Test #1

Subject:

Discarded chicken bone

Scope of Testing:

Remove outer layer to expose marrow; replace outer layer.

Results:

Fragment of outer bone briefly functioned similarly to a door on a hinge. Phenomenon lasted for about 12 seconds.

Conclusion:

The journal was right. This is real. God help me, it’s real.

Test #13

Subject:

Live chicken, owned by family

Scope of Testing:

Safe removal and replacement of feather layer as a continuous object.

Results:

Stripped feathers off of neck like a choker. Phenomenon lasted 5 seconds before diffusing. Sneezing caused by loose feathers caused subject to flee. Subsequent observation of subject showed pinpricks of blood around the neck.

Conclusion:

Current methodology cannot be used on live subjects without injury. Need to refine technique.

Test #38

Subject:

Dismembered finger, lost by Anthony Kellogg

Scope of Testing:

Full dissection and reconstruction

Results:

Disassembly of finger from tip to the first knuckle completed without issues. Finger split open halfway to second knuckle. Attempts to reassemble led to ‘bone sausage’ phenomenon.

Conclusion:

Most significant flaws in the process appear to be with stability post-disassembly.

Notes:

Had to make up excuse to parents for the blood on my dress. Need to find an apron for future testing.

Test #64

Subject:

Live cow, owned by Bean family. Sick with foot rot.

Scope of Testing:

Disassemble hoof, remove rot, reassemble.

Results:

After initial disassembly, swarm of purple worms emerged from foot and assaulted both me and the subject. Fled scene in a panic. Subject was found dead six hours later with severe lesions across underside. Disassembled foot was seen as an intense fracture. Pastor L. Bean visited my father and blamed the incident on Dr. Birch’s replacement, the mysterious Negro with the perpetual odd expression.

Conclusion:

Attempting to cure diseases based on incomplete knowledge held in an old journal seems out of reach at this time. Should focus on smaller tests to improve technique before attempting again.

Notes:

Need to be more careful in the future. If there wasn’t a convenient scapegoat around, I might be in trouble.

More Notes:

Gross gross gross gross gross!

Test #70

Subject:

Josiah Fry, local cobbler

Scope of Testing:

Reviewing mysterious scars across his torso while he’s passed out drunk

Results:

‘Scars’ are consistent with the reconstruction process as seen in the journal, but smaller and neater

Conclusion:

Based on analysis and comments made by Fry while drunk, Victor is no doctor. He’s an expert in the same practice I’ve spent two years trying to reconstruct from damaged scrawling. He might even be able to identify who wrote the journal. I have to get him to tell me what he knows.

Test #71

Subject:

Victor Freestone, new ‘doctor’, invited to family dinner after I convinced my father of the importance of having a viable doctor around, odd proclivities and ignoble breeding aside.

Scope of Testing:

Observation, interview

Results:

Subject is skilled in answering questions without actually explaining anything, and is reluctant to trust me with the truths of his craft. Managed to secure a subsequent interview at an undetermined future point. Mercilessly and baselessly teased by younger brothers afterwards about having a crush on him.

Conclusion:

Inconclusive. Can’t determine exactly how much he knows or how much he’s learned about me. Does not seem to trust me. Might know about the cow incident?

Notes:

I really need more practice talking to people.

More Notes:

He does have a certain appeal to him. Maybe if I ask him nicely, he’ll let me cut him open. Just a peek. For curiosity. For science.