The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-04
AFAMoUS PHYSICIAN.

Speaking of famous physicians, wri-
ter in ChdmLerS' JoHrHdI SAYS: Ia Abrr-
nethy We come To one of those rough
eccentric physicians of whose kindness
innumerable good stories are told. Like
DIR. johnson, who had warm heart
under II rough exterior, though Ir conld
be absolutely brutal 10 fine Indies and
affected misses, he is said to have been
an amiable man, beloved of his family
and friends But to the tircsumr pa
tients and mdIddes imdgindiF& ha was at
times the persopaiion of rudrncss: "Sir,
that's enough; 20 hOnI" and read my
book" To lady who complained of
low spirits he would say: Don't come
TO me; go and buy skipping rope
Sometimes, however, he met his match
Curran one day came to consult him,
and he was rather diffuse in describing
the symptoms OF his disorders. ''Sir, said
Abrrnethy, ''yuu had better tell me your
whole lifr." Upon which Curran sat
down and seriously began; 81 was born
in the year, in the county Of,
Ireland" and Abenethy burst into q
loud laueh and entered properly into his
cas,. A lady determined to be brief and
to humor the tyrant one day entered his
consulting room, and, thrusting out AN
injured hand, mcrely said: My thumb,
sir. ''Nou, madam" he exclaimed in
admiration, ''are the only sensible wO-
man ever had for II patient
y gentleman, equally determined, be-
ing roughly interrupted, suddenly lock-
ed the door, put the key in his pocket,
and insisted on being heard. AbernetIy
smiled, and comIhimcntcd the patient
on his resolution. To "a gentleman who
gave him twenty pounds To re- attend his
wife lac said: ''Arc you the fool who
gave me twenty pounds the other day
Go home and tell your wii'. to dime early
and eat less; and do you keep your mon
ey in yonr pocket. iOF no doctors advice
is worth twcuty ..punds." To Il Lady
he said severely. "Go home and tcTl
your husband he vigil not have a wife
this day SiX months.
Abernctiy was nO rrsp"ctOr Of pr
sons. Poor or rich, his patients lad to
submissivrly take their turns, or they
might go elsewhere An angry NOBLE
man once broke into his room and stat
ed his rank and position in fnll, and ask
ed Abernethy if he knew who he was.
TO this A5ernethy replied; "And, | sir,
am John Abernethy, surgeOn-lecturer Of
st. Bartholomew Hospital, etc, and
if you wish to consult ! am now ready
to hear what you have to say in return
sir" The Duke OF Wellington, angry a
having to wait his turn, abruptly enter
ed his room. Abe,netlIy asked him how
he had entered. by the door, sir,"
'sThen," said the irascible doctor, IL
recommend you to make yaar exit the
same way He is ai-o said to have re-
fused 20 attend George IL. till his lee
ture at the hospital was over. The point
Oh which Abernethy most insisted was
the stomach, and through that last nn-
portant organ lac declared that all dis
eases could Be cured. The celebrated
biscuit which lIe used to eat and recom-
mend were not 50 called for him, bat
from the baker who first invented them
That there WAS kindness In Ab"rneihy,
who can deny who remembers the story
of how he returned llI his fees to a poor
widow who had consulted linn, and AL
ded fifty pounds to enaLie her 10 give
her sick child daily ride. lie had a
horror of operations, and reioioed when
the evil could he averted without such
rough and terrible remedies.
Is vain do they talk OF happiness who
never subdued an impulse in obedience
to a principle. He WHO never sacrificed
a ,,,.oyo,f 20 IN fnfura o,ncJ or N Y,.r1r,,