Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-05-09
A West Virginia Doctor.

A West Virginia Doctor.
The major presented me to Doctor
Didiwick, red-headed, suffering,
eccentric individual, who was going up
toward Yeokem's on professional tour,
and would ride with US, This was fortu-
nate, as the road we contemplated
travelling was very obscure and difficult,
and the country not an agreeable one to
get lost in.
The doctor also counseled us to pro-
vide 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, most excellent
beverage for wayfaring people.
After supper, hearing mighty and
continuous humping in the direction
of the kitchen, l thought it advisable
to look in and give some special direc-
tons about the biscuit, which should be
well beaten and thoroughly baked to
prevent their getting mouldy.
Opening door, stepped out on the
back porch, and, to my establishment,
caught the doctor pelting and pounding
at batch of dough. The dough looked
rather dark, to be sure, and the doctor
slightly embarrassed; but, not to be cere-
monious, 1 said,
Greatly, doctor, this is very consider
ate in you to make the biscuit for us
yourself"
"What b-b-b-biscuit ?" he suffered,
surprised and offended. $50 to the
c-c-c-cook. Pm making blue-pills for
my patients tomorrow"
In the name of Esculapius, how
many do you make at timer
"Oh," said he, "ap.p-p-peck, more or
less. Practice in these mountains is
different from your city practice.
make my rounds once month, and it
takes weeks riding to get through, so
that | have to provision whole district
to last until come again."
In the morning we were on the road
betimes, ell in fine spirits except Cock
ney, who was little sore from yester-
day'srido, but did his bestnot to mind it.
The country was wild and rugged
enough, but more populous than we had
imagined. The doctor called at every
inmates, from the hobbling centenarian
to the toddling yearling focked out to
greet him. He inquired after their
welfare, physical and moral, in a most
kind and fatherly manner, naming
such as had been ailing at his last visit.
Having audited all their complaints, he
would leave one or two teacupfuls of
pills and ride on. Sometimes he took
the trouble to dismount and enter the
cabin of some bedridden patient; at
others he would simply inquire concern
ing a family living far back in the woods,
and leave measure OF pills to be sent
over next Sunday. Occasionally ne had
the luck to meet a customer on the
road, and delivered his monthly allow
ance on the spot. The doctor was evil
IDENTITY honored and beloved by the
whole country, and consulted on all
questions that arose, in law, agriculture,
or politics. He was sturdy Democrat,
and dispensed 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 a so-called herb
doctor came poaching upon his domain
and was a great grief Of mind to him
The fellow was civil and wouldn't quar-.
rel, but secretly undermined the regular
| PioNNAtAOhOi3 was SOotAhS All LIS pdllelte
and running the health of the district.
The inteIloper had two weaknesses
he was fond of backgammon, anc
hated snakes. Didiwick cared no more
for snakes than he did for fishing
worms, SO he took all opportunities tC
bedevil his rival with practical jokes il
which serpents played leading part.
One day he challenged the herl
doctor to a game of backgammon
Pleased with the unusual civility, he
accepted, and seated himself at the
table where the box lay closed before
him. The tavern loungers, aware that
something was up, gathered round to
witness the game.
"Set the board, DOCTOR" said Did,
wick, "while 60 to order two .juleps.'
The doctor opened the board, and a
six-foot black snake leaped out into his
face. He fed, and returned no more.
"And so | got rid Of the cussed hum
bug before he killed off my whole dis
trict. Porte Gayon in Harper's Magazine
for May.