“'From what we have seen to-day, you 'll prove an ornament to either service. Meanwhile, sir, it will be satisfactory to the court to have your opinion on gun-shot wounds. Describe to us the case of a man laboring under the worst form of concussion of the brain, and by what indications you would distinguish it from fracture of the base of the skull, and what circumstances might occur to render the distinction more difficult, and what impossible?' That was his question, and if I was to live a hundred years I 'll never forget a word in it,--it's written on my heart, I believe, for life. “'Go on, sir,' said he, 'the court is waiting for you.' “'Take the case of concussion first,' said Dr. Willes. “'I hope I may be permitted to conduct my own examination in my own manner,' said Asken. “That finished me, and I gave a groan that set them all laughing again. “'Well, sir, I 'm waiting,' said Asken. 'You can have no difficulty to describe concussion, if you only give us your present sensations.' “'That's as true as if you swore it,' said I. 'I 'm just as if I had a fall on the crown of my head. There's a haze over my eyes, and a ringing of bells in my ears, and a feeling as if my brain was too big.' “'Take my word for it, Mr. Dill,' said he, sneeringly, 'the latter is a purely deceptive sensation; the fault lies in the opposite direction. Let us, however, take something more simple;' and with that he described a splinter wound of the scalp, with the whole integuments torn in fragments, and gunpowder and sticks and sand all mixed up with the flap that hung down over the patient's face. 'Now,' said he, after ten minutes' detail of this,--'now,' said he, 'when you found the man in this case, you 'd take out your scalpel, perhaps, and neatly cut away all these bruised and torn integuments?' “'I would, sir,' cried I, eagerly. “'I knew it,' said he, with a cry of triumph,--'I knew it. I 've no more to ask you. You may retire.' “I got up to leave the room, but a sudden flash went through me, and I said out boldly,-- “'Am I passed? Tell me at once. Put me out of pain, for I can't bear any more!' “'If you'll retire for a few minutes,' said the President-- “'My heart will break, sir,' said I, 'if I 'm to be in suspense any more. Tell me the worst at once.'