mary-toft-1726 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/303 Wed, 23 May 2012 03:12:08 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/297/finally-arrived-at-st-nazaire https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/297 Mon, 14 May 2012 02:22:29 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/296/bad-news https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/296 Mon, 07 May 2012 02:29:16 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/278/about-some-curious-artifact-called-the-chatelaine https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/278
One man showed an 18th century watch to an expert, that was quite a nice collection item. It was all gold with a few diamonds in the clock-hands, and it looked nice. But what immediatly attracted the attention of the expert was the chain that the watch was once attached to. Well ladies and gentlemen, here the story begins to get interesting. It was a very strange but extremely beautiful piece of jewellery. I had never seen such an item before. The expert called it a "Chatelaine". He explained that it was a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. Each chain was mounted with a useful household appendage such as scissors, thimble, watch, key, vinaigrette, household seal, etc. I looked it up at the infamous Wikipedia and found the following explanation. The name chatelaine derives from the French term chtelaine which meant the female owner, or wife of the owner, of a large house. Originally the chatelaine was designed to have all the tools necessary for the woman of the household to sort out any problem she may encounter in her day, like a fraying curtain. However, over time the chatelaine and the objects it held evolved from being a purely utilitarian object into a decorative symbol that reflected the status of the wearer. And yes, some of them seemed to be exclusive pieces of jewellery. In the 18th century, it was sometimes also called it an equipage, Let me show you some nice examples: Antique-Watch, c. 1750; cast gilt metal chatelaine with a chased and engraved representations of musical instruments. Gilt clip buckle suspending three further oval cartouches and two short chains. Swivel latches with hinge and threaded safety ring. Suspended from the chains a gilt and rock crystal swivel seal, silver gilt hinged glazed locket and a cast silver Madonna and child. Louvre OA8394, a gold watch and chatelaine covered in roses, Paris, 1750-1752 Malmaison N.104, the chatelaine of Empress Josephine, end of the 18th century. To conclude i show you a nice painting from an unknown French 18th century artist, depicting "Two ladies, one holding a fan and the other a rose" At their belt you can clearly see their chatelaines. I do hope you enjoyed this little article, about an artifact that i had never heared of, but seemed to be very common in our beloved 18th century. With sincere greeting, Dr. P. Panacek, War Surgeon. ]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:34:50 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/229/captains-log-date-16th-of-march-1769 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/229 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:52:08 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/211/wow-they-found-my-old-companion-handbook https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/211 By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:13 PM on 28th January 2009
A 300-year-old medical guide which provides an eye-watering insight into how operations were carried before anaesthetic was invented has been uncovered.
The pocket-sized book, which was written by French medical author Joseph Charriere in 1712, was regarded as a vital medical guide for surgeons in the 18th century. The book, Treatise of the Operations of Surgery, sat gathering dust on a shelf in Staffordshire for years and was only re-discovered when handed into auctioneers last month.
One chapter gives graphic tips on what surgeons should do when amputating a leg and recommended patients bite down on a piece of wood for pain relief.
The book suggests that when operating on a leg to 'cut quick with a crooked knife before covering the stump with the remaining skin.' And as surgeons didn't have the benefit of sophisticated medical research and MRI scans to determine how to proceed with surgery the book suggests letting the weather decide.
An extract reads: 'A favourable season for an operation is either Spring or Autumn. In the Spring, the blood is revived with greater heat whilst in the Autumn blood is calm. 'In the Winter the cold locks up the paws, hinders transpiration and the blood has not the vivacity required to animate our bodies.' The rare guide also provided a lesson in stating the obvious, and advised that if the end of the tongue was cut off the patient would not be able to speak.
It was recently shown to an auctioneer at a book valuation day by a 70-year-old man whose grandfather had owned it in the 19th century. The 6ins by 3ins book has been collecting dust on a shelf in the study of his home in Lichfield, Staffordshire. It has been put up for sale at auction with a guide price of up to 300 and is due to go under the hammer on February 19. Charles Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers, said the book provided a fascinating insight into 18th century medical knowledge. 'The book was brought in to one of our valuation days,' he said. 'A member of the public came in with these old bibles and scriptures and encyclopaedia and at the bottom of the pile was this rather interesting little book.
'Given its age, its condition is superb. The book would have proved invaluable to surgeons in its day - it would have been like a bible for them to use and refer to when operating.'
Undergoing an operation was an extremely painful and deadly experience until ether anaesthetic was discovered in 1846. The risk of dying from infection was greatly reduced from 1867 when Joseph Lister introduced carbolic acid as an effective anti-sceptic.
The book states: 'If the wound be only in the flesh you may bathe it with brandy and cover the part with a compressed dip in a warm wine quickened with spir vini. 'If the wound is to the nervous parts you can dissolve sugar candy, camphire and myrrh in it.'
Howard Ellis, professor of surgery at the Westminster Medical School and author of A History of Surgery, said having an operation was the very last resort for a patient in the 18th century.
He said: 'Back then you would only submit to an operation if you were in agonising pain or if you had something that was going to kill you. Most people just refused to have surgery. 'Having a limb sawn off without anaesthetic is just unimaginable. The surgeon would probably have just said "stick with it, this is going to hurt", they may have had some wood to bite down on.
'And yet having gone through that awful ordeal there was then a very high risk of death from infection.
'The dates of 1846 and 1867 represented a tremendous revolution in surgery and not very much has changed since then, it is just more refined.'
Prof Ellis said it was quite common for surgeons to write about their practises and medical students and fellow surgeons used their works as text books.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130463/Revealed-The-18th-century-guide-amputations-operations-medical-tips.html#ixzz16nhaP0M2 http://www.livescience.com/history/090128-medical-history.html

