The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-06
My First Patient.

I'm ONE of the most lovely little villages
A. in the Valley of the Connecticut had l.
"a. W. Caldwell" anewly fledged M. D.,
hung out as conspicuously as possible my
tin sign, proclaiming to the inhabitants
that any patronage they might bestow upon
me would be most gratefully received.
This was the place of my nativity, and
within circuit of few miles had my boy
hood and youth been passed. Developing
early a disposition for the profession of
medicine, my education had been to that
effect, and up to the time of the breaking
out of the war my life had been spent in
constant study-varied, of course, by an
occasional Irritation with some charming
damsel. But the clarion sound Of war
startled me from my lethargy, and bidding
"adieu" to friends, neighbors and old
Esculapius, l started with one of the first
regiments for the field of conflict
But my separation from the last mentioned
gentleman was destined to be of short
continuance, for surgeons were scarce, and
humanity as well as the desire for the
knowledge this experience would give me,
beckoned me to the post, and so during the
whole campaign my time was passed with
the dead, wounded and dying. At the end
of the war, returned to New York to
complete my lectures and receive my di-
ploma; which being done, l spent another
year as resident physician in one of our
first hospitals; and now, with n ripe expe-
rience and little prestige, / found myself
tucked away in this delightful valley,
waiting for my first patient. u-#Hr
"Good- morning, sir. This is, suppose,
Dir. Caldwell?" and !, startled from my
reverie by the low voice at my elbow, looked
around to see lady, not old, not young,
but fine-looking, with an air of elegance
hplainly bespoke her station in society.
She had entered the room very quietly, and
now stood gazing into my face, as il en-.
deavoring to find there the index Of my
professional ability. .rf.
81 am that gentleman, madame. VIII
you be seatedP' and ! offered her chair,
and seated myself beside her.
Z" have come to you for advice, DOCTOR"
said she, at the same time drawing off hel
delicate gloves, and displaying hands white
and tiny, while on the taper fingers gls-
tened diamonds and opals, rather too much
for good taste, / thought, but that was nc
affair Of mine. So !, after having, from
my general scrutiny, come to the conclusion
I,oN In 10 "a 4
missed all thought of them, and attended
to the business she had on hand.
"Icame to you, doctor, because heard
that you had had considerable city expe
rience, and really can't put any confidence
in these country clowns. / am boarding
At Hotel, about two miles from here
and"
"Is it for yourself, that you seek adviceP
inquired, noticing her momentary hesita
tion.
"Not at all, sir," she replied, laughing
heartily. "Do ! look like an invalidp
never was i'll day in my life;" and th'
fine wcll-developed figure and generally
healthy appearance gave pretty good cv
idence that she was speaking the truth
"It is my daughter, sir, or rather, my hus
bands daughter, for am unfortunate
enough to be a step-mother. She has al
ways been delicate, at least ever since
knew her, We brought her here this sum
mer at her particular request, instead o
Newport or Saratoga; but she does not i'm
prove--that is tosay, she thinks she doesn't
There may be somo nervousness and hystc