Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-20
Anecdotes Of Doctors.

RAISING over tGlenu, WHOSE JaCODlllSul
got him into the Tower, and Cheselden,
with his prediction for pugilism, we pass
on to that excellent man, the Quaker ply
stefan, Lettsom. When only forty years
of age DIR. Lettsom is said 10 have made
twelve thousand pounds per annum. The
charity and generosity of this amiable man
knew no bounds. For a highwayman who
stopped him and took his purse, he obtain
ed commission in the army. His rich
patients he neglected for the poor He was
one of the earliest supporters of the Mar
gate-Sea- bathing Infirmary. He promoted
vaccination, and helped forward the Royal
Humane Society. Lettsom is described as
tall man, with a dark yellow face. The
well known epigram upon him ran:
when any sick to me apply
physics bleeds, and sweats 'em
II after that they choose to die,
What's that to me III Lettsom.
A greater man, and quite as social and
amiable, was Edward Jenner, the discov-
erer of vaccination. A chance remark of a
Worcestershire dairymaid was the origin
of this great and useful discovery. He
was the son of Worcestershire clergyman;
and on the expiration of his apprentice
ship 10 a surgeon near Bristol, studied I'M
der the celebrated John Hunter. In 1900,
Parliament voted Jenner twenty thousand
pounds, as it appeared clearly from a re-
port of the College Physicians that, out of
164,311 cases of vaccination, there had been
only three deaths. Jenner seems to have
been a meek, gentle, and modest man, as
tonished at his own fame. The character of
the man is well shown in letter he wrote
to Cline, who assured him, If he came 10
London, he would earn ten thousand
pounds year.
"Shall l." he says, "who, even in the
morning of my days, sought the lonely
and sequestered paths of life in the valley,
and not The mountain-shal 1, now my
evening is fast approaching, hold myself
up as an object for fortune and for fame
Admitting it is certainty that obtain
both, what stock should I add TO my little
fund of happinessH And as for fame, what
is TIA glded butt, forever pierced with
the arrows of malignancy."
John Hunter was remarkable instance
of natural genius discovering its true bent.
The Glasgow cabinet makers boy was
right when he left the plane and the chisel,
and turned anatomical assistant, TO be in
time surgeon-general of the army, and,
without doubt, the first surgeon of Eu-
rope. On his great collection, now in the
College of Surgeons, Lincoln Inn Fields,
Hunter is said 10 have spent ninety thous-
and pounds. 1t was purchased by gov
eminent for fifteen thousand. Hunters
skillfulness may be gathered from the fact,
that he once removed tumor as large as
mans head, and healed the wound, as sur
geons say, by the first intention. He was
SO diffident a lecturer, that he is said 10
have always taken thirty drops of lauda-
mum before he commenced his discourse.
In character Hunter was arrogant and con-
temptuous, trampling down all opposition.
When told OF a hostile criticism being pub
lished, he said: Eyes, we have all of US
vermin that live upon u.s." Hunter died
in 1898, suddenly, at a meeting in st.
Georges Hospital, where some opposition
had irritated him. A fear of hydrophobia
from cut he had received in dissecting a
hydrophobic patient, had latterly preyed
much upon his mind. His chief discov-
cries were in relation 10 cancer and pop
liteal aneurism but he carried the study
of anatomy farther than his predecessor,
and established the existence of new prop
critics in the gastric juice. Hunter was
fond of keeping wild animals, from which
he sometimes ran great risks.
In Abernethy, we come again to one OF
those rough, eccentric physicians of whose
kindness innumerable good stories are
told. Like DR.. johnson he had a warm
heart under a rough exterior. Though he
could be absolutely brutal to fine ladies
and affected misses, he is said TO have been
an amiable man, beloved of his family and
friends. But TO tiresome patients and
malades ima0inaires, he was at times the
personation of rudeness: "Sir, that's
enough; go home and read my book" To
lady who complained of low spirits, he
would say: "Don't come to me go and
buy a skipping-rope." Sometimes, how
ever, he met his match. Curran, one day,
came 10 consult him, and was rather diff
fuse in describing his symptoms.
'Sir," said Abernethy, "you had better
tell me your whole lile." Upon which
Curran sat down, and seriously began: 81
was born in the year, in the County OF
laugh, and entered properly into his case.
A lady determined to be brief, and TO hu-
NOR the tyrant, one day entered his con-
sulting- room, and thrusting out an injur-
ed hand, merely said: "My thumb, sir"
"You, madam" he exclaimed in admira-
tion, "are the only sensible woman ever
had for patient"
A gentleman, equally determined, be-
ing roughly interrupted, suddenly locked
the door, put the key in his pocket, and in
sisted on being heard. Abernethy smiled,
and complimented the patient on his reso-
luton. To 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? Go home,
and tell your wife to dine earlier, and eat
less and do you keep your money in your
pocket, for no DOCTORS advice is worth
twenty pounds" To a lady, he said Sc
verely: "Go home and tell your husband
he will not have a wife this day six
mouths"
Abernethy was no respeclor of persons
Poor or rich, his patients had to submis-
sively take their turns, or they might &c
elsewhere. An angry nobleman once
broke into his room, and stated his rank
and titlesin full, and ask ed Abernethy if he
knew who he was. To this Abernethy re-
piled: Sand /, sir, am John Abernethy
Surgeon-Leeturer OF st Bartholomew, S
Hospital, &c. and If you wish 10 consult
me, am now ready 10 hear what you have
TO say, in return SIR" The Duke of Wei
lington, angry at having to wait his turn
abruDllV enterad his room Aharnathx