Frances Burney's account of her ‘terrible operation’ (2018)
Since it isn&#x27;t in the main text, I will post it here copied from the transcript:<p>My dearest Esther, – &amp; all my dears to whom she communicates this doleful 
ditty, will rejoice to hear that this resolution once taken, was firmly adhered to, in 
defiance of a terror that surpasses all description, &amp; the most torturing pain. 
Yet – when the dreadful steel was plunged into the breast – cutting through veins – 
arteries – flesh – nerves – I needed no injunctions not to restrain my cries. 
I began a scream that lasted unintermittingly during the whole time of 
the incision – &amp; I almost marvel that it rings not in my Ears still! so 
excruciating was the agony. When the wound was made, &amp; the instrument 
was withdrawn, the pain seemed undiminished, for the air that suddenly 
rushed into those delicate parts felt like a mass of minute but sharp 
&amp; forked poniards, that were tearing the edges of the wound – but when 
again I felt the instrument – describing a curve – cutting against the grain, 
if I may so say, while the flesh resisted in a manner so forcible s to oppose &amp; tire the hand of the operator, who was forced to change 
from the right to the left – then, indeed, I thought I must have ex-
-pired. I attempted no more to open my Eyes, – they felt as if hermeti
-cally shut, &amp; so firmly closed, that the Eyelids seemed indented into 
the Cheeks. The instrument this second time withdrawn, I concluded the 
operation over – Oh no! presently the terrible cutting was renewed – 
&amp; worse than ever, to separate the bottom, the foundation of this dread-
ful gland from the parts to which it adhered – Again all description would 
be baffled – yet again all was not over, – Dr Larry rested but his own 
hand, &amp; – Oh Heaven! – I then felt the Knife rackling against the breast 
bone – scraping it! – This performed, while I yet remained in utterly 
speechless torture, I heard the Voice of Mr Larry, – (all others guarded a 
dead silence) in a tone nearly tragic, desire everyone present to 
pronounce if he thought the operation complete, or if any thing more 
remained to be done; ˄ or if they he thought the operation complete. The general voice was Yes, – but the finger of
Mr Dubois – which I literally felt elevated over the wound, though 
I saw nothing, &amp; though he touched nothing, so indescribably sensitive 
was the spot – pointed to some further requisition – &amp; again began 
the scraping! – and, after this, Dr Moreau thought he discerned a 
peccant attom – and still, &amp; still, M. Dubois demanded attom after 
attom. – My dearest Esther, not for days, not for Weeks, but for 
Months I could not speak of this terrible business without nearly 
again going through it! I could not think of it with impu-
-nity! I was sick, I was disordered by a single question – even 
now, 9 months after it is over, I have a head ache from going on 
with the account! &amp; this miserable account, which I began 
3 Months ago, at least, I dare not read, nor revise, nor read, 
the recollection is still so painful.<p>To conclude, the evil was so profound, the case so delicate, &amp; the 
precautions necessary for preventing a return so numerous, that the 
operation, including the treatment and the dressing, lasted 20 minutes! a 
time, for sufferings so acute, that was hardly supportable – However, I 
bore it with all the courage I could exert, &amp; never moved, nor stopt them, 
nor resisted, nor remonstrated, nor spoke – except once or twice, during 
the dressings, to say “Ah Messieurs! que je vous plains! –” for indeed I 
was sensible to the feeling concern with which they all saw what I en-
-dured, though my speech was principally – very principally meant 
for Dr Larry. Except this, I uttered not a syllable, save, when so often 
they re-commenced, calling out “Avertissez moi, Messieurs! Avertissez 
moi! –” Twice, I believe, I fainted; at least, I have two total 
chasms in my memory of this transaction, that impede my tying 
together what passed. When all was done, &amp; they lifted me up 
that I might be put to bed, my strength was so totally annihi-
-lated, that I was obliged to be carried, &amp; could not even sustain 
my hands &amp; arms, which hung as if I had been lifeless; while 
my face, as the Nurse has told me, was utterly colourless. This 
removal made me open my Eyes – &amp; I then saw my good Dr Larry, 
pale nearly as myself, his face streaked with blood, &amp; its expression 
depicting grief, apprehension, &amp; almost horrour.
When I was in bed, – my poor M. d’Arblay – who ought to write 
you himself his own history of this Morning – was called to me – &amp; 
afterwards our Alex.