The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-24
The Doctors Story.


ourselves after meeting of the Hlppocratic
Medical Society, whose members were ac-
customod to assemble once year for Dur
poses of mutual edification and improve
mcnt. DIR. G:lcn Cupps was in the chair.
lie was our Nestor, our old man cluuucnt,
living professional legendary budget. On
lis face you could read Entertainment"
as plainly as you saw it painted on al old
fashioned tavern sign; and TO 1t, after a
day OF weary rambling over the dusty
paths Of therapeutic lore, we turned as
naturally for rcfreshment us the tired way
farer halts before the inviting signboard
waving hospitable welcome to the cheer
within.
Genial DIR. Cuppsl Like Father Grimes,
that other good old man, "well never see
him any more" No monument marks his
last resting place. The guild of under
takers, possessed they a spark of gratitude,
would not suffer this to be. AS for his
surviving professional brethren, few of us,
fear, have money to spend in that way.
"liow 90 young doctors, us a rule, get
their start3" qucrlcd cynical-looking Nj.
ID. at the foot of the table, with nose as
sharp as the tip of his own lancet-"leav.
ing OUT of course, exceptional eases, like
that OF man swallowing tisll-bone, or
dropping suddenly into fit, where there
Is no choice but to seek the nearest aid
What l ask is, how do people come to trust
their lives deliberately in inexperienced
hands3 What's the philosophy OF ita"
"P"pulur ignorance, probably, "suggestcd
one
"Or cheek III the youngster," another
limited.
'lt's mostly tuck, ! think" remarked
the chair, whcrcon had conversed II num-
Der Of nquiring looks.
"Comc, doctor. gives us uO,tr ex-
perlcncc on the point was seconded and
! carried.
"Minc was case of pure luck" 81 d
5hc.
Il "Won't you tell us about it 2" we en-
8trcalcd.
DR.. Cupps was not the man to refuse
8 "lounG men nova days." lie began:
s center the profession with other udvan.
sStages than we old fellows had. The pub
8lic hospitals, now accessible to students.
SsalloId them opportunities to learn much by
conservation, which aOc were left to find
aout through experiments on our patients.
~ "IhouSh l took my degree after n
Sgcredltablc examination. | doubt if could
S#thcn have distinguished, by inspection, be-
Stwen the lncipicnt stages of chicken pox
aSand measles. Had been called to treat u
8himplc case of rheumatism, ten to one I
sshould have found verdict of white
dwelling, and passed sentence of amputa-
Zion without stepping to ost the victim
3aswhat he had to say against it. My first
apatiout was Percy Topham, a young man
35who had inherited a splendid constitution
igts well rs fortune, but was fast making
ss$$way with both. The case, no doubt, would
sshaye fallen in Dingo's hands, for he mon =
eSopollzed the practice thcrcabout, but for his
absence on n distant call
@ 'Tome quick, sir!" urged the mcsscn
#gcr; MIR. Pcrcy's taking on AT an awful
l&rate.'
BE 'Without staying to inquire further, |
sesnatchcd my hat and sailed forth. quite
forgetting, in the excitement, the ncw-p,l
abags wherein was stored my stock Of
& samples.
s u rived to find my patient taking on
lat an awful rate, sure enough.
1S 1s,5 "Pokcr in hand, he was laying about
ssliim in manner highly detrimental to the
sStn niturc. lie was killing snakes, he said.
sslad it been dogs, hydrophibia mi ght have
ISsbeen my diagnosis; but snakes | knew,
saMeant dctiriunl Hcmcns. And such was
SSthe decision of Mr.. Tophaln's own more
aEpracliced judgmentfor, turning toward me, =,
AN lucid moment:
rye got ON, Doc,' he said
did my best to calm him, assured him
bring him around, placed my fin
d gers On his pulse, and began to count the