Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-01-26
AN INTERESTING PATIENT.

confidentially. Both were young,
somewhere between twenty five
and thirty, and both were enthusi-
astic students of the noble profession
of medicine. They had become in
timaie al college, and strong
friendship existed that had known
no Jar or break. DR.. Wilfred At
kinson was "a Western mae COM
ing from Illinois; while DIR. Fred.
erick Read claimed a New England
town for his birthplace.
1t was Fred Read who said:
aYou will accept this offer ?"
"Accept ~ cried his friend. II
should think so. 1t is what i want
most i'm the world. You see, | have
always been more interested in the
study ofinsanity than in any other
form of disease, and to be resident
physician in an asylum, where 4
have only made weekly visits,
gives me opportunity tor study that
[ could never have elsewhere.
"Yes, L know all that but it will
be very eonfining. think ! prefer
general practice, after all. But you
may ex xpect to see me often. How
i shall miss you, old fellow !"
And then the talk drifted into
other channels, until DIR. Atkinson
discovered that it was time for his
train to Il, where his new home
and field of duty lay.
"You will come over often," he
urged, i'm parting from his friend ;
sand if l am busy or away, make
yourself at home. The grounds are
large, and very pleasant, and II you
meet any of the patients, be sure
those who are allowed to roam
about inside the walls are harmless.
Some of them are absolutely sane
on every point but one; touch that,
and off they go. But the eyes tell
thestory." !,
"Yes; it il hard to hide it there" /"
"And contradiction brings out the
truth. AS long as the deluSionS are
humored they are generally anna
BILE enough; but once cross them
wheW !"
II shall come over often and hear
the results Of your experience. My
enormous practice takes about three
hours day"
In pursuance of this promise DIR,
Read took the train about once a
week ard spent an hour or two with
his friend, finding him generally
busy. as his duties Included gen.
erai superintendence of the asylum
and details that were quite indie
pendent of professional work. Still
he took it all as a part OF his new
life. and gave his mind as fully tt
ordering groceries and towels as ne
did to writing prescriptions ano
studying cases.
But Fred, as he became familiar
with the place, began to share ms
friends interest in the study o
! mental disorders aud would offer
spend hours roaming the wards ane
grounds with only a few words 4
/ DIR. Atkinson.
/ 1t was when June was young aho
the air soft and pleasant that Dr
/ Read. strOlling about in the pretti
est part of the grounds, saw lad,
lin a summer house whose face at
ltracted him at once. III was a yer,
pale face. and the large dark eye
were languid, while the slende
figure seemed weak as if from recen
Illness. But it was. too, Deautiiu
Young face, shaded by waving
brown hair, and with purely ova
outline and regular features.
ga new patient" was Fred's men
tai exclamation. "What a loVel.
| facew
Then ne sauntered over to tn
simmer house aud spoke TO tn
lady. To his CONSERVATION, sh
started, gave quick, gasping sol
and tainted. Ii was not very lon
insensibility, and under FRED
quick treatment the large eyes open
ed, and she whispered
so. am so sorry to trouble you
But / have been very ill, and yo
startled me-"
II was very much to blame" n
said, penitently, land l hope yo
will pardon me. Are you we
enough now for me to run up to tn
house for a glass of wine ~
"I am well enough, but l do nc
need it :" and she sat up again an
took up a piece of needle work thf
had dropped from her hands. lie
fingers still trembled, and a prett
, flush came a moment into her pal
J face, as she said:
, fare you one of the physician
here ?'
"Only by courtesy" he replies
!. 81 have the run of the place; o.
DIR. Atkinson is the physician. vi
DIR. Hare is the head doctor, but !
does very little" -,
"Yes, | know It's loVel
place, is it not? Out here, 1 NEAR
inside" and she shuddered, "tf
sounds are often. dreadful. But II
doctor at home thought change
/. air would be good for me, and
mamma sent me here"
tsChange of air ~ thought Ere
"POor little thing. Quite unco
scious of her infirmity.
And he chatted away with he
discussing the weather, the beau
r of the grounds, the songs of II
# birds i'm the trees around them, al
4 so, gradually drifting TO books,
comparisons of opinion and cri
e cism. And all through delight
z, hour Fred vainly tried to dlscoV
/ the one point upon which the ne
natient was in sane. Whatever
was. ii eyaded him and he look
as yainly for any wandering or '
caucy in the soft brown eyes tn
met his own, full of intelligence:
They were still conversing WI
one of the nurses came down I
path leading to the summer hou'
s.Miss Bessie" she said, "Dr. 4
. kinson sent me to say you had D
Ter lie down now for an hour or ~
and he has sent some medicine
your room. Let me help you "
DIR. Read being physician, ma
no attempt to detain the fair
tient, noting with sincere sympat
how weak she was, and how wes
g Iy she leaned upon the nurs
I, strong arm.
Is' He did not feel inclined to hs
g, any testing about his interest, 81
r. as his friend was wont toinduige
at when ladies were the subject, SO
said nothing of his experience, q
Joined DIR. Atkinson in his "roune
without limiting at any desire 10
one especial patient-a desire
gratified, for there were only ian
lar faces in the wards.
But the summer house was 81
found to be Miss Bessie's resort.
was in q secluded part OF
gre grounds, shaded by thick clu
st. Of trees, and provided with ru
table and comfortable chairs. II
IL -; Il x.aoda q a0zxy nQ0f