Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-01-15
ABERNETHY.

In Abernethy, We come to one OF those
rough eccentric physicians of whose kin !
ness innumerable good stories are told
Like DR.. johnson, he had warm heart
under rough exterior. Though h. could
be absolutely brutal to fine ladies and af'
fected misses, he is said 70 hAye been IN
amixble mau, beloved of his family aud
friends. but to tiresome patients and
malades imAginaires. he was at times the
p-rs0nation of rudeness; ''Sir. that's
enough; go home and read my book. 10
a lady, who complained of low spirits, he
would say: Don't come to me; go and
buy q sklpping-ropc." Sometimes, how
ever, he met his match. Curran one day
came to consult him, and was rather diff
fuse in describing his symptoms.
''Sir," said Abernethy. you had better
tell me your whole life" Upon which
Curran sat down, and seriously began =
II was born in The year -, in the c0un-
ty Of, Irelands" and Abernethy burst
into leugh, and entere properly into
his case. A lady, determined to be briet,
and to humor the tyrant, one day entered
his consulting room, and thrusting out an
injured hand, merely said: my thumb,
Sir." ''You, madam" he exclaimed in
admiration, ''are the only sensible woman
l ever had for patient"
A gentleman, equally determined, lock-
ed the door, put the key in his pocket,
q I'd insisted On being heard. Abernethy
smiled, and complimented the patient On
his resolution. 10 gentleman who gave
him twenty pounds to re>attend his wife.
he said: Are you the fool who gave me
twenty pounds the other day? To nome
and tell your wife. to dine earlier and eat
less and do yol ke p you: m ,ney in your
pocket, for no doclOr's ADVICE IS worth
twenty pounds." To . ID ". he said se>
verely: ''Go home and tell your husband
he will not have . wife this day six
months"
Abernethy was no respecter OF persons.
Poor or rich his patients had to submis-
sively take their tu.ns, or they might go
elsewhere. An angry nobleman once
came 10 him, and stated his ranks and
titles in full, and asked Abernethy if he
knew who he was. To this Abernethy
replied: '.And l, Sir, am John Abernethy.
Surxeou-.ecturer of st. Bartholomew
Hospital, etc.; and if you wish to consult
me, 1 am now ready TO hear what you
have to say. IN return, Sir" The Duke OF
Wellington, angry at having to wait his
turn, abruptly entered his room Aber'
nelhy asked him how he had entered
..By the door, Sir" ''Thcn," said the
irascible doctor, Il recommend you to
make your exit the same way" He Is also
said to have refused George ~. till bi,
lecture ut the hospital was over. The
point ON which Abernethy most insisted
was the stomach, aad through that i'm
portant organ he declared all diseases
cUvld be cured. The celebrated biscuits
which he usoQ TO eat ~nd recommend were
nol 80 called from him, but from the baker
who first invented them That there was
kindness in Abernelhy, who Can deny,
who remembers the story of how he re.
turned sll his fees to . poor w:aSSw who
hsd consulted hun, AMI added fifty pounds,
to enable her to give her sick child daily
ride: He had horror Of operations,
a.d rejoiced when the evil could be avert
ed without such rough aud terrible RENE.
s.-[Ohambers' Journal