The Placer herald., 1866-08-04
His First Case,

A young Doctor who settled ~ NeWberu
soou after it was captured by our forces, re
lates the following good auecdote. He
writes:
had been a student Of medicine in New
bern about three weeks, and had got as far
rs cupping. cathartcs and castor oil, in the
uobe science Of physic, when was sitting
iu the office, investigating by induction the
the medicinal properties of jar of ta,na,
rnds, received note from my rreceptor
which ran thus:
"Mr. --, you will please take the
large cups and scar6ca,or, together with a
large blister. up to MIR J., and cup
the negro girl Cbaucy freely over the stern
UNI; and after you have cuppsd her, apply
the blister over the same, as she has intlams.
ton Of the lungs"
In anatomy the sternum is that portion O.
the osseous system commonly known AS The
breast bone but at that time l was isno-
rant Of the fact. had not slud led anatomy,
and 10 my simplicity Of heart, imagined the
Doctor wanted her cupped and bstered a
poster;or;. Filled, therefore, with a sense Of
the decacy and momentous import of my
duty, provided myself with the necessary
instruments. BY way Of snrhesis, let me
create an idea of my patient, SO that you
may appreciate the field OF my operation
Just imagine butchers block, five feet long
and four feet through the butt. converted in
to fat bouncing negro wencb, with smaller
blocks appended for limbs, and you have a
faint conception Of the figure and proper
tions OF humanity upon whom my curative
~ All
you to-day, Chancyl" said |, as entering the
cabin of my patient, stood before her
20 massa, young doctor!" said she, II does
feel 'mazng bad. lbe misery in my bosom
almost break my heart. l can scarcely pre-,
spire." Respire l suppose she meant; as
judging from the big drops. which like ebo-
nv beads. chased each other down her geam.
ing neck, thought that she perspired beau.
tifuly. Il am very sorry to hear it, CLANCY.
The Doctor has sent me TO cup aud blister
you, and hope it will relieve you entirely"
"Well, the Lords will and de doctors Le
done; this anguished sister be's ready" And
she proceeded to dives, her bosom Of its
concealments, thinking lha! she had to be
capped over the seat Of her pain. stop,
CLANCY, was not told to cup you on the
breast, but on the sternuna. "Whail slri-ked
she, rising straight up in the bed, a grea,
deal whiter 10 the face than she had been fol
many day. "lelI me, for the lub of pros
tituted 'manity, is you in airnest! Oh no
certainly you is joking-just making muse
ment OF dc Stresses Of dis female" mo,
CLANCY there's no mistake. The Doctor
says you must be cupped there, and it must
and shall be done. So get ready" 0 mas
sa young doctor, you must be ID staken you
must indeed. De pain no dar, but in my
breast How cupping dar going to cure de
pain 10 de breast, ehl Tell me dat" "Well
CLANCY, | don't know that can do that ey
actIy; but suppose it will be by sympathy"
CLANCY, seeing that there was no retreat,
agreed at last to the operation. Click, click,
went the scariicator; and amidst the shouts
OF the patient, and my awful soliciude for
fear might cut an artery. "the deed was
did," Bnt no blood fowed-nothing but
grease. saw the cups were too in .fat.uated
TO draw blood from that quarter; so re.
moved them and applied the blister; but l
expect fly ointment was in great demand
about that time. When the Doctor return 4.
ed after an absence Of several hours, he found
the patient entirely reliered. and a blister
drawn with about tub full of water in its
interior. reckon she used chairs mighty
little for few weeks. She got well; but she
never forgave me for making medical mis-.
take, and for while injured my reputation.