Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-15
THE TRAVELLING DOCTOR.
BY 2. E. J.


the acquaintance and enjoy the hospital
ity of an intelligent and wealthy gentle
man, whose home was gem of beauty.
Situated on an easterly slope of an island,
the land descended to the waters edge,
then across an arm of the bay-a mile
or more wide-where the boats of the
pleasure or fisherman might be
seen through the bright summer days,
could be seen the main land rising grad
ually to a moderate height, all marked
into squares and parallelograms for pas
lures and cultivated fields around the
farmhouse.
This home was surrounded by trees,
and ON its west side were two acres of
planted Standardization and ever
green trees-fowering and ornamental
shrubs; an occasional apple, pear,
ounce and peach tree; graveled walks
around and across the central part and
a rustic summer house. All showed
that the owner was one who delighted
Ito commune with nature in her visible
forms" The radiant flower garden be-
fore the windows to the east, was now
especially the result of the supervision
of the mistress of this beautiful home
While the short visit was full of pleas
ure to me, and full of kindness and con-
sideration ON the part of my host, [
could see there was constant draw back
to perfect enjoyment in the family circle,
not, however, on account of any defect
in the amiable disposition of any mem
Der of it, but from the deafness of Mrs.
W whose cheerful countenance and
pleasant remark at the table or in the
parlor, showed her desire to give happi-
ness while she was unconscious of the
conversation going on around.
In regard to this affliction Mr.. W
told me the efforts they had made to
gain relief from physicians who pretend
ed to make eye and ear maladies an es-
pecial study. Once trip was taken to
New York and several weeks spent there
with daily visits to celebrated and
largely advertised doctor, who in their
case demanded good portion of the
$500 fee in advance and gave treatment
that in no way gave hope of cure, and his
apparent lack of interest and sympathy
with the suffering patients, and his great
interest in their money, caused adisgust
with doctors, and despair of cure that
sent them home resolved to bear the ills
already known, rather than to bear the
suspense incident to a course of treat
ment. and the annoyance of seeing day
by day that the doctors interest in a fee,
was far more than with the Affections of
the patient.
Months passed away, when one pleas
ant summer day a gay team came bowl
ing along the road and called at this
house. The driver announced himself
as very successful doctor of the ear,
and he had restored many deaf persons
so that their hearing was perfect and
continued so. He had just come into
the neighboring city and should stop
only short time; he had made inqui-
ries in regard to those likely to need his
skill, and had heard of this case of Mrs
W. 1t so happened that brother and
sister of Mrs. W-were also in the neigh,
borhood, and both partially deaf, so the
three persons were gathered in the pleas
ant sitting room, and began to negotiate
terms as favorable as possible for The
three. 1t can be imagined that it tool
strong lungs and loud talking on the
part of the doctor to set forth his skill
and inspire faith in the minds of those
who had heretofore been constantly de
ceived in their hopes of cure. Fo
sixty dollars he would attempt the cur
of the three persons. This was certain
ly reasonable sum, yet doubts lingerec
in regard to the propriety of trusting
stranger to in any way treat them TO
this peculiar ailment in an organ so ca
) silly Injured and so sensitive to treat
ment.
Finally the doctor said to the brother
"Allow me to examine your ears. cal
then Judge more correctly of the caus
of the deafness, and the probability o
its removal" To this the brother assent
ed. and the doctor took from his poke
1 a few little implements, selected one ant
e inserted it in the ear, withdrew it, look
!; ed in, and again carefully inserted tn
little pincers, all the time saying to him
self, ..Well [ should think as much
: No wourder you can'thear. No Difficult
ty in curing such a case p when sna
J went the pick in the mans ear, sound
t ing like the explosion of a small pistol
: and the man started and the doctor tri
umphantly held up his little pincers wit
: quite a bit of some white substance i
j. their grasp. Just see that no wonde
e he could mt hear with his ears full c
n wax Did you not hear it snap when
e started that wax 90 The man who's
S ears were still ringing, assented that h
e did hear it snap.
d During this time Mrs. W becam
IS strangely agitated and went into anothe
b room, and through the open door becl
e oned to her husband He fnall
e saw her signs and went to her. Sh