]]> Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:49:32 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/186/mysteries-from-beyond-the-grave https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/186 With all these ghost stories and strange appearances in the Duchy... It may be necessary to tell about what Stormy and I discovered a few days ago. At first, I didn't wanted to mention it, but maybe now it might save some lives...

A few days ago we enjoyed a walk through our beloved Duchy, and ended up at Touraine Coeur Est, where we discovered an old graveyard.. We went in to enjoy the tranquility there... after a hard day of work...




As you know us, you are already aware that we only have eyes for each other, but somehow we suddenly noticed strange but beautiful apparitions. We started following them, but we could not stop feeling that someone or something was watching us....


Oh horror, Stormy and I stumbled upon this OPEN grave!!! (Fortunately, I caught her before she actually fell in.)
What could this mean? Grave robbers? Vandals? Or...???
Some horrifying thought struck us... what if this was the resting place of that Ghostly Creature we witnessed at the Opera house a few days ago???


What mystery hides in this old graveyard? What terrifying events have taken place at the Duchy in the past?
Who's restless soul is coming to haunt us? We wondered who this grieving lady might be, and who had left the fresh flowers here on this grave. The tombstone bore no name .....I had the feeling she was crying. A teardrop rolled down... or was it just dew?



We went back home... But i could not sleep that night... I couldn't escape the feeling a bad moon is rising...

Dr. Pekel Panacek, Chirurgien de Coeur.
]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:06:49 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/178/diary-entry-21th-of-september-1768 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/178 Dear diary, I am so sorry for the fact that i havent written anything for over some months now. But I have been VERY busy lately.

My life was hectic. So many changes took place. Some wonderful, others more eh... sad

You know I wrote I thought I was falling in love? Well dear diary, believe me.. I did.
I met this lovely lady, Mademoiselle Stormy. She used to live in a nice cottage near the Mediterranean. I met her at Marias tavern, after my fight with the Mysterious Musketeer. A few days later I was walking in the Provence region as I noticed this lovely lady again, standing in her doorway and waving at me. Ok I must admit, someone had told me where I could find her so Our meeting wasnt entirely by chance We had a lovely talk. I found her very charming. And when I said goodbye, I did hope we would meet again.
Very big was my surprise that I got a letter the next day, where she apologized to me not having been a good host, because she didnt had offered me something to drink. So she asked if I wanted to come over and have a glass of champagne at her place. Can you imagine how I felt? Off course I accepted the invitation and when I saw her again I was sooo nervous I could only stumble some silly phrases Butit was the start of a great friendship. We had many nice and silly chats. I did liked her humor and jokes right away. And she was very sweet. I didnt dared to admit it, but I was falling in love
It wasnt till a friend of hers started to threaten me at the April Coeur fair, not to play with Stormys feelings that I realized there was something more going on. Could it be possible?Ow my God I had been blind. Something had happened I could not hope for in my wildest dreams My dear friend Stormy had fallen in love with me also.

