Do tell us a bit more about this club-foot surgery, Bill.

I'm very ashamed to admit I've have not read this novel--though I've certainly heard much of it alluded to over the years. But the greatness of the work aside, I'm fascinated by the club-foot--and how successful (or not) surgery may have been.

What did you mean about the doctor would slash you if you would not stand still? Phillip would have been lying down, yes? I took the reference to mean that he would be going in for surgery as a patient first. Did I misread your quote--and was Phillip going in to be a participant? Did you mean that those attending in surgery would be slashed by the Holder of the Scalpel if they shifted in movement?

Also, I'm interested because Lord Byron had a club foot, too, that apparently didn't slow him down.