The Black Doctor

           Bishop’sCrossingisasmallvillagelyingtenmilesinasouth-westerlydirectionfromLiverpool.HereintheearlyseventiestheresettledadoctornamedAloysiusLana.NothingwasknownlocallyeitherofhisantecedentsorofthereasonswhichhadpromptedhimtocometothisLancashirehamlet.Twofactsonlywerecertainabouthim;theonethathehadgainedhismedicalqualificationwithsomedistinctionatGlasgow;theotherthathecameundoubtedlyofatropicalrace,andwassodarkthathemightalmosthavehadastrainoftheIndianinhiscomposition.Hispredominantfeatureswere,however,European,andhepossessedastatelycourtesyandcarriagewhichsuggestedaSpanishextraction.Aswarthyskin,raven-blackhair,anddark,sparklingeyesunderapairofheavily-tuftedbrowsmadeastrangecontrasttotheflaxenorchestnutrusticsofEngland,andthenewcomerwassoonknownas"TheBlackDoctorofBishop’sCrossing."Atfirstitwasatermofridiculeandreproach;astheyearswentonitbecameatitleofhonourwhichwasfamiliartothewholecountryside,andextendedfarbeyondthenarrowconfinesofthevillage.

           Forthenewcomerprovedhimselftobeacapablesurgeonandanaccomplishedphysician.ThepracticeofthatdistricthadbeeninthehandsofEdwardRowe,thesonofSirWilliamRowe,theLiverpoolconsultant,buthehadnotinheritedthetalentsofhisfather,andDr.Lana,withhisadvantagesofpresenceandofmanner,soonbeathimoutofthefield.Dr.Lana’ssocialsuccesswasasrapidashisprofessional.AremarkablesurgicalcureinthecaseoftheHon.