The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-05
NOVELIST HOMELESS IDEA
A Column Devoted to Matter More or
Less Personal-HospitaI Work.
The Way to Reputation Lies Only Through
the Path af Merit-Practical Illus
tration of a General Truth.

In one OF tne last chapters OF "A ministers
Charge; or. the Apprenticeship of Lsmuel Bar
kerr" the latest and possibly the best novel from
tho pen of that master of neutral colors in
fiction, Mr.. W. D. .HoSels, occurs tho following
graphic passage:
He woke deathly sick at first, and found him.
self lying in bed. one of the two rows in long
room, where there were some quiet women in
neat caps and seersucker dresses going about
with bowls of food and bottles of medicine.
HE fell asleep; and life began again for him.
in the midst of suffering and death He saw
every day broken and mangled men. brought up
as he had been. and laid in beds; he saw the
priest of the religion to which most of the poor
and lowly still belong go and among the
cots. and stand by the pillows. where the sick
feebly followed him in the mystical gestures
which he made on his brow and breast; he
learned to know the of the white linen
screen which was drawn about a bed to hide tho
passing of soul; he became familiar with the
helpless sympathy. the despair Of the friends
who same to visit the sick and dying"
It is a somehat remarkable fact that more has
not been written about hospital life in the great
Cities Howells seems to have caught some
faint conception of what it amounts to when he
pictured it as little world all by itself. There
are probably in New York city alone more hos
pitals-prcperly so called-than in all the rest
of the country combined Probably no one out
side of New York is better able to describe the
hospital world that exists in that metropolis
than DR.. Franklyn Blair, the New York physi-
clan who has lately located in Indianapolis. As
a member of tho New York Polyclinc. he had
access to, gave his service in. and was familiar
with many Of the larger hospitals in that city.
At the German Hospital Mt. Sinai Hospital. the
New York Hospital. Bellevue Hospital, st.
Lukes Hospital, the Roosevalt, Charity and tbs
Manhattan. at the New York Eye and Ear In
sttute and the New York Eye and Ear Infirn-
airy. he was at different times regularly In at
tendance, serving for some time acting
geon at the Eye and Ear Infirmary.
This hospital experience preceded by
more than tho usual period devoted to ths
routine of the medical colleges-and 1t is little
wonder that before leaving New York DR.. Blairs
services as an Office associate were obtained by
the ablest specialist on diseases of the eye and
ear in New York, if not in the world and that
his subsequent practice became extensive and
creditable.
If the reader will think for moment of city
which with it's Environments possesses millions
of souls-this city the practical heart and center
of the life of the East. and then think of the
crowded hospitals which such q city must main
tain for the care of its sick. disabled, crippled
and unfortunate, some adequate idea may be
formed of that wide world of suffering in which
the subject of this sketch has spent a part of
his life.
Is it not reasonable to say that for his life
work there could be no better preparation
There, always by the bedside of the sick, dis
abled and crippled, with trained impulses always
bent to the relieving of suffering. how could it
be otherwise than that his knowledge of diseases
and deformities should be broadened. his per-
ception of their different degrees and remedies
quickened and his intelligence regarding all DOS
sible means known to science. to relieve, per-
fected? As he has himself described it in the
presence of the writer:
my hospital life in New York seems like one
living in world entirely given up to the suffer-
ing. to prepare for work in world where there
is but little suffering"
An experience in hospital practice and treat
ment in the great center Of medical study. New
York City, an association with the ablest spe-
cialists there, their respect and esteem and
enviable position among them, all these have
contributed to rendering Dr. Bar's services to
the public, worthy at least of passing consider
alton.
It is his plan, or theory, or call it what you
will, to reach disease directly-avoiding as much
possible the routine route through the throat
and stomach, and by direct application reaching
the parts affected. 1t is against his school of
practice to make circui.ous route through the
system by which organs are invaded which bear
no relation to the parts to be treated. but he
reaches if possible, the parts diseased at once,
directly and effectively. This is his ability.
1t is no other mans school. 1t is system de-
IN, h,pb fair in
longed hospital practice among diseases of infn-
tie variety aud the results of independent
thought, study. experiment and discovery-not
the experiment of an untutored man rashlY in
truding where CANCELS fear tread" but the
experiment OF one who having had all this ao-
yantages of university routine of faculty dis
cipfne and indoctrinaton OF hospital training
and experience still had the power to think aud
act for himself-and wisely and effectually.
Dr. Blair has had fitted I'D handsome Office
parlors at 2O3 North Illinois street. corner of
Vermont. The Illinois and Pennsylvania street
Washington street.
The lines of practice TO which DR.. Blair has
devoted most of his time lie in the troubles OF
the eye-cataract, squint-eye far-siehtednesg
and Observation-Disclosures troubles of the ear,
partial and complete loss of hearing and those
various faults in hearing directly indirectly
caused by catarrhal troubles-in diseases of the
head, throat and lungs, catarrh of the head,
throat and stomach, and chronic bronchitis and
consu mption.
It should be said. by the way, that no has
not come to Indianapolis for temporary ioca-
ton He has settled here. His location is
permanent, ali his leases, agreements and con-
tracts are for yea more. Fo has come to stays
There is nothing of the tinerant in his prac-
tice nor of the responsibility that attaches it,
self to travelling practice. The offices which he
has opened the corner of Illinois and Vermont
streets are permanent ones.
Dr. Blair does not come to 1ndanap olis as tho
pioneer of modern medical science, nor claiming
Ao tha frar To int he m
which he has DEVELOPED. Nor does he scek to
depreciate in any way the skl of the gentle
men of his own profession already located here;
nor does he claim to perform miracles. His
record speaks for itself and his training in the
special lines mentioned has certainly been rare
aud complete.
Farm Notes.
Farming ia too complex art for q man to
learn it ali in an average lifetime and by his own
ayperience alona There is both wisdom and