Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-05-03
A Wcst Virginia Doctor.

A Wcst Virginia Doctor.
The major presented me to DR..
Didiwick, rcd-headed, slut, ering,
eccentric individual, who was going
up toward Yeokem's OH a profess
sional tour, and would ride with us.
This was fortunate, as the road we
contemplated travelling was very
obscure and difficult, and the coun-
try not an agreeable one to get
lost in.
The doctor also counseled us to
provide against all contingencies on
to-morrow's journey; SO We ordered
our hostess to have prepared ham,
sack of biscuit, and some bottles
of cold tea-this last, by-the-way, a
most excellent beverage for wayfar-
ing people.
After supper, hearing mighty
and continuous humping in the d.
rection of the kitchen, l thought it
advisable to look in and give some
special directions about the biscuit,
which should be well beaten and
thoroughly baked to prevent their
getting mouldy.
Opening door, l stepped out on
the back porch, and, to my aston
ishment, caught the doctor pclting
and pounding at a batch of dough.
The dough looked rather dark, to
be sure, and the doctor slightly en-
barrassed; but, not to be ceremoni-
Gus, l said:
"Really, doctor, this is very con-
siderate in you to make the biscuit
for us YOURSELF
"What b-b-b-biscuit?" he stutter-
ed, surprised and offended. $50 to
the c-c-cook. Pm making bluc-pills
for my patients tomorrow"
"In the name of 1Escuulapius, how
many do you make at timer"
"Oh," said he, ga p-p-p-peck,
more or less. Practice in these
mountains is different from your
city practice. l make my rounds
only once month, and it takes a
weeks riding to get through, SO that
l have to provision a whole district
to last until l come again."
In the morning we were on the
road betimes, all in fine spirits ex-
cept Cockncy, who was a little sore
from yesterdays ride, but did his
best not to mind it.
The country was wild and rug
gcd enough, but more populous than
we had imagined. The doctor call
cd at every house, and at his famil-
lar halloo all the inmates, from the
hobbling ccntcnarian to the toddling
yearling, fiockcd out to greet him.
He inquired after their welfare,
physical and moral, in the most kind
and fathcrfy manner, naming such
as had been ailing at his last visit.
Having audited all their complaints,
he would leave one or two teacup-
fuls Of pills and ride on. Some
times he took the trouble to dis
mount and enter the cabin of some
bcdridden patient; at others he
would simply inquire concerning Il
family living far back in the woods,
and leave measure of pills to be
sent over next Sunday. Occasion
ally he had the luck to meet n custo-
mer on the road, and delivered his
monthly allowance on the spot. The
doctor was evidently honorcd and
beloved by the whole county, and
consulted on all questions that arose
in law, agriculture or politics. He
was sturdy Democrat, and dis
pcnscd gratuitous opinions on this
subject as freely as he did his blue
pills. He suffered sarcastically
against medical quacks, and thought
the laws were not sufficiently severe
against them. Some years ago =
so.callcd herb doctor came poach.
ing OH his domain, and was u great
grief Of mind to him. The fellow
was civil and would not quarrel,
but secretly undermined tho regular
practitioner, was getting all his pa
ticnts, and running the health of
the district.
The intcrlopcr had two weakness.
cs-hc was fond Of backgammon
and hated snakes. Didiwick cared
no more for snakes than he did for
fishing worms, so he took all oppor-
tunitics to bcdcvil his rival with
practical jokes in which serpcnts
played a leading part.
One day he challenged the doctor
to a game of backgammon. Pleas
cd Will, the unusual civility, he nc.
ccp.cd, and seated himself ut the
table where the box lay closed be.
fore him. Tho tavern loungcrs,
aware that something was up,
gathered round to witness the
game. .r .HY r..
'Sct the board, DOCTOR" said
Didiwick, "whilc l 60 TO order two
julcps." N
The doctor opened the board, and
q six-foot hlack-snake lcaped out
into his face. lie fled, and returned
no more.
"And SO I got rid Of the .cussed
humbug before he killed off my
! whole district" Porte Cravom, III
! YZ0rs,A,.ss Mnnaziyle for 1lnA