The following story is taken from the book "Eighty Years' Reminiscences" by Colonel John Anstruther-Thomson of Charleton (1818-1904) (pictured). Although quite lengthy, it is worth reading in order to gain an excellent insight to the type of incident that Doctors Lumgair and Palm would have been called to and the type of treatment that they might have given. This incident occurred in 1880 to the author's daughter....
"Rosie galloped away straight across the field and got an awful fall over a wall rather up hill and into a road. Her groom, Woods, on "Bachelor," instead of following her, went straight up the field and through a gate. When he got round to where she was, she had just got upon her feet and the horse was galloping away. The blood was pouring down from her face. He jumped off his horse, and asked her if she could come home in a carriage, then he left her in charge of Mr. Balfour and rode home for the carriage.
Her mother wrote : " I sent for Doctor Lumgair, and I got towels and sponges, sal-volatile and eau- de-Cologne. As I was going out I met Mr. Balfour in back drawing-room, who relieved me by telling me that it was a severe cut. I drove in the brougham to Mr. Scott's house. She was lying on a bed, Ella Erskine with her. She told Ella that she did not wish me to see it, so I was sent downstairs to wait till she walked down, bare-headed (hat torn to pieces). She was bleeding and did lose a great deal of blood.
At the door of Charleton stood Doctors Lumgair and Palm. She walked to my bedroom and was placed upon the sofa. They chloroformed her. She took an unusual amount of chloroform to send her off. Ella Erskine had followed us, and up to this time was in the room, I thought it unnecessary that she should remain longer, so she left. They then stitched up the wound with silver wire and gave her brandy. I got her undressed (the doctors staying in the house) and I and Christie helped her into bed. I shall sleep in your dressing-room. The maid will sit up to-night with her. The doctors are coming to-night at seven o'clock to cut off the half of the silver wire now sticking out."
Dr Lumgair writes a follow-up communication...
Largo, 16th February, 1880, Thursday Evening, 9.30 p.m. My Dear Sir, I was at Charleton when your telegram arrived to-night, and was sorry I could not reply in course, I will telegraph in the morning, which you will receive before this ; however I cannot in a telegram give you particulars. Miss Rosie's horse in attempting a stone wall failed to get over it, and rolled over, throwing her on her face, I fear she had struck on a stone. Her face is a good deal cut, her lip on the right side from the nose is completely cut through, and it is separated also along the bottom of the nose to the left side. It was all hanging down and is a very dirty lacerated wound.
Immediately on receiving intelligence of the accident. Dr. Palm and I drove along, put her under chloroform, and carefully stitched it. The parts are very much swollen, but to-night she seems very comfortable and complains little, if at all. Had the wound been a clear incised wound it would have been little trouble, but it is a nasty ragged, dirty wound, and I fear may not heal nicely without leaving a considerable blemish ; however in that I may be mistaken. It is beautifully put in position with silver stitches, and the edge of the wound with a hare-lip needle, and I earnestly hope it may do well.
She has slept a little this afternoon, and feels, on the whole, better than might have been expected; but of course the most critical part is to come. However you may keep your mind at rest so far that there is no injury to any internal organs, and that I am not apprehensive as to danger to her life. If all goes on well, I will not telegraph, but should the least anxiety occur I will at once make you aware of it. I would have telegraphed this afternoon, but Mrs. Thomson assured me it was unnecessary as she was to do it herself.
I am, in haste, Yours very sincerely, George Lumgair
Colonel Anstruther-Thomson later noted that when he returned home he "found her in bed quite cheery, but she could not speak, and could only suck milk or soup through a tube. Dr. Lumgair treated her with great skill, and she soon got better, but had a very big lump on her lip. The chief difficulty was to keep her from laughing. Some years after she had an operation on her lip, and it was restored to its natural size."
"Rosie galloped away straight across the field and got an awful fall over a wall rather up hill and into a road. Her groom, Woods, on "Bachelor," instead of following her, went straight up the field and through a gate. When he got round to where she was, she had just got upon her feet and the horse was galloping away. The blood was pouring down from her face. He jumped off his horse, and asked her if she could come home in a carriage, then he left her in charge of Mr. Balfour and rode home for the carriage.
Her mother wrote : " I sent for Doctor Lumgair, and I got towels and sponges, sal-volatile and eau- de-Cologne. As I was going out I met Mr. Balfour in back drawing-room, who relieved me by telling me that it was a severe cut. I drove in the brougham to Mr. Scott's house. She was lying on a bed, Ella Erskine with her. She told Ella that she did not wish me to see it, so I was sent downstairs to wait till she walked down, bare-headed (hat torn to pieces). She was bleeding and did lose a great deal of blood.
At the door of Charleton stood Doctors Lumgair and Palm. She walked to my bedroom and was placed upon the sofa. They chloroformed her. She took an unusual amount of chloroform to send her off. Ella Erskine had followed us, and up to this time was in the room, I thought it unnecessary that she should remain longer, so she left. They then stitched up the wound with silver wire and gave her brandy. I got her undressed (the doctors staying in the house) and I and Christie helped her into bed. I shall sleep in your dressing-room. The maid will sit up to-night with her. The doctors are coming to-night at seven o'clock to cut off the half of the silver wire now sticking out."
Dr Lumgair writes a follow-up communication...
Largo, 16th February, 1880, Thursday Evening, 9.30 p.m. My Dear Sir, I was at Charleton when your telegram arrived to-night, and was sorry I could not reply in course, I will telegraph in the morning, which you will receive before this ; however I cannot in a telegram give you particulars. Miss Rosie's horse in attempting a stone wall failed to get over it, and rolled over, throwing her on her face, I fear she had struck on a stone. Her face is a good deal cut, her lip on the right side from the nose is completely cut through, and it is separated also along the bottom of the nose to the left side. It was all hanging down and is a very dirty lacerated wound.
Immediately on receiving intelligence of the accident. Dr. Palm and I drove along, put her under chloroform, and carefully stitched it. The parts are very much swollen, but to-night she seems very comfortable and complains little, if at all. Had the wound been a clear incised wound it would have been little trouble, but it is a nasty ragged, dirty wound, and I fear may not heal nicely without leaving a considerable blemish ; however in that I may be mistaken. It is beautifully put in position with silver stitches, and the edge of the wound with a hare-lip needle, and I earnestly hope it may do well.
She has slept a little this afternoon, and feels, on the whole, better than might have been expected; but of course the most critical part is to come. However you may keep your mind at rest so far that there is no injury to any internal organs, and that I am not apprehensive as to danger to her life. If all goes on well, I will not telegraph, but should the least anxiety occur I will at once make you aware of it. I would have telegraphed this afternoon, but Mrs. Thomson assured me it was unnecessary as she was to do it herself.
I am, in haste, Yours very sincerely, George Lumgair
Colonel Anstruther-Thomson later noted that when he returned home he "found her in bed quite cheery, but she could not speak, and could only suck milk or soup through a tube. Dr. Lumgair treated her with great skill, and she soon got better, but had a very big lump on her lip. The chief difficulty was to keep her from laughing. Some years after she had an operation on her lip, and it was restored to its natural size."
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