Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-26
1anraster fntelltgenrer.
SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 20, 1881.
Prudent Doctors.

We are glad to see that those Wash
ington doctors are content with the
glory they get from their bulletins, and
are ready to let DR.. Agnew take charge
of their patient when any serious work is
to be done. The function of the nurse,
to which they have relegated themselves,
is very important and useful, but not one
of very remarkable dignity or response
bility. A great many good people, unin-
numbered with medical learning, are
quite equal to the situation, and Doctor
Bliss and his associates cannot be ac-
crlsed of unduly csteeming themselves in
considering that they are competent to
take charge of their distinguished pa
tient, SO long rs they have DR.. Agnew
within easy reach in case of any emerg-
ency greater than determining the pres
ident's diet or dressing his wound. 1t
seems little remarkable that doctor,
who displayed SO much self-confidence
as to drive off all the other doctors at
the time of the wounding, and so boldly
assumed to be equal to the emergency,
should show so much humility when
things about his patient begin to look
squally especially when he has three
other doctors of his own choosing to fall
back upon for help; and one of them the
surgeon general of the army. Bliss
evidently is rs prudent as he is bold.
Having secured his great place by
daring effrontery, he proposes to take no
chance of life from his patient by rash
reliance on his own skill. 1t is quite
too impOrtent to hun to lave his patient
get well. DIR. Bliss does well. We can
forgive him the advertisement he has
sought for himself, in The discretion lie
discovers in the choice Of Il skilled sur
geOn to do the work iic WAS supposed to
have proposed to dc Himself since it
now appears that hc does not intend to
permit his love Of fame to betray him
into the attempted display of a skill he
does not possess, aud that in fact he
seeks not fame ut ali, which he delivers
to Agnew, content himself with nOtOriety
only and such reflected glory as the sue
cessful result of Agncw's skill will bring
him.
We may hereafter read the signatures
of those four attesting doctors with more
equanimity, understanding fully that
they do not mean to advertise themselves
therein as the physicians to whom the
country owes the presidents life, but
simply that they are the recording secre-
tarirs of the results of DIR. Agnew'S III
Dor, and the ;:ttesting witnesses of its
success. This very modest role they are
competent 10 perform, no doubt, as DIR.
Agnew is able of himself to give the
president every chance for his life that
he can have. 1t does certainly seem a
little odd that those four doctors should
bc 50 ready 10 acknowledge Agnew' s
superior skill, when one is Il surgeon
general and another is the very preten-
tiouS DR.. Bliss: but let us bc duly
thankful for the result that theil
timidity Or modeSty has brought about,
and hereafter patiently listen to their
story of the daily temperature, reSpira
tiOn and emotions of their patient con-
tent that they shall thus, according to
their ability, contribute to the work by
the nations sick bed.