Dear diary,
I lived in some kind of happy arousal for days in a row. That first REAL slow, that first REAL kiss The feeling of being in love, being loved by someone Words fail me to describe the state I was in those first days. We became closer every day. Our love grew deeper and deeper. It was the time one could see me run from Touraine to Provence and vice versa. The time we exchanged love letters by pidgeon, so that you could follow the poop trail all from my cottage to hers

And I am eternally grateful to Maria and Fletch that they granted me the permission to propose Stormy on their wedding day. I felt the luckiest man on earth that moment she accepted. It was a moment never to forget.
Now we are so many months further in time. At the 6th of September I married the most wonderful woman in the universe. We found ourselves a nice home. I moved all my stuff over from my old cottage to our new place. There I have a nice room to see my patients now. We have lots of animals at our domain: cows, pigs, geese Even a few bears have been spotted nearby.
Also a sad thing happened. My infirmire left us. She already acted from a distance for some weeks In the end she was very angry at me. She didnt wanted to stay. She accused me from running away from things, from hiding in my work. She went berserk and threw lots of ugly words at my head
Maybe she was jealous at Stormy? I dont know. Even now, the nature of women is still not very clear to me.

Well,enough sadness. A new era in my life has started. I am becoming a settled civilian after all. I guess my wondering days are over. Instead of sleeping in a haystack one can see me sit in the Royal Opera these days. I even have started to like wine and champagne instead of beer. Although I will never refuse a good pint of Ale.

To conclude, I think captain Evans would have been proud of me. Cheers brother, where ever you are now. I am sure you are looking upon me from the heavens and are wishing me all the luck in the world now.

P.
]]> Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:51:17 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/151/letter-to-mons-federico-maria-giovanelli https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/151
Letter to Mons. Federico Maria Giovanelli
From: Dr. P. Panacek

Monseigneur,

let me start by kneeling before you and kiss your ring as a sign of my respect for you and Our Holy Church.
First of all i do want to offer my condolences to the family of Soeur Maria Sofia and let them know i have said some prayers in rescue to her immortal soul. "Requiem ternam dona eis, Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis."

But the reason i write you this letter is from another dimension. With astonishment i have read your Bull "Communication to the Faithful following invasion of the convent in Dorsoduro and the murder of Suor Maria Sofia". Especially the following sentence has raised my eyebrow: "Reports that bodies of victims have been removed by curious and malicious foreigners have further upset His Excellency Most Reverend". Your excellency, i do have to object to these accusations. Yes indeed, i am the one who examined the body of the poor lady in question, and brought to light the foul circumstances of her death. But i did it on the explicit demand of Madame M. T. Milneaux - Vendramin. She is a noble Venetian woman, who's parents also have been murdered under awful circumstances, long time ago.

Monseigneur... This lady has been poisoned. Without my intervention, and that of my friends and co-workers, the awful truth would never have been discovered. I don't have to remind you that manslaughter is still a deathly sin. Without the techniques of modern science nobody would ever have known what happened to this poor woman. Her true identity is still unknown and nobody besides us has mourned or prayed for this unfortunate lady. Not like Soeur Maria Sofia, who had a caring family and the support of our Holy Church. Without our intervention she would have been buried in some anonymous mass grave. At least now she is buried in Holy Ground at the Duchy, with the support of our dear friend friar Wasar.

It makes me very sad you place me and my co-workers at the same level with the fearless criminal who brought an end to this womans life. Furthermore i have to explicitly declare that we have NO intention at all to desacrate the resting place of Sister Maria Sofia. The merely thought only is enough to make my stomach turn around. Monseigneur, i am a man of science, with a high personal feeling of honor, responsibility and duty, and certainly no ordinary grave robber. I never had, and will never have any evil intentions. So help me God.

