The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-01-16

A DOCTORS LIFE.

Some of the sweets of a doctors
life may be summed up as follows,
and then the story is not half told
If he visits few of his patrons
when they are well, it is to get his
dinner if he don't do 50, its be
cause he cares more for the fleece
than the flock If he goes to church
regularly, it is because he has moths
ing else to do; if he don't go, it is
because he has no respect for the
Sabbath or religion. If he speaks
to the poor and treats them politely,
he keeps bad company if he pass
es them by he thinks he is better
than other folks If he has a good
carriage, he is eXtravagant, swell,
headed AID proud if he uses a
common plain one, on the score Of
econ my, he is deficient in necessary
pride and ought to ride ia a better
one if he has party at his house
now and then, il is to soft soap the
people and get their money; if he
don't do it, It's because he is afraid
Of spending cent. If his horse is
fat, 1t is because he has nothing to
do if he is poor, or lean, it is be
cause he is not taken care of, and a
doctor should ride better stock, if he
expects to do practice, or ever get
to his patient in time. If he drives
fast i. is TO make the people think
that somebody is very sick, or he is
showing off, perhaps tight, if he
drives slow, it is because he has no
interest 10 the welfare Of his patient,
and if the prtient should die before
he gets there, he will still claim his
pay. If he dresses neat he is proud,
If he does not, he is wanting in self~
respect. If he is active aud does
his duty in the sick room, be is
cruel, harsh and unfeeling ; and
comes near havir & 10 soul, on the
other hand if he is quiet and reserv,
ed, he don't know anything, and
they had just as soon have any old
woman If he talks quick and de
cided he is too rough and insulting,
If he speaks slow of course they
take it fr granted, he Is undecided
and perhaps don't know his bust
ntes If he gets a few hours rest
practice, aud steps into his farm to
work an hour or two, some loater
will paes by and perhaps say he ha-
uck his talent at last, and that he
IS god for 10, hing but farmer. II
he sits down to rest ard don't 60
in the field to work, it is because he
is too lazy to do any. If he talks
much, we don't want doctor to tell
everything he knows; if lie don't
talk, we like to see a doc or soci4
BILE. If he says anything about pod
tics, he had better let it alone; if
he doL't say anything of politics, we
always like to see nau show hIs
coIors, be man or be mouse.
If he isits his patients every day
it is to run up a bill If he dout do
it, it is urjustiiabIe negligence, if he
says any tbirg about ieilgion ne is a
hy pocrlte; il he don't he is an inf
del, and not lit to administer medl
cine in a christian community. II
he abuses any qnack nostrum, it is
Just from professional selfohncss If
he is in the habit Of counsel with
oiher physicians in bao cases, it is
because he knows noihiug it be
objscto to having council on the
ground that be Understands he cas-.
aud his duty, he is afrail to eXpose
his ign orasce 10 his supeflor8 Ia hi
profession If he cab for his pey,
and they begin to cdsint how many
pow d,,s they have taken, ho" many
powders they have taken, how many
times he has visited them and where
from, etc and if he gets one fourth
his pay he is good manager, ard
to wind up he catalogue those that
fod tn most fault, never pay their
bills. l. -.