Huntsville gazette., 1883-09-15
The Rival Doctors.

In your long experience, Doctor!
1t was at little entertainment given
in honor of DIR. Tourniquet's retirement
from practice-an event we younger as
pirants felt. inclined to. celebrate With
no small satisfaction-that the forego-
ing question was put to the guest OF the
evening.
II think said the old gentleman,
'sabout the most interesting case | ever
had was the first.p
"Would you mind relating it?''
'.Not at all. Whatever secret there
once was about it, all reason for keep
ing it has long since passed"
at is now nearly fifty years" " he con.
tinued, ''since presumed to settle here,
and enter into competition with old
Carver, whose dazzling gilt sign. en-
blazoned with his name and pro es-
sional designation of Physician and
Chirurgeon1C 1Curmudgeon would have
hitthe mark more nearly-had hitherto
enjoyed a monopoly of lighting fools the
way to dusky death.
He never passed me without a
scowl. and never spoke of me but with
contempt. His evident purpose was to
nip my pretensions in the bud. should
never have case if he could help it. 4
began 10 lose heart at last, and was
seriously considering the advisability OF
giving up the struggle and leaving the
headstrong population to old Carver
and their fate, when one night l re-
ceived a hurried call to attend a gentle
man who had just had his leg broken.
''Mr Loammi Furneval, the indi-
vidual referred to, was a respectable
middle-aged bachelor, for some time
thought to be particularly attentive to
Miss Berencia Potts, a maiden lady OF
fortune, and nearly his own age.
I'm attempting TO board moving
railway train, he had missed his footing
and fallen SO that one of his legs was
run over and completely crushed almost
to the knee.
''They carried him home on stretch
er, and, as usual in such cases, messen-
gers ran for all the doctors in the place
that is to say, in the present instance,
for old Carver and myself,
ave arrived simultaneously.
~It's compound co,nminuted frac-
ture of the tibia and the tibular said
old Carver, pushing forward to take
possession by first getting his ugly paw
on the injured limb, which he fumbled
roughly through the clothing. It's
case for Immediate amputation,' he
added, opening his case of instruments.
81 shall not require your services
spoke up Mr.. Furneval, with consider
able. energy for one in his condition.
Il prefer pla ing myself in the hands
of DR.. Tourniquet.'
Everybody looked astonished, and
old Carver S face grew blacker than a
thundercloud. T7s-
"'Your blood be on your own head!'
he croaked ominously, and bundling up
his instruments he banged the door be,
hind him.
II wish to be left alone with the Doc
tor said Mr.. Furneval, when old Car
Yer had gone; If ass stance is needed it
can be called.
Everybody withdrew but the patient
and myself; and there, alone and sim
gle-handed, I did everything the case
required.
: You don't mean to say you ampu.
tated the limb without assistancep saic
a fidgety little NJ. d., across the table.
mo; you see Mr.. f., as have said,
was keeping company with Miss Potts,
he might be better able tc
walk than to hobble into her affections
we decided against amputation. and pro-
ceeded accordingly. 34
Next morning met old Carver on
the street. He was in the habit of pass
ing me with frown without speaking,
but this time he stopped.
"'How's your patiente' he inquired,
with a sneer. so
"'Doing finely l replied.
'''Your first amputation, / suppose?'
Neither first nor last, l said; i
didn't amputate at all
Il suppose you know the legs
smashed to splinters?'
~ do
And you haven't amputated?'
"'And don't intend TOP
mo
Better 60 to the undertaker's and
order a coffin then.
He's busy on one of your last vic
tins. believe said /. hurrying along.
''For nearly week my patient saw
no one but myself and the servant who
carried up his meals. Es
Then a few friends were admitted to
cheer his confinement, which he bore
with admirable patience In six weeks
/ removed the splints, and the next day
Mr.. Furneyal was walking ont as well
as ever. My fame was in everybody's
mouth, Even old Carver. could find
nothing to carp at, for he had every
where circulated the terrible nature of
the injury, and predicted the patients
speedy death. My practice soon ex-
ceeded my most sangiine hopes, and
old Carver whilom patrons flocked to
me in such numbers that he shut up
shop and retired in disgust. f1
"'Was the limb really as badly frac-
tured as at first supposed?' inquired the
tidgety little Doctor opposite.
"'Quite ground almost to powder,
you might say
"'And gave no signs of lameness af-
terward?'
mo more than before there had
previously been slight hitch in that
leg, but | think there was less after
wards
'Wonderful!' exclaimed the little
Doctor
'''Not at all. You see, and there Law
tho Sacret tho in i,,red 1eU UaS of xuood