But a word of warning is in order. Please don't forget monseigneur, there is still a killer on the loose. a disciple of Satan himself. Already two victims are counted, how many more must follow before the TRUE criminal is caught and brought to justice?
Let me quote Franois-Marie Arouet who's work i admire very much: "What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason."
Monseigneur, let us focus ourselves on the very essence of this enigma. Let not only God be your guide, but also Reason, because it is God Himself who has gifted us with this precious ability to think and analyze. The real murderer must be brought to justice.

Please forgive me my argumentation, but with all do respect, i wanted this matter cleared out as soon as possible.

Again i kneel before you as a sign of respect for you and the Wisdom of Our Holy Church.


Your servant, Dr. P. Panacek, Chirurgien de Guerre.]]> Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:39:08 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/143/final-autopsy-report-regarding-the-body-found-in-the-venetian-canal https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/143

Final autopsy report regarding the body found in the Canal.

From: Dr. P. Panacek, surgeon

To: Madame M. T. Milneaux - Vendramin.

Dear Madame,

I sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to examine the corpse found in the Venetian Canal near your palazzo. I am sending you a full report of my findings. One sign of warning must be mentioned: these results are puzzling and may even upset you.

The person brought to me was female, midst her twenties. She was dressed in a quite expensive and high quality gown, wich my dear fianc recognized as being designed by the famous designer Lady E. Luik from Paris. She was not wearing any jewellery.

First sight showed us a corpse who definitely bared the signs of being in the water for too long. The skin was all wrinkled and withered.
Her skin color was very pale, certainly a noble lady for sure, spending more hours inside the palazzo's than outside in the open air. One should expect a bit of a blue - greyish aspect of the skin, because we assumed that she was drown, but that sign was remarkably absent.
There was a clear state of rigor mortis. The body was cold. The expression on her face was one of great fear. What did she saw in her last minutes? What went on in her mind?
No other signs of injury could be found. No signs of bleeding, nor massive blood loss, also no signs of hematoma.

First i opened the thorax, taking a look at her lungs. They were both filled with water, what should emphasize the theory that the lady in question drowned.
Then i made an incision in the abdomen, revealing the intestines. I cut open the stomach and found the rests of her last meal, still intact. No signs of digestion already started. She ate some chicken, and tomatoes and drank some red wine.
The lady must have died quite short after having dinner. I took some samples and sended them to my new friend monsieur Eleas LeRoux, a promising medical student, apothecary, and herbalist who recently arrived at the Duch Du Coeur, for further examination.

Then suddenly something took my attention. I found traces of lipstick on her right inner thigh, and after closer examination i also found the same lipstick traces on the inside of her right ankle. Very strange indeed. Had she been with her lover just before the accident happened? Did they had dinner together?

But dear Madame, the most shocking fact came a bit later, when monsieur LeRoux came running to my practise in a state of high exaltation. He came telling me he found traces of arsenic in the remains of the mysterious lady's last dinner !!! He assured me that he had checked and double checked the results. He was quite clear about the fact that the food (or wine) contained a high dose of arsenic. I suggested him to take contact with sir Joshua, our potion-master to find out more details about the substance used.

Madame, these findings are clear. My conclusion is firm: the lady in question was poisoned, and probably fell (was pushed?) into the canal were she drowned...
The expression of fear on her face suggests the fact that she realized in her last moments the person who was with her wanted her death. Her former lover???

Madame, please warn the authorities... We have a coldblooded murderer among us....


Yours sincerely, Dr. P. Panacek.

]]> Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:26:25 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/120/dear-diary https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/120

Dear Diary,


its incredible to believe what strange events happened to me lately. For some wonderful reason, which i even don't dare to confident you, i think i finally found happiness in our beloved Duchy...

Since a few days i feel the urge to settle down, to end my days of wandering. Like i came to the end of my journey, and began to start another one, one i never ever dreamed that would happen. Like i am stepping into the great unknown... And... yes dear diary, this may seems strange, but i am HAPPY to take this step forward...

