River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-30
Hard Times and Medicine.

The following is from the Louisville
(Ky.) Medical Ners:
1t does na seem at first blush that there
should be very close connection between
medicine and the times. We rewont to
draw the lines so distinctly between a
profession and trade, tnat il Is some
what hard to realize that the laws of prac-
tice should be affected by the vulgar laws
of commerce. But they are, Just IS the
price of food, just as rents, more than
clothes (for vanity is the last thing to
succumb) vary with the times, so do the
incomes of doctors. What an income
there was just after the war. when every
thing was sweeping along with the spec
ulative madness it introduced! The great
doctor went way up in the thousands, and
very few of the lesser ones starved. The
years 1866 and 1866 were booming years,
and the seventies were turned amidst
plenty as general as may happen TO call
ing where one in the ten gets the bust
ness to do. The panic of 1873 marked
the decided turning point, and the bellies
of the little fish began TO turn upward in
the streams. The stagnation of 1877 reach
es the deep waters and grounds of many
q whale.
Of course the times must affect the
practice. The doctor is as often luxury
as necessity. 1t is nothing to call him
in for headache, when money is plenty;
his society may be worth the price of his
visit, when little is ailing; but when the
days of economy are upon us, he suffers
next to the church. Then comes the
trust in nature worthy = better cause, or
wretched makeshifts, the taking of neigh
borly advice, the duplication of old pre-
scriptions, the consultation of the drug
store man or the experiment with nos
trums. Then comes the counting of Wis
its also, and goes the smile at his too fire.
quent entrance, the ''letting him know
if necessary, and, worse than all,
the nonpayment of bills for seTy-
ices rendered, and the frequent
reference of his claim at the bank
rupt court.
And the hard times affect the doctor FOR
more reasons than upon the score ofecon-
omy. His services are notneeded so often
then. Money IN plenty engenders inn
prudence and excess, and with them comes
sickness. Barring the epidemic, there
has been a steady falling off, in the past
few years; general, we believe, but mark
ed in this community. Thirty-four was
the number of deaths in this city lest
week; one for every 1000 people! Let
us at least try 70 thank God for his gen.
eral mercy.
Then hard times affect the doctor more
cruelty than they do most men. Hemust
make show of success in life. This is the
worlds measure of his capacity. He dare
not cheaper his coat, and though his man
L. nhafn 1anaa4h InIlap
shirt, he dare not lay it open to the world.
! He may not walk when abroad, nor lessen
/ his style when at home, and the hollow
tale OF ''fearfully busy" must still
pass on, though he dread the bailiff's visit
on the morrow.
But wherefore the record of these
gloomy thoughtsl They are for comfort.
I We know how general are their applica-
4 ton. The telling of sorrows lessons their
stings, and many may draw consolation
! from reading what they have to say.
Many, too, may not have been able to
solve the difficulties which surround
them, and have blamed themselves for
what is happening. Nay, brothers, the
fault is not with you or with your art. 1t
lies far deeper than that. What has made
/ the times what they are has done it, and
statesmen and sages have differed about
this. As the day grows brighter all
around, it will beam for ms also again.
They say il is near at hand. 1t was to
have been when the troops were moved;
it is postponed now until the corps are
moved. Let us at least hope that it will
come when something is removed that
lies between us and the sun of prosperi-
ty. There is much in hope and faith.
They were able, because they thought
they were able" was a grand mot
TO, and when the flush times do
come again we ought to be bet
ter for our trials. With faith made
stronger in the passing ordeal, bearing
the prosperity, when it comes at last, with
/ gentle hearts,