The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-10
MY FIRST PATIENT.
Summoned by Madman to Treat
his Martyr Wife.


&C. And may beg you to visit us
In your private rather than in your profes.
sional capacity? Since my dear wifo has
been failing thus sadly, she has evinced q
great dread of medical men; and were she
TO guess you other than an ordinary guest I
trembie for the consequences! The carriage
will meet you mt Bla ckburne Station at what.
ever hour You name.
Yours very truly.
ARTHUR CRAWFORD"
This is IN extract from letter that
received OH the 10th of June, 1870, and
being but young fellow of twenty-six,
was very much elated thereby. The
great drawback to being what is called
a specialist is that the generality of peo-
p!e-for what reason have never been
able to discOver-are afraid to employ
you until you are well on in years, and
Consequently this Mrs. Crawford for
whom my services had been enlisted
was my first private patient. My spe-
,oialtg was madness; and tiring equally
of bospital-work and of idling in my
own rooms, / was heartily thankful for
the good luck that had befallen me. In
n previous letter, Mr.. Crawford had
gwen detailed account Of his wife's
symptoms; and now all arrangements
were completed, and was due at his
Berkshire home Oh the following day.
Wien the train steamed into the little
country station, 1 found u carriage and
already to meet me. Evidently, to
iudye by the general get-up of the whole
thiig, the Crawfords were wealthy folk;
AMI this impression was confirmed when
,oI th, CT
i,g in the midst of a lovely park. In
tue country fashion, the hall-doors
we're standing open, and my host met
mo on the threshold with outsretched
hands.
"This is exceedingly kind of you," he
said genially, 'for 1 know you have
come at your very earliest convenience.
Journey from town pleasant?-Yes?
That is right. james, take Mr.. Len
nox's things to his room. Lunchin the
morning-room, heyp-Come along, my
dear sir; you must be half famished. -
So saying, he preceded me down a long
corridor, whence l caught distant
glimpses of IL beautiful garden at the
back of the house, and into a snug little
room where luncheon was laid. While
] discussed cold chicken, Mr.. Craw-
ford went on chatting; and ere went
to my room for wash and brush up
before presenting myself to his wife, we
were excellent friends. l do not think
] ever met man who so much charmed
me at first; nay, he more than charmed,
he captivated me. He was about thirty,
and exceedingly handsome, with fair
curly hair, and bright blue eyes. He
had bronzed complexion, and n hearty
laugh, and was altogether most at
tractiye specimen of young English
man. When / had finished luncheon,
his manner changed abruptly as he be-
gan speaking of his young wife.
II did not like to enter upon the sub
ject before you were rested" lie began
courteously; "but l am intensely anX.
ious YOU should see her. For some
months past she has been suffering from
intense melancholia, and lately she has
taken deep distrust OF those aipund,
more particularly of me-" He stepped
abruptly and bit his lip. doctor.
simply worship her, " he went onpas
sonately. when married her five
years ago, she was the blithest, meriiest
girl in all the shire; and now, to seehel
like this-why, it breaks my hearth tpt
he dropped into chair and buried III
face in his hands.
There was an awkward pause, for \
those days l was too inexperienced to b
much OF q hand at consolation, an
then / stepped nearer to him and lai
my hand upon his shoulder. 'Come
come," said cheerily, "there is no nee
to despair like this. We must hope fo
the best. How does she show her dis
I trust of youp"
He raised his head to answer me: "B
keeping the boy from me, for on
thing. She will hardly let me touc
him."
.sThe boyp A son Of yoursp"
sour only child, he answered.
dear little fellow of nearly four; and 81
betrays n terrible fear whenever hay
him with'me."
..Does she eat well9"
.'Hardly ut all.
''Sleep at nightp"
He shook his head; and then followe
string of various professional que
tiOns Cur conversation at All end,
requested to be shown to my room
MomisinI to be In the drawing-rool
for five Oblock tea, when ! should |
INTRODUCED to Mrs. Crawford.
Gas Mi Lennox, II you please" su.
gested he husband as we crossed ii
hall. "Hu remember that asked yo
to drop u doctor, and seem an ord
nary visitrp"
OF coule agreed; and then he tol
me he haSpoken to her OF me rs a
old collel friendi and finally he 10
me to mylf. Ell y
When descended to the drawing
room, fhd both Crawford and Ii
wife waitk for me. He was standin