The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-21
SAVED BY SPASMS.
How Young Doctor Managed to Secure
Lucrative Practice.

How Young Doctor Managed to Secure
Lucrative Practice.
Talking about physic," said an ex-
doctor, "reminds me of an incident that
occurred during my practice when was
new in the cause, and which, when you
hear, you will readily recognize as an
important epoch in my professional ca
reer 1t was in country town in the
western part of the State. l had just
arrived a few days previous, beardless
boy, with very little hope of getting a
patient Iunder two years. However, 1
had gone there to stay, and so had made
up my mind accordingly. 1 hung out
my single and prepared to go any
where at a moments notice. One
morning about two o'clock, I was
awakened by some one shouting: 80,
Doctor?' at my front gate. l dressed
hastily and went with the stranger, who
proved to be the father of a child three
days old, who, he said, was dying with
spasms. Upon my arrival at the house
I was shown in the sick room. The
young mother lay weeping upon the bed
and the almost lifeless form of the prec-
ious little one was being fondly nursed
by an old woman, who said the child
had just had another severe fit. was
puzzled. 1t was my first case, and 1
readily recognizedthat my future repu-
tation depended on the recovery of the
child, but what to do for it | knew no
more than ten-year-old boy. Finally
l made up my mind, prepared some
simple dose and told the parents the
child would have no more spasms, which
OF course was guess work. This did not
satisfy them. could sec in their faces
that they lacked confidence, but l 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 his
old family physician, as he thought l
was two young, and the child needed
medical attention from a more expo
rienced practitioner. l, of course,
agreed, but at the same time felt that
my reputa on was forever gone if the old
doctor should come and tell them the
child was really sick. l 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
| went in the little fellow was as bright
as a May morning, and my reputation
was made. The parents praised me as
the best baby-doctor known, and from
that time on | enjoyed splendid prac-
tice among the little ones. The news of
my wonderful case spread for miles
around, and two days afterwards was
called to see another child, some twelve
miles distant. The child had been sick
for several weeks and under the treat
ment of an old white-haired practitioner.
The father of this child informed me,
while en- route to his house, that 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 DIR. -, from
an adjoining town, whom l knew to be
an eminent physician, had failed to ben
eft the little one. AS soon as l saw the
patient, at once detected that the angel
, of death was lowering near, ard al
: earthly power would be of no avail; but
/ still did not at once inform the parents
They had confidence in me, and l dis
: liked to dispel their good opinion, so
: set about to prescribe for the patient
9 but before had taken out my medicine
} the baby was attacked with a severe
Z spasm, and its little soul took its fligh
, to another and better world. So yov
4 can readily see how my reputation wa
2 again saved bya spasm. Had the chill,
2 fingered along and died, which it surel
i would have done in day or so, the,
0 would have said l did not treat
!. properly.
= This" continued the ex-doctor, 81
g simply told you to show some of the dill
}, fioulties met with by young doctor
= when they first start out. Ayoung pre-
q fessional man has a poor chance at bes
IT in this uncharitable world. The inc
/, dents Just related were providentis
h epochs in my career, and ever afterwar
10 l had lucrative practice, until fai
q ure of health caused me to seek NOR
5, congenial field of labor. -Nashvil
h Banner.
+ -Spanish sailors are the most supe,