The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-11-09
WHOLE NO. l60.

ne cvinced towards us, in devoting so much
time to our enjoyment.
But we must close our Pittsburgh letter,
promising to write you again from the City
of Brothcrly Love, when we shall say a
word of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad
and its conveniences, as we find them.-
Till then, Adieu. ASHES.
For the Times.
N Medical Jottings-No. v.
Of all classes of men, we presume the
physician is most the victim Of circum-
stances. There is that importance attach
cd to the operations of the physician, and
his success or misfortune makes such an
impression upon the public mind, as often
to lead him on to easy honors or dcbar him
from all confidence or sympathy with the
community in which he resides The man
who chooses medicine as his profession, at
times is obliged to stake his reputation, his
wealth, in fact all that he holds dear in this
life, upon results as far beyond his control
as the movements Of the planets themselves.
Ones first patients may be of that class of
incurable persons who vex the doctor, de-
stroy his reputation, and afford him no
compensation for his toll and medicine.
Another, after receiving the highest honors
OF his favorite school, may set himself up
to compete for the honors and profits of the
profession member of some family of
wealth, residing conveniently near, becomes
slightly indisposed, and concludes to try the
newly t1edged Galcn, who if he possess
sense enough not to use too much sickening
medicine, soon finds his patient an easy con-
valescent, and himself making good time on
the plank of popularity.
Podallrlus, one of the sons of .Escula-
Plus, appears to have been one of Fortunes
tavorites. Returning from the wars of
Troy, his vessel was driven upon the coast
of Caria, where he found new field from
which to gain new honors. The King Da-
maethus had daughter whose life was en-
dangercd by fall from housc-top The
king, having heard of the skill of Podali-
rius, employed him to treat his daughter;
prompt to meet the emergency of the case,
he resorts to the operation of bleeding not
only from one arm but from both, with en-
tire success, and the young Princess is re-
stored to health. Wishing to make suta-
bic reward to the physician for his skill,
with heart full of gratitude, the King gave
his daughter in marriage to Podalirius, who
no doubt felt himself highly honored, for he
took his patient for his wife, still kept hon.
Orable rank in his profession, and it is
said that from his descendants arose the
great Hippocrates, whose talent and noble
qualities must be regarded with favor till
the end Of time. But the sons Of Escula-
plus appear to have possessed very limited
notions of Surgery, after all that has been
said of their popularity; for when the bones
of the warriors were broken, resource was
had, not to extension and splints, but to in
voking the aid Of the Gods, who, we pre-
sumo, were never tried for NAL practice no
matter what amount of shortening of limb,
or deformity grew out of their practice
The whole knowledge of Surgery, that ap-
pears at the hands of these ancient practi-
TONERS, consisted in the extraction Of darts,
arresting hemorrhages by the use of styp-
tics or pressure, the application of salves or
ointment to wounds or ulcers, and the ope-
ration of bleeding which podal;ri us az poars
to have been the first to perform For a
period OF 600 years, from the wars of Troy,
OF till within about 600 years of the Chris
tan Era, very little was added to the knowl-
edge of Surgery or Medicine. The doctors
appear to have followed 4 beaten track, con-
sequently no advancement was made. and
no one immortalized name by boldly ad-
vancing step, till Pythagoras first con-
nected Medicine with Philosophy, and rails
ed it to the dignity of science. Men were
now guided by reason, as we'll as expert
ence, and routine practice received blow
from which 1t never recovered. That fun
ny philosopher, Denocritus, became med
ical student, and lived on good terms with
Hippocrates. Democcdcs was contempora-
ry with Pythagoras, and he appears to have
been bold and skillful, and was very sue
cessful in gaining wealth rs well as honors.
lie cured the King Of Lamos of trouble
some disorder, and received much honor
with his fee amounting to over S22,0OO-
BY the fortunes Of war, he became u cap
tive among the Persians. Here was an un-
torcseen clrcumStance-One of the unavoid-
ables-which, in this case, turned out to
the favor Of the doctor, who had been a
prisoner but IA few days when he was brought
in chains before the King Darius. 1t APP
pears that the King had violently wrcnched
one of his ankles, in fact, dislocated some
Of the foot,-had employed his most skill
tul Egyptian doctors, who had not helped
in the least,-when, hearing of the great
skill Of Democedes,-he ordered him to b.
brought to him. At first, the great doctor
in irons and ragged garments held out,
and would have concealed all the knowledge
of medicine he possessed, had not the King
brought out his instruments, and threaten
ed vengeance if Democcdes did not proceed
to cure him. The doctor now applied gen
tie fermentation to the intlamed and swollen
foot and ankle, and with that soothing cf-
feet that Darius obtained the first sleep that
had visited him for seven days and nights.
A speedy cure followed, both of the spran
and dislocation, which pleased the King so
well that he presented his captive with two
golden chains. This was u present of
doubtful import, until Democedes asked
Darius whether he meant to reward the
happy success of his endeeavor.s BY doubling
his misfortunes." This saying so pleased
the King, that he sent to the doctor for
word that his wives might all see the man
who had performed such wonderful cure,
and these ladies expressed their gratitude in
the shape Of such magnificent presents that
in a single day made the doctor rich man
again; he was also admitted to the honor of
eating at the Kings table.
Good fortune still attended the DOCTOR and
his reputation raised still higher, by the fol-
lowing circumstance. AtoSsa, a daughter
of Cyrus and one Of the Kings wives, was
troubled with cancer in one of her breasts;
This she concealed, through modesty, till
the pain became intolerable, and Democcdes
was sent for, and he promised cure on one
condition, which was, that after his success
was made certain the Queen was to procure
him journey into his own country, and
thereby he was to effect his escape. This
programme was carried out to its full cx-