Well, lets stick to the bare facts, after all, i still am a scientist.
I exchanged my beloved haystack for a real home. Yes dear diary, don't be surprised, i rented a cottage at Touraine, at the lovely Loire Valley. It is a simple building, but i fell in love with it some time ago, when i came along on one of my long walks through the lovely Duchy. It was a farmer who rented it before me i guess. What has happened to him and his family? Have they emigrated to the New Colonies oversea? Did they die from the plague? Even the Duke himself could not solve this mystery. The former renters left without leaving a note. But they left their animals, so it looks like they fled in a hurry. When i first came in, a family of pigs had taken the cottage for their home. The cows where grazing at the backyard, and the once so beautiful garden had turned into a wilderness. It took me some days to clean it all up. Then i started to move in. I got some nice furniture from a merchant who imports them from the far city of Nantes. I still haven't unpacked all my crates though, so the house looks a bit of a mess... But for the first time in many years, i feel at home. Its nice to sleep in a real bed again, not with your head in the hay like i used to do for years. A soldier like myself doesn't needs much comfort, but my joints are hurting more and more each morning, so it looks that the years are finally catching in on me.
I soon hope to open my private practice there. Seeing patients at the monthly fair is ok, but i definitely need more income. I wonder if the town of Aquitaine has a smithy who can make me a sign to hang outside. The bare truth is, i have no money to rent a cabinet at the Academy i'm afraid. After all i am but only a simple Barber - Surgeon, with a lot of battlefront experience yes, but i am not an academic like dear colleague Adamski...

Last days, when i wake up in the morning, i hear the sounds of the forest behind my new home. The birds whistling their songs to celebrate the new spring. The flowers who are awakening after a long and hard winter. The trees who are blossoming. Long my soul hasn't seen such things of beauty. I am afraid I have seen too many men die in battle, i have seen too many foul wounds who would not heal. I still dream of captain Evans, who was like a brother to me, dying in my very arms. I remember his laughter, the beers we drank together at the taverns behind the battlefront, the girls we were chasing together (but never had any luck....). I remember his strength in command, leading us all into battle... one time to many.... Dear John, dear brother, i will never forget you.

But... all this seems like a far away and distant nightmare to me now. Its strange to find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It feels... I have no words to describe this... like a warm and fuzzy feeling inside me... Some feeling i have never experienced before... and never will ever after...

Dear diary? I think i am in love...

P.]]> Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:26:02 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/110/dear-diary https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/110

Dear Diary,


What a week it has been.... First of all... i am alive... I can hardly believe it. Destiny can be cruel, guess my time hasn't come yet.
It seemed my wounds where merely superficial. It was just the shock that kept me trembling all week. My infirmire told me several times i was behaving strange. I assured her i was alright, but she would not believe me.

Well... that was the strangest fight i was ever into. So many great friends came along to support. The Gypsies where roaring angry at the Masked Chevalier. Even the Duke and the Duchesses their selves where present. I never felt that honored in my entire life.
From the first round on i was aware this Chevalier Mystre was a Master Swordsman. He could have killed me easily. But i felt that he was just teasing me, merely testing out my skills. After the second round he surely made up his mind. I'm sure he had already found out i had nothing to do with his past. His attention weakened and i even could score some points...
He left me to live another day. And... He saved my honor and my proud. Indeed he controlled the situation completely but made it so i didn't made a complete fool out of myself. Whatever the others may say or think... deep inside he his is a very noble man in my opinion. In other circumstances we even could have become friends.

After the fight we had a little party at the Tavern. I was euphoric... For the first time in ages i actually felt the warmth of the sun on my skin again... I smelled the sweet delicate perfume of roses... I felt.... ALIVE !!!!

Rumors have reached me, this mysterious masked man is hiding deep in the Duchy woods. Hunters have seen a strange person running away. Bloodstains where found on a tree bark... I feel for him. When we where fighting i felt his loneliness, his bitterness. Hatred, focused on one man he is willing to find... and kill. I am certain if he ever finds his opponent, his death is inevitable...
I wished i could help him, heal the wounds in his mind, listen to his story and give him advise to temper his feelings.
I hope some day he comes to me for help. I wanna thank him for sparing me...

