x58 Kentucky's Pioneer Lithotomists



upon to assist in holding the patient
while the doctors performed the opera-
tion, as anaesthesia was not known at
that time. Another duty which Abso-
lom was required to perform was that of
securing "stiffs" for the dissecting room,
presided over by Dr. Bush. So expert
was he in the performance of this par-
ticularly gruesome duty that the College
never lacked material for dissection.
  No, it was not this old Southern darkey
who wrote this limerick, but he would if
he could:
    "There once were some learned M. D.'s,
    Who captured some germs of disease,
      And infected a train,
      Which, without causing pain,
      Allowed one to catch it with ease."
  Absolom was scrupulously polite, al-
ways deferential to his superiors, who
treated him with great consideration.
At the time his death was announced the
faculty assembled in the "Hall" of the
Medical College and passed resolutions
of respect, as he had held the position
of keeper of the Medical Hall for many
years with unswerving fidelity to his
masters.