, 1876-11-17

ANECDOTES OF DooToRs.--Dr. Craw-
ford, a Baltimore physician, had q
troublesome patient, man who had
taken it into his head that he was slowly
dying of a liver complaint, when he had
nothing at all the matter with him, barr
ing the delusion. The doctor sent him
travelling, and he soon forgot his disease
altogether; but, unfortunately, he had
no sooner returned home in the best of
health than news came of the death of his
twin. brother of schirrous liver. He wes
thereupon seized with the fancy that he,
too, was dead, like his brother, of liver
complaint. DIR. Crawford was sent for,
and after hearing the story merely re-
marked: "Oh, yes, he is dead, sure
enough, and probably his liver was the
death OF him, as he expected it would.
However, will soon ascertain that by
opening the body before putrefaction
sets in. Bring me carving knife. +"
The knife was soon in the doctors
hands, and he stepped toward the hypo-
chondriac, but before he could COM
mence his post-mortem examination,
the dead-aliye jumped up. shouting
"Murderl" and dashed out of the room,
and out Of the house, and made across
country; he ran till he ran himself out,
and fell from exhaustion. Finding no.
body followed him, he returned to the
house, and though he lived a score of
years longer, he was never heard to
complain Of his liver again.
There is another anecdote Of the same
kind Ilr Nohor1 xuaa 0ol1aI IN l,xr Al a
friends Of q French duchess who had
convinced herself that she had swallow
ed frog, which was revenging itself by
destroying her health. She had con-
suited several eminent men. but they
only tried to reason her out of her hal
lucination. Cabarus, with greater wis
dom, gravely felt the pulse of the poor
lady, listened patiently to her details,
and then gratified her with "The frog
Is there, madam, but will remove it. !"
Proceeding to the nearest shop where
such q thing was procurable, the doctor
bought small green frog and returned
to his patient. Administering an inno-
cent emetic, as soon as it operated the
doctor took an opportunity Of slipping
his frog into the basin provided for the
occasion. Believing she beheld her tor
menter the duchess gave vent to her
gratitude, but suddenly stopped, turned
very pale, and exclaimed: "Oh, doctor,
the frog has left some little ones behind
neri" Not at all put out by this new
freak of a diseased fancy, Cabarus re-
piled, "Ws shall see. Then, taking the
frog in his hand, he scrutinized it for q
moment before uttering, in assuring
tones: Madam, that is impossible; the
frog is male" The duchess was salts
ned; and the young physician from that
day had no lack Of fashionable patron
age.
A number Of years ago an eccentric
Edinburgh surgeon. of high repute,
popularity known as Lang Sandy Wood &,
once had lady patient who had a large
tnmor in the throat, which refused to
yield to medical devices. The Scottish
surgeon was at his wits end when lucky
inspiration saved his being compelled
70 own that he was beaten. While con-
Dnersing with the sufferer he stirred the
lfe and left the poker there, and after a
oN asked his patient to open her mouth
as widely as possible. Directly she
ooeyed orders. DIR. Wood seized the
reo-hot poker and rushed at the wonder
stricken lady as if he proposed thrust
ing his strange surgical instrument
GOWN her throat. A shrill scream rang
tenrough the room, the tumor broke, and
sne Irightened lady found herself out Of