Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-21
The Sick Male.


points at which the views and the Gus
toms of men and women diyerge more
or less widely, but there is probably
nothing in which the difference is more
strongly marked than in their respec-
tive methods of bearing small illnesses
and indispositions. Small ones, be it
said advisedly; a grave malady has or
dinarily so prostratiDg an effect that 1t
is undergone with an almost apathetic
patience born of its very severity. But
with smaller ailments the case is differ
ent; and it is in their manner OF bear
ing them that men so often raise pity
ing smile on the countenances of their
less robust but more long-suffering
womankind. 1t never seems to occur
to an ordinary lord of creation that it
is within the bounds of possibility that
one of the minor ills TO which the flesh
is heir should touch him, and he is as
astonished and aggrieyed when he finds
himself suffering from headache or
hit of influenza as if the malady were a
perfectly abnormal occurrence. This
is the more remarkable as, almost inya-
riably, he SCOTS at and laughs to scorn
any precautionary measure-deelines
to change wet shooting boots, as being
''of no consequence" and persistently
sits in 4 draught because lie is over
heated. But when the heavy cold
comes he is all aDazement, canDo; con-
ceive how ne caught it, and regards
himself as victim grievOusly ill-treat-
ed by fate, and deserving Of all possible
sympathy and compassion. AS rule
woman is abundantly pitiful and SYM
pathetic; but it must require immense
command over her risible muscles TO re-
press a smile VIXEN her lord gravely as
sures her that no one was ever so Ill
before; and that she cannot have the
faintest conception of what he Is endu-
ring. She thinks of the many colds
from which she has suffered, for which
he has always condemned her for ''cod-
ding" assuring her that cold was
'mere trifle, nothing to make fuss
about" And yet, what was her fuss
ing to his? Besides feeling i'll, she is
always willing to try such such reme-
dies as experience has taught her are
the most efficacious, while he can be
persuaded to try nothing, though he
complains sorely that no one does any
thing for him or appears to compassion
ate his evil case. r.rF
1t is hardly happy time for those
brought much in contact with him. If
he suffers from headache the whole
machinery ofthe house must be stopped,
not door must creak, nor football be
heard, though he is the last person in
the world to respect the headaches OF
others, and always Processes his belief
that they are only another name for
caprice or convenience. AT the smallest
/ arrangement of his usual robust health,
from whatever cause it may arise, he
at once believes himself to be extremely,
j. not dangerously, ill; aud yet, with a
/ strange perversity, absolutely refuses
tosee doctor. His feminine belong gings,
il they are wise, commiserate and make
much of him, but are never in the
slightest degree alarmed SO long as he
grumbles and bewails himself; when he
becomes silent as to his sufferings they
at once conclude that something serious
is really the matter. It Er1 -sfl.
Perhaps the most doleful spectacle
that can be presented to the imagina-
ton is that of man afflicted with the
toothache. Iticertainiy is a most wear
ing and distressing pain; still, it has
been endured at different times by al
most every one. 1t is edifying to note
that though, when any one else ha;
been attacked with the same torment
he has recommended instant recourse
to dentist, and has derided any back.
wardness in following his advice a;
cowartice, he is, when his own timt
comes, no more eager to plant himself
in the chair of doom than were his des
pissed friends, and is fertile in inventing
expedients for putting of the evil day
probably, If the pain abates to remote