I am sentenced to live... but i feel... he is sentenced for life...


P.


Waiting for the Chevalier Mystre....

The moment of truth...

Party !!!



]]> Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:44:12 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/106/dear-diary https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/106

Dear Diary,

I woke up with a slight headache I think Marias ale is too strong after all

What a weekend it was. I attended the Duchy Fair again. And such strange events took place
Saturday we had the finale of the Quest for the Queens Trumeau. When I arrived the team of Maria and Seamus just found the final part. A well earned victory indeed. They worked very hard for it and I am glad they made the end. We had a great celebration and I was happy to be there. It looks like I finally found a place I can call my home.

Yesterday the fortune teller readed the cards for me. Its creepy how some pieces fell on their place. Can it be true? After all I am a man of science, lets stick to the bare facts But still some sense of imminent danger came over me.

Certainly after an unknown man, wearing a mask, came at the fair and started to insult me. He called himself Le Chevalier Mystre. He challenged me for a duel to find out if I am the man he was looking for I can not imagine I ever made enemies. But like all men in battle, I faced horrors too cruel to describe Could he be someone who wants revenge? Does my past comes back to haunt me?

I still have those vivid dreams. Every night captain Evans dies in my arms again Again and again. I loved him as a brother God knows I tried to save him, but his wounds were too massive. I never felt so helpless and little in my entire life.

Well, today at the En Garde Fencing piste behind the Tavern at 01.00 pm, it finally will be decided for me. I was wondered how much support I got. The Gipsy family was extremely kind. One of their leaders even offered me his help. He is going to be my second They are a proud people indeed. Whatever the result will be, I am already in their debt.

I didnt dare to tell my infirmire. She would be too worried. I arranged that a close friend of mine will give her an amount of money when I pass away, so she will have a good life when Im gone. Thats the least I could do for her.

Well I am not afraid to die. Whatever the outcome, its Gods will. Friar Wasar will certainly agree on that. Maybe today I will find long lasting peace.


P.




]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:20:06 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/98/dear-diary https://livinghistoryvw.com/docteur-panacek/blog/98

Dear diary,

its been a long time since i have written something. Maybe its better i start to write down again my thoughts, to clear my troubled mind....

I arrived in Aquitaine again, the quiet town i left a few months ago. It's good to be back. I can think and work here. So many books i still have to read. I love taking long walks at the countryside... The winter is fleeing and spring lurks around the corner... Flowers are preparing to blossom again. I am in love with the smell of roses and lilies... Can't wait till the summer...

Yesterday i attended the Timeless Romance Ball. I was surprised by all the splendor and people there. The Duke and Duchesses are very charming and warm hosts. The Grand Palais was decorated with plants and flowers everywhere. It must have costed a great deal of work to arrange all that... So many great looking outfits also.
I am never sure about myself, how to behave in such a crowd. I guess i am a loner after all. Some ladies wanted to dance with me, but i am afraid i made a complete fool out of myself... Awww the matters of the heart... I am ignorant regarding those i am afraid. I'd rather fix a dozen broken limbs than to unraffle the mysteries of a woman's needs....

Lucky my lovely assistante showed up. I first met her when i was still studying in Leiden. One day i had attended a lecture of the great Dr. Boerhaave, when i got out of the building and stumbled upon her... After we both got up, and i picked up all her scattered groceries.... we started to talk. She had lived a hard life, but was very intelligent and keen to learn. Since then we are a team. She helps me with some daily matters when i am at home and assists me with difficult operations. Sometimes, when i am on my travels, we don't see each other for months. But then again, when we meet, its... like coming home...
Dear diary, i am afraid i have been secretly in love with her all that time... If she ever finds out, i am afraid for what could happen...

I got the books i ordered today. Oh My God, i got the "Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis et sanguinis in animalibus" ('The Anatomical Function of the Movement of the Heart and the Blood in Animals') from William Harvey. At last !!! I am so excited i found a nice copy. It costed me a fortune, but it is worth every penny...

Owwww my, i still keep having those terrible nightmares... Won't they ever go away? I better take some Laudanum tincture again tonight. Maybe i get some peace then....


P.


]]> Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:55:35 -0800