Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

THE CHOLERA OF 1867. 431
" It is General Medici."
" Medici . . . Medici . . ." murmured the sick man,
confusedly he looked at ; him, moved his lips as if to smile or
say a word, bent his head as a sign of assent, then came a violent
sob, his eyes become motionless and senseless, and he gave
no other sign of understanding. The general looked anxiously
at the doctor.
" Not yet," the latter replied, and on they moved.
In one of
the neighboring beds was a corporal who died the
following day.
He was conscious, but much depressed. The skin of his
face was shrivelled, covered with livid spots and glistening
with a cold perspiration. When the general approached his
bed, he looked at him, now half closing, now dilating his eyes,
and uttering an exhausted groan.
"
"How do you feel ? said the general.
The man shook his head slightly and turned his eyes upward
in sign of utter discouragement.
" Courage
!
my son ; you must keep up your spirits ; you
must think of getting well."
The sick man, making an effort, murmured :
" I should not
be s,prry
to die."
" Die ! what are you talking about ! You must not despair,
my good fellow ; you will get well ;
the physician says that you
will recover ;
is n't it so, doctor, he is
going to get well ? "
The soldier gave a quick glance at the doctor, made a
motion with his head as if to say no, then looked fixedly at
Medici, and said in a weak voice " : Thank you, general."
The latter bowed his head, stood thinking for a moment,
and then passed to another bed. Here lay a soldier on the
road to recovery, who would not take a certain medicine.