The Delta independent., 1888-05-01
Ingersoll as a Doctor.

| From the New York Commercial Advertiser.
Col. Robert G. Ingerson has his
ideas on doctor s, and physics. and medical
treatment, as " ii as IN some other sub
jects, and in connection with the illness of
| his friend, Mr.. Conkling, he said:
"There is altogether too much gloom
about most sick chambers. People tip-toe
in and about, and wear long faces and act
generally in way that would make even
a well man sick and is bound to make a
sick man worse. believe many q mat has
been hurried across the dark river by this
horrible, soui-depressing treatment who
might have become well, and strong, and
useful, IL he had more sunshine and fresh
air in his room, or the odor of flowers to
offset the smell of the drugs, and the smtl-
ing, hopeful countenances about, instead of
woe-begone visages, whose every glance be-
tokens the loss OF hope and the belief in the
speedy dissolution OF the pain racked pa
tient
81 had friend once named Haley, "a royal
good fellow, of whom thought great deal
On one occasion received word that my
old friend was lying and wanted to see me,
so went over 20 his house. L met his wife
and she had face as long as the moral
law and ten times more uncomfortable.
Well, went in to see Haley, and there he
lay counting the moments in n bitter fear
that each would be the last. / don't know
what particular disease he was troubled
with, but either that or the medicine
had turned him q vivid saffron color.
Haley l said, "Pll be hanged II I'd
want to die with such complexion as that
You would be in pretty plight to go
incoming about the other world looking like
Chinaman.' l went on for few minutes
when the poor fellow began to enter into the
spirit of the subject himself, and l showed
him his face in lookiug-glass, and that
brought a smile. Then l turned to his
weeping wife and told her to cheer up, that
Haley was not going to die; that he was
good for twenty years to come.
1.-The trouble with your husband is that
he is scared to DEATH said. You all come
In looking so cast down and sorrowful that
You give him the impression he is done for
and take away all his courage to fight against
his sickness"
"Well, the result of all this was that Haley
commenced to amend, and time and again
since then he has said that my visit saved
his life.
.'On another occasion there was msjor
in the army, whom knew very well. He
was taken Ill and believed he was going to
die. believed he was simply homesick, or
something of that sort. Well, l wrote his
obituary and went to see him in his tent.
MAJOR said, you are so sure of dying
that have written your obituary and want
to read it to you,' He protested, but went
on with the reading and detailed every
pleasant incident Of his life. Before fin
ished smile fitted across his face. After
the obituary read him story Of something
that was supposed to have taken place
year after his funeral. 1t was absorption
of his widows second marriage. There
were good many more people at the we'd
ding thansthere were at the funeral. Well,
this treatment mad the effect to change the
current to the Majors thoughts. 1t broke
up his hallucinafions, and he recovered
and did good service during the war, and
lived happy life for years after.
"Then there was man from our town
named Marcy. He got 1t into his head that
he was going to die. At that time no one
was allowed to leave the army for visit to
the north, except on sick leave or occasion
ally to accompany the remains of dead
comrade. / saw Marcy and said to him:
"Now, Marcy, you say you are going to die.
II that is so don't suppose a few days one
way or the other will make much difference
to you. Iwant to so home for day or two
about the 18th, but cannot get leave of alb
sence. Now, II you want to do me very
, 4
18th, / can get my coveted leave of absence
to take you home-see9 But l knew my
man, and he didn't die. He got very angry
instead, and recovered, but he declares to
this day that it was my proposition that
brought him back his old stuboornness
and gave him grit to fight for his life. He
always did object to being made mere
convenience Of"