- description
- # CHAPTER LXIII. THE OPERATION.
## Overview
This is the text of Chapter LXIII, titled "THE OPERATION.", from the novel *White-Jacket*. It details a surgical operation performed on a sailor.
## Context
This chapter is part of the novel *White-Jacket*, a work by Herman Melville. The novel was originally published in 1850 and is part of the larger collection "Melville Complete Works." This specific chapter follows "CHAPTER LXII. A CONSULTATION OF MAN-OF-WAR SURGEONS." and precedes "CHAPTER LXIV. MAN-OF-WAR TROPHIES." The text was extracted from the file `white_jacket.txt`.
## Contents
Chapter LXIII describes the preparations for and execution of a surgical amputation on a sailor's leg. The scene is set on a man-of-war, with detailed descriptions of the surgical instruments and the grim atmosphere. The chapter focuses on the character of Surgeon Cuticle, who oversees the operation with a mixture of professional detachment and a penchant for lecturing. The narrative highlights the patient's distress and the surgeons' varied reactions, culminating in the amputation and the subsequent discussion of the case. The chapter also includes a brief account of the patient's death shortly after the procedure.
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- CHAPTER LXIII. THE OPERATION.
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- CHAPTER LXIII. THE OPERATION.