The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-08-09
"The Country Doctor. y

w. q. Brownson, A. NJ, NJ. D., of New
Canaan, for the past year President of the Con-
necticut Medical Society, was assigned to de-
liver the address before the late annual meeting
in Hartford. He took for his theme ''The
Country Doctor and delivered an excellent
address in rhyme. 1t mingled facts with senti-
ment. and was in parts especially pointed and
in others humorous and satirical. Here is an
extract touching consultation which the nom
professional reader will appreciate:
The lessons of experience, as taught
In country practice, oft are dearly bought.
The modest worker in sterile field,
Needing the scantv harvest 1t may yield,
Sometimes from doubt sometimes from anxious
fear,
Wishes an ADLER counsellor were near.
An only child, within whose tender life
Centers the fondest hopes of husband, wife
And many friends, seems on the verge of
DEATH
Convulsed with pain with fitful, rapid breath,
Clenched hands, eyes sunken, nostris, stretch
ing wide;
He scarce can count the pulses hasty stride,-
He looks at his thermometer amazed.
Its column to frightful figure raised
All. you and have felt his anxious fear,
And wished some ADLER counsellor were near
To aid in such extremity, or bear
OF such responsibility a share.
No time to lose, he summons to bis aid
His nearest rival; time is quickly made,
And, Jehu-like, with foaming steed he drives,
And at the moment specified arrives.
In manner brusk, pompous in air and style,
tie greetS his brother with the blandest smile.
With new found friends shakes hands with
relish keen;
Happy to see them, happier to be seen.
His conversation he directs to these,
With studied effort to attract and please;
Tells of an anxious case be had last night,
W hich by his skill is coming out all right:
Details his treatment i'll learned way,
Bold and heroic as we sometimes say:
Consults his watch, and softly names the time
W hen he must see a case with Doctor Prime;
A city lady. wealthy and refined,
Attractive both in person and in mind.
His fine impressions made, he condescends
To interview the doctor and the friends
And. ere he sees the case states his belief
That he can soon suggest prompt relief.
lie quickly scans the case, and feigns to see
At once the lesion and the remedy;
Tells of a dozen cases he has hadl
Within year with symptoms quite as bad.
And thus the farce of consultation ends;
What further he discoses to the friends
We neer shall know; but somehow it trans
pires.
He gets the case his brother soon retires.
Another extract gives us a picture of the
country doctor of former days, which some
will recognize by little brushing Of memory
How may we see ourselves. who backward turn
The pages of our Hitchcock and discern
The country doctor of our bOyhoOd days,
With foes and friends to censure or to praise.
In saddle or in sulky brown and grim,
The storm and darkness We're alike to him
Through weary miles his keen anxiety
And faithful horse. his only company:
His saddle bags and dusty garb might tell,
Each aged sire and school boy knew him well,
As through the window or the open door
They watched his coming at the appointed hour.
When coveted success had eased his brain,
He oft could feel the force of the refrain:
Three faces wears the doctor when first
sought
An angels; and Gods the cure half wrought,
But when the cure complete, be seeks his fee,
The devil is less terrible than he
Twas his to know betimes when he had done
Most faithful service, he had scarce begun
Rejoicing, ere the shafts of malice dread,
Like hastones fell on his defenceess head.
Each day he passed some who from jealousy,
Malice or spite would do him injury;
Each day he stood beside some PROSTATE form,
Whose outstretched hand and trusting look gave
warm
And kindly welcome. while he sought to show
The brighter side and hide the threatened woe
Twas his to know the rapture of success;
| Twas his to feel the paugs of bitterness.
When, batfied, he must stand with bated breath,
Dumb and confounded, face to face with death.
We take their Places and survey with pride
The well earned laurels they have laid aside
If their facilities were less than ours.
We gain advantage, not by added powers
For better service. but by nobler deeds,-
Most self devotion to our fellows needs,
Who does his best within his humble field
Has gathered honors, which he need not Weld
10 man or angel; faithful in few things,
lie wears the crown which faithful service
brings.
None wears another's armor, each his own;
Ours will be measured when our work is done