Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-10-31
SAVED BY sPAsEs.
The Experience OF Young Doctor IL, the
Country.

The Experience OF q Young Doctor In the
Country.
Nashville Banner.
Talking about physic," said an ex-
doctor TO q Banner reporter recentlV
reminds me Of an incident that occurred
during my practice when I was new In
the cause, and which, when you hear,
you viii readily recognize as an impor-
tant epoch IN my professional career.
1t was In a country town in the west
ern part of the state. I had Just arrived
a few days previous, a beardlegs boy
WITH very little hope Of getting a patient
under two years.
However had gone there to stay, and
so had made up my mind accordingly.
I hung out my shingle and prepared
to 60 anyW here at a moments notice.
zone morning about 2 O'Clock I was
awakened by some one shouting oh,
doctor! at my 'front.' gate.
L dressed hastily and went with the
gentlemen, who proved to be the father
Of a baby days old, who, he said, was
dying with spasms.
Upon my arrival at the house I was
shown into the sick room. The young
mother lay weeping upon the bed and
the almost lifeless form Of the precious
little one was being fOndly nursed by an
O4tA " G4L4ll--s WIZ EeLLL TIE CLAAA4 4Gl1
had another severe fit.
81 was puzzled. It WAS my first case
and readily recognized that my future
reputation depended on the recovery of
the child, but what to do for 1t knew no
more than 2 ten-year- old boy. Finally
1 made up my mind, prepared some sim
pie dose and told the parents the child
would have no more spasnns, which, of
course, was guess work. THIS did not
satisfy them. I could see in their faces
that they lacked confidence, but I was
firm. My word was out, and so stood
to it and left. The father followed me
to the door and said he wanted me to
come around the next day and meet bis
old family physician, as he thought ]
was too young and the child needed
medical attention from a more expert
eneed practitioner.
Il, of course, agreed, but at the same
time felt that my reputation was forever
gone if the old doctor should come and
tell them the child was really sick. 1
went home, but could not sleep, and as
soon as breakfast was over hurried over
to see my patient.
''The father met me at the door. He
looked cheerful and gave me a hearty
greeting. The baby is all right said he;
and sure enough when 1 went in the lit
tie fellow was as bright as a May morning,
and my reputation was made. The par
ents praised me as the best baby-dOctor
known, and from that time on I enjoyed
a splendid practice among the little ones.
1.-THE news Of my wonderful case
spread for miles around, and two DAYS
afterWard I was called 20 see another
child, some twelve miles distant.
The child had been sick for several
weeks and under the treatment Of an
old White-halred practitioner
The father of the child informed me
while en- route to his house that I was
called in because he had heard of the
wonderful cure effected in the case of
Mr., SIS baby.
This rather unnerVed me, for he told
me that DR., from an adjoining town,
whom I knew to be an eminent physi-
clan, had failed to benefit the little one.
Gas soon as I saw the patient at once
detected that the angel Of death was
lowering near, and all earthly power
could be of no avail; but still did not at
once inform the parents. They had
confidence in me, and disliked to dis
pei their good opinion, so 1 set about to
prescribe for the patient, but before /
had out my medicine the baby was at
tackled with g severe spasm, and It's lit
tie soul took its flight to another and
better world. So you can readily see
how my reputation was again saved by a
spasm. Had the child fingered along
and died, which it surely would have
done in a day or so, they would have
said did not treat it properly.
"This," continued the ex-doctor, sis
simply told you to show some Of the diff
fCulties met with by young doctors when
they first start out. A young profession
al man has a poor chance OF best in this
uncharitable world. The incidents Just
related were providential epochs in my
career, and afterWsrd had a lucrative
practice, until a failure Of health caused
metO seek a more congenial field of la
Dor"