Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-03-26


GossIPY EENINIscENcE BY AZ OLD DOCTOR.
Some people are always faneying them
selves sick. They get morbid, spleeny, whia-
ing, eso,i~tical and 50 perfectly inert in life
that they only encumber the ground Most
such people are cured by being compelled to
DO something Our eye las lately fallen uF-
on 4 racy little article in the Boston MdHgi
and Surgical Journal, written hy venerable
Vermont physician. from which we make
the following extract illustrative of this
weak k-sisterism which nearly every one has
seen
Many Yeas since. an intelligent medical
friend, residing in 4 distant uar; Of the State,
had patient, a Young lady, suffering from
arrangement Of the assimilating functions,
which, for long time, had resisted all treat
ment for relief An eminent member Of the
profession, professor in mo-e than one medi-
cal college, was called in consultation, who
pronounced it case Of valyular disease of
! the heart, and hastily predicted that the pa
tient, at the utmost, could not survive year.
My friend, the attending physician, yielded
his own opinion, and the patient was given
over to her doom. Having occasion. subse-
1 quently, to visit the place of my friend ;
residence, he courteou>ly invited me to ac-
I company him in q visit to this patient, with
out giving me any intimation OF the facts as
above related | examined the patient as il
| had been called in consultation, and grayeiy
pronounced the case Gnasnia, FROM derange-
ment of the digestive organs, and want of
due assimilation, and thought she would
/ probably recover, interriRg that my medical
/ friend opinion the same. He expressed
his regret that had given my opinion 50
| hastily (Which, think, bad surprised him)
especially in the hearing of the patient,
| lest it should excite false hopes" But no
such result was likely 10 follow. for the
beautiful patient exhibited, strong resent
ment. that should presume to question the
capacity of the yenerated DIR. MuS>ey to Judge
correctly of her case. and Its iBal result, evi-
deutly assuming that had been informed Of
Dr. Mussey's opinion. 1t Is no more than
Just TO the memory of that distinguished
man, las the result will show to say that
this occurred only few weeks after the first
introduction of the siefhoscops into the Unit
ed States, and | think it not unlikely it may
have been the first opportunity presented him
for testing Its reliability, as u means OF de-
tecting the seat and character OF internal
disease Is it wonderful thing that the
most adroit man in the profession, even,
should have failed of true diagnosis. under
ike circumstances
The young lady had the aspect. very OBJ
yiously, OF anemic patients. had the delicate
organization, which often characterizes ie-
males for period before and after puberty
fayoring the development of romantic 'ab-
surdities. She evidently delighted in the
idea Of her own frailty, and enjoyed the ad-
miration of her sympathiring friends. lhad
clear recollection of my honored father 5
method. and management OF such patients.
was permitted to re-examine the case, but
could find no evidence of valvular disease
and. notwithstanding my sincere reverence
for DIR. Mussey, adhered to my own opin-
ion, for which my medical friend eyidently
pitied me, and the beautiful patient hatet
me- She lived on, the same lovely, inter
esting, suffering invalid, one year, ten years
twenty years-became maiden lady a
last. and got married, and lorg time after
died, whether OF valvular disease oi thu
heart. never learned.
Perhaps a little restitution is due tin
gentler sex for portrayiug an instance o
their sentimental nonsense, from which the,
may fancy we deem ourselves exempt. lie
me give yoa II like specimen exhibited ii
verdant manhood, probably at about the sam
period of development. During my earl.
pupilage, was fast becoming sentiments
exquisite myself reading myself well up il
all the pathological abnormalties ol th'
heart, till honestly believed they had IL
in their clutches, ard ! had begun to admir-
myself as an interesting pathological sleci
men. On one occasion, after late an
heartily supper, went early to bed, ard, a
midnight, the abnormalities had me fast.
believed could neither breathe, nor fee
pulsation at the wrist. \ boy was with
call in another chamber, whom ! sent i
haste to my father below, with messag
that was dying. felt little mortife
that he did not hurry up but he came a
last, with lamp in his hand, and, lookin
me sternly in the face, said, What now !?
| looked up beseechingly, and family an
meekly whispered, MY heart! - lie pause
o moment as if tor devising an appropriat
remedy, and then gave it, in no very gent
. tones, saying, "My son, if you ever call m
up again to see you die, III recuperste you
,, heart with horse whip,' and lett me
die alone, and was greatly chagrined BY n
failure to accomplish the feat i.a
4 l