Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-01-22

OF the oldrsehool practice, The old
school doctors dignity could not stand
the shock, aad so the old'school doe
tor went oui, Only In plays and
memory We see him nowadays with his
exclusive narrow GIG aud big gold
headed cane and hls bland presence,
and his blind belief IN hiS knowledge
that was not knowledge or at tho
best, halt knowledge, Ifhls drugs
were not always the best things for
the patient, his calm assurance aud
unbounded belief in himself were un'
doubtly very good thipgl'
lie had such u belief In himself that
his presence begot faith In the patients
mind, aud many a cure has been
wrought by faith. The ncw'school
doctors are u iaithless set aud vciy
school boys at the knees Of medical
science, learners, only humble learn
ers,-bat tho oldschool physician was
a master who bent science to his own
theories, aud looked upon her as n
hckle Jade whom he was bound to
make keep step with the ideas OF his
profession, The old school doctors
believed themselves honest, but self
deception is the easiest kind OF dccep'
ton, and men are few who dare adj
nit themselves duped by 1t. 1t is n
very godlikc quality of mind to dare
to differ from ones word,
How closely these men OF the
old,school were welded TO the tradi--
ton Of their class !! heard an anec
dole of q physician who was reckoned
one Of the best Of his time. lie was
called to see a patient and prescribed
at once some powerful drug which
the patient could not keep on his
stomach an instart He exclaimed
"Why, doctor cant take 1t, it will
kill me ifI do"
"Then sir you must die for / have
given this drug for such symptoms as
yours for iolty years, and it is set
down as the proper thing by all the au'
thori.ies, and SIR you must take it,
But my stomach refuses it,"
"That sir, said the doctor grandly,
's the fault of your stomach, not Of
the medicine, sir. I'm not response
bic for your stomach. 1 know what
the medicine is and you must take
it,"
These old.school physicians we're
very tenacious of the traditions Of the
past, and very impatient of the ibnov-
ations of the present as for the future
and its promises they saw in it only
confusion. Many an old school physi'
clan left his practice, Or rather his prac
tice left him, because he could not
sympathize with the spirit OF the age.
There is a physician now living with.
in few miles of me who was once
reckoned skilful and who had a good
degree of success in practice, but his
practice lett blm because it was a part
Of his professional creed to read no
book that had not stood the test of
fifty years, or make use of any discove-
ry made known within that time.
He had all the old suavily of man
ner, a certain readiness of quoting
Latin and Greek, but he will bleed
and give calomel, and shake bis head
when anesthetics are mentioned, and
draw teeth with an old-fashioned key;
and so no body will call him, an9 he
storms away in his choice Latin quota
tations at the new tangled notions of
the age. Poor man He has refus-
ed to take the hand OF science and
walk on with her, but sits holding on
to the time stained piece ofparchment
which he tore from his garment at his
graduation, and with this rag from a
changed vestment in his hand thinks
he still holds the ever, advancing NAL
den close to him.
The merchant of the old-school was
quite as distinct type as the lawyer
or doctor or minister. He IS still
found occasionally, and, as of old, has
very strict notions of mercantile integ-
rity. Bankruptcy to himils not a:goal
bat tremendous calamity, from
which he expects to reap a harvest OF
shame. He prides himself that his
word and his bond are OF equal worth. 5
He looks upon speculation in its -.
special sense as an enormity to be
reckoned with gambling or any other
vice, and has suspicion OF any in
vestmcnt that promises more that 6
per cent. interest. He expects to be
exaet himself in all matters nertaining