Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-04-12
A HEARTLESS JOKE.

The Fort Wayne Sentinel, speaking |
of the foOlishness of smallpox scare,
illustrates the effect of the imagination
by the following:
You have of course heard of persons
having their imaginations so wrought
upon as to cause their death from some
supposed disease or illness. Now, no one
has, far as heard from, been frightened
to that extent on account of the small
pox scare, but case in point happened
here twenty-five years ago, that will
serve to point moral if not to adorn a
tale. The cholera was then raging pref
ty generally, and numbers of people had
left Fort Wayne fearing to be attacked
by the scourge. Three doctors were con-
versing about the plague, the effect, fear
and imagination had upon people, etc.,
etc. One of them (now dead for the
last ten years or more) proposed test
of this. He named strong. robust man,
butcher BY occupation, named DoIman,
who then kept his shop on the canal di-
rectly back of Columbia street Of the
many strong and healthy men, probably
not one could be found who was so near
ly perfect man physically. He was
also at the time in superb health, of full
habit and good weight So the trio
agreed to subject Dolman to the above
mentioned test Each of the three dis
ciples of Esculaptus was to 60 into the
shop on pretence of purchasing meat,
and then lead the butcher to talk on the
subject of cholera, or In some way to i'm
press him with the belief that he was
about to become victim.
The first doctor entered the shop, and
after passing the compliments of the
day with the proprietor. ordered pound
of steak. 1t was cut, and the unsuspect-
ing man of meat began to weigh 1t.
why" said the doctor, '-how badly
YOU look What is the matter with
you, Dolman 2
Nothing at all. said Dolman, "nev-
er felt heartier or better in my life.
DBut surely something aiIs you; you
are looking i'll.
Well" said the victim. ''I'm very
. we'll; nothing at all is the matter with
me"
. After looking at Dolman a minute
| the doctor PASSED out
Entered then the second Of the trio
: who also ordered some meat He like
wise looked searchingly at the butcher
: and then said:
e why, DOlman, what is the matte
with you? You are going to be sick.
e am afraid
r The poor man replied that he was no
III. and felt as well as he ever did in hi
D life.
= The doctor looked obviously at hin
a and went out.
: The last of the three who had .'pu
$ up the Job" on DOlman came in after
s while. He requested the butcher to Gu
him of nice piece of steak. As thi
e request was about to be complied with
o the doctor examined the meat, and re
= marked in an earnest way, mo, ] won
take it, that meat has cholera in il. !"
o This was the last straw. The poo
e wretch began to think he was in a ba
a way. The doctor. as soon as he had al
tered the rash words, walked of and lei
k Dolmau to his own reflections, whie
Il were none Of the pleasantest.
Dolman Immediately shut up shop
e. and went home. He felt sick and haf
sr II is said, as genuine q case Of eholer
r. as was ever seen. The artihee Of ii
e medical trio had succeeded too wei
Fortunately. the man $ splendid eonst
Z tuition carried him through and be r
te covered. Had be been . man Of lit
1g strength. highly susceptible to diseas
" and ali that. the result very likely wou
Iis have been death.
be But that was not all The doctor vi
q Rad urouosed the trial attended Dolms
or while be was sick. and presented . b
for his services. The butcher, having
i'd money. couldn't pay it. 10 satisfy !
claim the doctor took DoIman's hor