Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-04-27
DOCTOR BOB INGERSOLL.
THE sCEPTIC GIVES HIS VIEWS ON
MEDICAL TREATMENT.

Col. Robert G.. Ingersol has his
ideas on doctors, and physics, and
medical treatment as we'll as some
other subjects, and in connection
with the illness Of his friend, Mr..
Conkling, he said
"There is altogether too much
gloom about most sick chambers"
he said. "People tiptoe in and
about and wear long faces and act
in a way that would make even
we'll man sick and is bound to
make a sick man worse. | believe
many a man has been hurried
across the dark river by this hor-
rible soul-depressing treatment,
who might have become we'll and
strong and useful If he had more
Sunshine and fresh air IN his room,
or the odor of flowers to offset the
smell of drugs, and smiling, hope
ful countenances about, instead OF
woe.begone visages, whose every
glance betoken the loss of hope and
the belief in the speedy dissolution
OF the pain.racked patient.
81 had a friend once named Ha-
ley, a royal good fellow, OF whom |
thought a great deal. On one Oc-
casion | received word that my old
friend was dying and wanted to see
me; so | went over to his house. |
met his wife and she had a face as
long as the moral law and ten times
more uncomfortable. Well, | went
to see Haley, and there he lay
counting the moments in a bitter
fear that each would be the last. l
don't know what particular disease
he was troubled with, but either
that or the medicine had turned
him a vivid saffron color. Haley
I said, 1'll be hanged if I'd want to
die with such complexion as that.
You would be in pretty plight to
20 incoming about the other world
looking like a Chinaman} | went
on for a few minutes, when the poor
fellow began to enter into the spirit
of the subject himself, and / show
ed him his face in a looking glass,
and that brought a smile. Then |
turned to his weeping wife andtold
her to cheer up, that Haley was not
going to die that he was good for
twenty years to come.
The trouble with your husband
is that he is scared to DEATH SAID.
you all come in looking so down
cast 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 mend
and time and again since then he
has said that my visit saved his
life.
"On another occasion there was
a major in the army, whom | knew
very we'll. He was taken Ill and
believed he was going to die.
believed he was simply homeslck,
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 1t to
you.' He protested, but | went on
with the reading and detailed every
pleasant incident of his life. Before
| finished a smile fitted across his
face. After the obituary | read him
a story of something that was sup
posed to have taken place a year
after his funeral. 1t was descrlp-
ton of his widows second marriage.
There was a good many more peo'
pie at the wedding than there were
at the funeral. Well, this treat
ment had the effect to change the
current of the Majors thoughts
1t broke up his hallucnations, and
he recovered and did good service
during the war, aud lived a happy
life for years after.
"Then there was man from my
town, named Marcy. He got it in.
to his head that he was going to
die. At that time no one was al
lowed to leave the Army for a visit
to the North, except on sick leave
or occasionally to accompany the
remains Of dead comrade, ] saw
Marcy and said to him: 'Now
Marcy, you say you arc going t
die. II that is so 1 don't suppose {
few days one way or the other viii
make much difference to you.
want to 60 home for day or TIVE
about the 10th, but cannot get leay'
of absence. Now, if you want to d'
} me a great favor and will quit thi
. life, say on the 18th, | can get m.
coveted leave of absence to TAX
) you home-seep = But l knew m.
, man, and he did not die. He 90
very angry instead, and recovered
but he declares to this day that
. was my proposition that brough
}. back his old stubbornness and CAV
! him grit to fight for his life. II
y always did object to being made
n mere convenience Of"