For the Honor of the Flag: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 2) by Richard Testrake

swollen almost to bursting. Phillips was by that time incapable of coherent speech, moaning and cursing by turns.  Holmes spoke to Sarah as to what he needed to do. “Miss Forsythe, I need to palpate the area of his arm where the problem seems to lie. However, he is in so much pain that I hesitate to do it. I would like to procure some tincture of laudanum and administer enough to calm him. Perhaps then, we may learn something.
    While waiting for the surgeon to make his preparations, Miss Arnold, Sarah’s companion, decided to return home. Clearly this wounded officer was no danger to her charge’s honor, and she f
    elt uncomfortable in the sickroom of a male.
    Sarah located John’s purse and extracted a few guineas. Giving one to the surgeon’s servant, he left to visit the local apothecary. When the servant returned, he handed a small bottle to the surgeon, who poured a measured amount of liquid into a glass. He added a small amount of honey and some warm water.
    Stirring it, he handed the glass to Sarah. He said, “Many patients find that tincture of laudanum has an unpleasant taste; I have added a little honey to make it more palatable. I would like you to try to administer the dose. With him so restive, you may have more success giving him the mixture than I. Do not worry if you spill some, we have plenty of tincture.”
     
    After many trials, she got John to drink enough to satisfy the surgeon. Phillips quieted down and became more relaxed. After some thought, Mister Holmes decided to administer a few more drops of the tincture. Phillips became lethargic, and Holmes began palpating the grossly swollen arm.
    Finding an egg sized lump, he reached in his bag, found a small lancet and gave it a wipe with his handkerchief. Testing the edge of the lancet on his thumb, he judged the tool was sharp enough.
    Holding the lancet firmly, he made an incision in Phillip’s arm, right down into the lump. Phillips groaned, and tried to pull his arm away. The surgeon’s servant held it down firmly, and an evil looking fluid spurted from the incision. The surgeon ordered soap and hot water, and scrubbed down the skin around the wound. Removing a small earthenware jar from his bag, he poured a thick liquid into the incision, and stitched the wound with needle and thread. After binding the wound, he beckoned Sarah to come with him outside.
    H
    e told Sarah he would drop by the next day to examine his patient. Sarah wondered what the substance was that he had poured into the wound. “Plain honey, Miss Forsythe. I believe if we can keep that on the incision until healing takes place, we may save the arm.”
    That evening, Phillips had a better night than he had since he had been wounded. Next morning, he was rational and alert. His arm, while very painful, was no longer as angrily red as it had been the day before. The surgeon had left the bottle of laudanum tincture, and she administered a few drops whenever she felt the pain was becoming excessive. A day later, John left his bed, against the wishes of Sarah. The surgeon came by for the first few days to inspect the wound and replace the bandage.
    However, after watching Sarah clean and bandage the arm, he decreed her capable of continuing Phillips care by herself, and accepting a handful of guineas, left.
    A week found the pain to be a memory. Phillips was now up and about, feeling as healthy as he had been before. He walked one morning down to the quay, and looked out at the big Achille, which he had brought in weeks before. She had her masts in, and men scrambling over her hull, repairing all her battle damage. It appeared the port captain’s guess of a year’s delay somewhat pessimistic. He would guess a few more months more likely.
    He decided to visit the port captain to give him an address when it came time for him to be called. He left his card, but the captain was not available. Wondering about the port captain’s absence during duty hours, he took up post on a bench