Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-08-12
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR"
~ eIch Of Medical Consultation and
aPieture of We OIdcn Time.

~ eIch Of a Medical Consultation and
RPieture Of We OIdcn Time.
AT the recent meeting of the Con-
necticut Medical Society, Doctor W..
G. BROwNSON, of New Canaan, the
President, delivered the annual address
IN rhyme, which was happy thought.
For pointed sentiment mingled with
fact, humOr, and satire, the address Is
unique; and it will be read with much
pleasure, no doubt, by those Of the med
zeal profession who are fortunate
enough to obtain the complete copy.
The following extracts will he appre.
ciated by professional readers as
well as the doctors:
The lessons of experience. as taught
In coun ~ practice, oft are dearly bought.
ihe modest worker in q sterile field,
Needing the SCanty harvest IL may yield,
Sometimes from doubt, sometimes from
anxious fear,
Wishes an able counsellor were near.
I'm only child, within whose lender life
centre the tOndcSt hopes of husband. wife
And many friends, seems on the verge Of
DEATH
convulsed with pain; with htfHl, rapid
breath,
c,enched hands.eyc> sunken, nostrils stretch
ing wide;
He scarce can cOuntthe pulses husty Stride
He looks ~ his thermometer am aZed,
It's column Ia Il frighttul figure raised:-
All, you and have felt his ana tOus fear,
And wish ell some able counsellor were near
10 aid III such extremity, or bear
OF such responsibility II share.
NOtimC 10 lose, he summons TO his aid
His nearest rival; time is quickly made,
And Jehu ike, with fOaming steed he drives,
And at the moment specified arrives.
In manner brlsK, pOmpOus in air and STYLE
He meets his brother with the blahdeSt smile,
v itn new found friends shakes hands with
relish keen;
Happy TO see them, happier TO be seen.
His CONVEX SatiOn he directs to these,
with studied effort to attract and please;
Tells OF an anxious case he had last night,
which by his skill Is coming out all right,
Details his treatment in learned way
Bold aud heroic as we sometimes say!
ConsultS his watch, and softly names the
time
Wien he must see case with Docto, Prime;
4 city lad. wealthy and refined,
Attractive both in person and in mind.
His fine impress ions made. he cOudeScends
70 iuterview the doctor aud The friends;
Ard, ere he sees the case, states his belief
That be can suggest prOmp' relief.
lie quickly scans the case and feigns TO see
At once the lesson and the remedy;
Tells Uf a dozen cases he has had
within year with symptoms quite as bad.
And thus the farce OF installation ends:
What further he d i>ClOSes TO the friends
We ne'er shall know: but somehow IL trans
pires,
lie gets the case-hls brother soon retires.
Another extract gives us picture Of
the country doctor of former days,
which some will recognize by a little
brushing Of memory:
How may we see ourselves, who backward
The pages of our life book and discern
The country doctor OF our bOyh God days.
v it'll foes and friends to censure and 10
praise.
IN saddle or in sulky brown and grim:
The storm and darkness were alike 10 him;
Through weary miles his keen anxiety
nd faithful horse. his only com pany,
His saddle bags snd dusty garb might tell
Zach aged sire and school-boy Knew him
well,
As thu ough the window or the open door
They watched his coming al the appointed
When coveted success had eaSed his brain.
He oft could feel the force OF the refrain,
Three faces wears the doctor; when first
An Angels; and Gods the cure half
wrought,
fee,
The devil is less terrible than he"
Twas his TO know betimeS when he had done
Mot faithful service, he had scarce begun
Rejoicing, ere the shafts OF malice dread,
Like hRilstones fell on his detenceless head.
zach day be passed some who from jealousy.
Malice or spite would do him injury;
Zach day ne stood beside some PROSTATE
Whose outstretched hand and trusting lock
Ard 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 tn feel the pangs OF bitterness.
" hen, batiled. 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 faculties were less than ours,
" gain advantage, not by added powers
For better service, but by nobler deeds
Mure Eelf-devotiou to our fellows needs.
Who does his best within his humble neld
Has gathered honors, which he need not
yield.
He wears the crown which faithful service
brings
None wears another's armor, each his own
Ours will be measured when our work Is
done.