Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-05-09
From the Knickerbocker.
THE COUNTRY DOCToRr
4 iFaithful Autobiography: Renc,oed b. Rcque
BY qlAupER sAuLTz. N. D.

H III BY GLAuBER sAuLrz, ". D.
years or so, in the same epuipage, having wonder
full successful curing Cases but halfthe time
cheated out the credit of it by catnip teal
took notion to. cast up nv books to see how rich
l was, and what could be made of outstanding ac-
counts. 1t cost n great many evenings of hard
work to arrive at the knowledge that, all debts
being paid, was not worth brass .farthing--
not red cent Notwithstanding all the lucrative
cases oil typhus which, had managed, I remained
poor. believe that peoplein the citypay their
fees with alacrity because the charges are exorb-
tant. When bill fora hundred dollars, for look
ing two or three times at sick child, is presented
to one who lives in we'll furnished house in the
upper part of the town, the very largeness of the
demand is a delicate compliment upon his ability
topay. The man of the house sits down at n
handsome secretary, and draws out a clean check
for the full amount, saying, doctor, you very
moderate: now that Jacky is out OF the woods,
come in, in sociable way -+
AS soon as the messenger is gone, the pater.ta-
miHas exclaimS, what an outrageous bill! 1t is
an expensive luxury TO be sick However, il has
its advantages to be attended bya fashionable
doctor, as it has to worship GoD in fashionable
church. On one occasion l was called in mid
summer to attend sick man on the a-shore.-
After several days, his family physician, the re-
nowned Doctor allaps, arrived from the city, and
the patient was soon after on his legs, no thanks
TO me, and ready for the surf.
How much are you going to charge HING said
Doctor Jallaps.
Twenty-Five dollars said l.
'Poh! said he, make it u hundred. He expects
it,
IF he expects it, said 1, sit would give me great
pain 10 disappoint his expectations;' whereupon
acted adviSedly, and received an honored check
for round G, on the Phoenix Bank.
On another occasion, when attending one OF my
own patients in the same vicinity, while crossing
the 'big bridge when the tide up, l came
near being drowned. My sulky was soon afloat
mi tba hnFca hayn I'D 1aIt hG.
opposite bank. Now, beside rlsking my own life,
dragged the patient from the very gates of DEATH
got him out of u bilious. remittent, drove the
jaundics out of his skin; and when came 10 ask
him for ten dollars, he blackguarded like
chicken stealcr, and would never employ me
again. The fact is, that people i'll the country alb
hor taxes. anda doctor is the worst of publicans.
To be SICK they think is a dead loss, which they
unchr Sanly gfumble at; but 10 have to pay for
being cured, initiates them beyond measure. Oh!
how meek they are, When they lie PROSTATE i'll
burning fever-when their teeth chatter, and the
whole house jars with their shaking agues! Oh!
how welcomely the latch is lifted up 10 admit you
when life seems to hang upon hair! But get them
on their legs, and the first thing they FORGET will be
that they were ever on their backs. If many of
them do pay you, it IS under protest. procraslina-
ting the Settlement to time when the account
might be outlawed, clipping down the fair proper
tons OF just BILL and giving you the most ragged
representative OF money.
l say that when l came to overhaul my ac-
counts, was not worth anything. and therefore
arrived at the conclusion that it high time to
marry vile who would take care of my money.
did so, and found my condition better, but for
some years had hatd time of it. My children
were extremely pettsh and peevish, and what
with nocturnal calls, had not a nights rest for
five years. If anything allied them, they were
sure TO cry the night long; but if they were WELL
they woke up long before the Growing OF the cock,
climbing over me at the very moment when had
composed my head for short morn ng nap. But
Maternal DhilOSonhy he iIt.t n he.
sweet music of crying babes some thousands of
which have been imported into New York during
the present year. But the number oil people TIA
ken sick in the daytime, who send for the doctor
by night, produced compound fracture of my
time, which seldom gave comatose state. 1t
is the sweetest OF all consultations TO lay wearei
head upon the pillow with the thought that rest
awaits you until the dawning light. Whatever
carking cares have vexed you, that it long sea-
son Of Immu nifty which stretches through the dark
hours of the night. Then do the strained muscles
lapse into the most easy attitudes in the yielding
COUCH and the taxed intellect still, and you bolt
the door upon ingratitude and S'rife.
But 10 lie down without security from distur-
bance is enough to frighten away sleep. Such is
the lot of country doctor. l could relate nnu-
merable instances of the utter disregard with
which he is routed from his bed, without occasion,
at all hours. Here is one in point:
arrived late one winter evening at my own
door, after q hard days toll. With what feel
ing of relaxation did dvest my feet of heavy boots
set them smoking at the fire, and then regale them
III easy slippers! Then wrapping about me soft
padded gown, with what luxury did | fall back in
my armchair, peruse the daily paper, and sip
cup OF tea! Now, said l, 'the labors of the day
arc over. storm is brewing out of doors. hope
that no body will come here to- mig ht. If they do,
| won't go. Let them go after Bogarlus. won't
immediate myself for any body. 1t is unreasonable.
With that pulled down my ledger and made
note OF the day visits, one half of which were 10
poor houses, negro hntS and Irish ShanteeS. As
TO this class thew Lowell like n brOther.
their confidence in me was unhounded. They
sent for me if their bones ached, If their
hurt them, and went with all speed, though |
sometimes had occasion to scold them. Before re-
firing for the night, l opened the outer door, as
was my custom, To see the state Of the weather.-
1t was tremendous night The moon shone pale
~, but the wind blew hurricane. 1t rained; it
hailed, it showed, it bowed 1 thought again of
the poor mariners OH the coast and with a silent
prayer for them, and all houseleSS, unprotected
ones, closed the door and went TO bed. had
Just recovered from the shiverng sensation of cold
sheets, and become conscious of u grateful warmth
while that delightful drowsinesS which borders on
sound sleep stole over me, when there came a
knocking, impatently repeated, enough 10 wake
the dead. 'GoD bless mep groaned out, crawl
ing out OF bed and and putting up the sash, 'what
do you want?'
doctor, want you to come right straight away
off to Bankss. His child's dead.'
'Fheu why do you comet
He's p'isoned. They gin him laud mum for
paregorcky.'
How much have they given him!'
.Dono. Ia great deal. Think he won't get over
tWhen did they give it 10 HING
'Ths arternoon.' -r..- . ...l,l
'Why didn't you come sooner? How do YOU
think am to go two miles such night? Have
you brought wagon?' nj 10. F.
'No sgls-
"rllen won't go. Tell them To- and
having prescribed hastily out of the window,I clo-
Sed the sash and went back to bed b ut the howl
ing wind aud rafting sleet against the panes had
who lies snug and warm and irresponsible in his
couch. WHAT said l, sifthat child should die
through my neglect Will it absolve me from Grim
inality because the parents are poor? l will CO. l
must With that ieaped. out again, kindled q
match, and went down into my Office Not ,choos-