Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-07-28
DOCTOR INGERSOLL.
Fhc A,nIablo slseptio Gives His. Views Oh
Medical Treatment.

The A,niablo Skeptic Gives Ills Views on
Medical Treatment.
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll has his ideas
on doctors, and physics, and medical
treatment rs well as on some other sub
jects.
"There is altogether too much gloom
about most sick chambers, said he.
'tPeople tip-toe in md out, and wear long
faces, and act generally in o way that
would make even we'll man sick, and
is bound to make a sick man worse. ]
believe many man has been hurried
across the dark river by his horrible,
soul-depressing treatment who might
have become we'll, and strong, and use
full. if he had more sunshine and fresh
air in his room, or the odor of flowers
to offset the smell of the drugs, and
smiling, hopeful countenances about,
instead of woe-bcgone visages, whose
every glance betoken the loss of hope
and the belief in the speedy dissolution
of the pnin-racked patient.
Il had friend once named Haley, 8
royal good fellow, of whom | thought
great deal On one occasion I re-
ceived word that my old friend was
dying and wanted to see me. so went
over to his house. ] met his wife and
she had face MS long rs the moral
law and ten times moro uncomfortable.
Well, / went to see Haley, and there he
lay counting tho moments in bitter
fear that each would be the last. I
don't know what particular disease he
was troubled with, but either that OF
the medicine had turned him a vivid
saffron color. Haley, said I, I'll be
hanged if I'd want to die with such a
complexion as that. You would be in
n pretty plight to go incoming about the
other world looking like q Chinaman.
I went on for few minutes when the
poor fellow began to enter into the
spirit of the subject himself, md ]
showed him his face in looking-glass,
and that brought smile. Then ]
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.
"HTho trouble with your husband is
that lie is scared to death, J. said You
all come in looking so downcast and
sorrowful that you give him the i'm
preston that he is done for and take
away NIL his courage to fight against
his Sickness
"NYcll, the result of all this was that
Haley commenced to mend, and time
and agnin since then he has said that
my visit saved his life.
"On another occasion there was
Major in the army, whom I knew very
we'll. He was taken i'll and believed
he was going to die. T. believed he
was merely homcsicl, Oh something Of
that sort. Well, l wrote his obituary
and went to see him in his tent.
"'Major, I said, you are SO sure OF
lying that have written your obituary
and want to read it to YOU He pro.
scsted, but I kept on with the reading
md detailed every pleasant incident of
his life Before 1 finished a smile fit,
led across his face. After the obituary
read him story of something that
was supposed to have taken place q
year after his funeral. It was de-
;cription of his widows second mar
rage. There were good many more
people at the wedding than at the flu
neral. Well, this treatment had the
affect to change the current of the
Majors thoughts. 1t broke up his
Authorizations, and he recovered and
lid good service during the war, and
lived happy life for years after.
"Then there was man from our
sown named Marcy. He got it into
ais head that he was going to die. At
that time no one was allowed to leave
;he army for visit to the North, ex-
sept on sick leave, or occasionally to
accompany the remains of dead COM
cade. ! saw Marcy and said to him;
Now, Marcy, you say you are going to
lie. If that is 50 7 don't suppose that
few days one way or the other will
make much difference to you. want
20 60 home for day or two about the
18th, but cannot get leave of absence.
Now, if you want to do ME very great
;avor and quit this life, say on the 18th,
can get my coveted leave Of absence
10 take you home-see?' But [ knew
NY man and he didn't die. He got
7ery angry instead, and recovered, but
ne declares to this day that it was my
proposition that brought him back his
I'D stubbornness and gave him grit to
sight for his life He always did object
10 being made mere convenience OF. J"