American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-31

por NE Amsrsan 0assus.
Physician and Patient.
Tho fate OF the Physician is . hard one.
To say nothing Of thslength Of time spent
in bis medical studies, all Of which are Ia
borious-some decidedly rspulsiye-and
Of the necessary expenditure or money for
attending lectures and hospitals, parchas-
ing books and instrumsnts-and in many
cases. for foreign travel-hs. must expect,
after he is fairly 3 candidate for profess
'sional employment. to be- made, IN this ca
paeity, an occasional butt for The stale
jokes OF people in health, aud their ready
seryitor at all hours when they are sick.
The latter think no trouble too great-no
service too mental, for him TO perform for
them. He cannot, indeed, complain that
the communication made TO him by his pa
tents, Of their various infirmiIies, though.
il be a confidence grudgingly given, aud
extorted by pain, should still be regarded
by him as a secret and sacred deposit
But he is expected, moreover, 10 be proof
against every trial Of his temper made by
the impatient and g~uerulous sick. and to
compensate, by his assiduity and skill, for
neglect Of themselves. by thoir delay in
sending for him at an earlier period. He
must supply, by intuition, all the blanks
left in the details Of their feelings. mdtbe
exposures which originated the disease,
whether the omissions were from forget
fitness or ;design. AS he himself is not
supposed to have much sensibility, no
pains are tskon to spare him on that score.
Every suggestion, however, absurd or i'll
timed, which false, affection or ~neighoorly
impertinenee can make; is freely obtruded
on him. He is driven to a declaration of
the result Of the case under treatment, and
ofton compelled TO sacrifice either his repu-
tation for sincerity. or for skillful prognos-
ties. II he frankly predicts an unfayora-
bic and fatal issue. he is supposed to be
wsntingin the of bis art; or, if
he f@oretell recovery, he is supposed not to
be fully aware of all the dangerous symp-
toms, and in either case, hints are
thrown out that an additional advice VOID
be desirable. Should he, with q full
knowledge of the scuteness and violence
OF the disease, ADOPT. a clear and decided
plan of treatment, he is accused by gos-
Siping yisitors-spies from the camp Of
Sonndal-of acting rsscally, and in sspir-
IL Of theory. Where he, on the other
hand, knowing that the disease win termi-
nate fSvorably, without the necessity of
much interference on his part. to give lit
tie medicine. and resolve to wait a calm.
but not an unobserysd spectator, il is deli
cately whispered that he is at a loss what
to do, and that he is ignorant Of the RENE
dies adapted to tho case. The loss Of his
sleep and the interruption OF his meals, Of
ten caused by frivolous messages. alarms
without cause, need merely be- mentioned
they are things, which, as a matter Of
course, a physician is expected TO submit
to with a good grace, and TO seem MS if a
favorh had been conferred on him, by pre-
venting him from gratifying his hunger,
and renovating his weary frame and anx
ious mind. And what, after ali, is the
equivalent for these s%erriees rendered, an
noyances encountered, body worn down,
and temper ohafed At times, and mol
unfrequen.ly, nothing-no money-cold
thanksl sometimes misrepresentation and
abusel On occasions, indeed. he receives
the language, and has evidently ELECTED
the feeling Of deep gratitude. But for the
recurrence Of such, ever though the inter
@torvals be long, he could not sustain him
sclt underths pressure Of 50 many annoy.
anoos. The meanest, most abiect and A.
a%ricious member Of the profession. could
not remsin in it withou, some such reward
more money could not pay him. The
richest man in the land, however prodiga
in the payment of fees, is still the debior
to his physician. who has saved his life
or rescued him from deformity and linger
ing disease. What shall be said of thos,
who swindle the physician out of his hare
earnings, by refusing to pay him. Will,
all other claims are attended to,-wh,
think him paid by the honor of havin!
been their ready servant, their slave, dur
ing a prosracted and dangerous disease
or who would chafer about their bill, as i
they were trading with an old-clo!he
man NJ. D.