Robert Goodbody Journal

father often erred on that head.

Soon after my father's death my mother had to go to Dublin to administer, in the 10th mo. and also to speak to the surgeon as her breast was giving her more trouble. He told her to not mind it, but if it got worse to come to him and he would see what was to be done. It continued to get worse and in the end of the 12th month she went again to him. He then told her that it was too late, and recommended her to go home. She was much alarmed, fearing that she would have a very painful death. After that she called in Dr. Jacob. His opinion was that it was not too late but recommended a consultation with an army surgeon living in Kilkenny, a Dr. Bathwick a rough scotch man. I think it was in the 1st mo. 1801 that they met in consultation and concluded on performing an operation next day, which was first day, which my mother made up her mind at once to submit to. Next day while friends were at first meeting, and several women friends were in the house. I think Aunt Sally was was in the room and Mary Bewley. The Doctors proposed that my mother's arms should be bound as she sat on a chair, for the knife being used, but she objected. Mary Bewley stood by her all the time, and she bore it without attempting to raise her hands. It might be ten minutes before they were done. They did not take away much of the outer skin, perhaps 1½ inches square, but scraped out the lump about the size of a large potato. My mother was then put to bed, and perhaps was three weeks confined there, but in the end her breast healed, yet she was for months after in poor health, and very nervous. She went to the salt water in the summer, but after that a

Copyright © 2004 Mr Tony Lynch All rights reserved.