The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-28
, lie Country Sur CO.,.
International journal of Surgery. |

AS we JOOH back over the LrlumpNS
achieved by medicine over disease, we
are struck with the fact that some Of
the great conquerors in Chat field have
been the patient, hard-working men
whose services have been rendered in
obscure places, and whose names,
though worthy Of enduring fame, have
made but a small mark in the annals
of the profession. More especially, we
believe, had this been true of some of
our Amegican country surgeons. Nc
Dowell:s ffgk> ovariotomy was one of
The great ba{tisssTpn and lost by a
sturdy Iaborer in ths'S field. The in
genui;.y, The skill, the Courage brought
to beac bv some Of tbsse e. c,aaen is a,seass
fer for wonder, vhes y y and aoansafasT he
limited means at Sinadad, Sina The lack OF
proper apparatus ofskilled assistants,
competent a6rses, under. which they
a:e compelled to work. We have
records of tracheotomies done with a
penknife, by the dim light of an oil
lamp held in the trembling hand of
terrified mother. Major arteries have
been ligated in farmyard with the
assistance of a ploughman. Obstetri-
cal emergencies of nature apt to
strike terror in the hearts of the Dest
accoucheurs have been surmounted
singlehanded, while the steady old nag
at the door awaited his master, ready
to resume the long, weary round of
widely scattered rural homes.
No worldwide reputation is in store
for the country doctor, no large rewards
such as are from time to time attained
by those city men whom the French
are fond of calling Princes of Science.
Their fees are as small as their services
are often great, and the weary hours
spent by the bedsides ofpoor patients
are frequently remunerated by nothing
more than gratitude. And yet some
of these humber workers have in time
of need proven themselves to have been
made of the adamantine metal whence
heroes are.built. Some of their thoughts
have crYstalliZed into gems which all
have admired, some of their deeds
would have brought honor to the best
equipped surgeon Of a surgical centre,
and have shown them to be the peers
Of the greatest. Men everywhere ex-
hibit as many varieties as do the
painted leaves Of Autumn time, and we
do not mean to exalt the country sur
geon above his city brother, but we
wish to recall the fact that honor is Of
ten due him, that be serves a useful and
noble purpose, and that we are not
unaware of the grand work so often
done by him. The country doctor,
however, enjoys some advantages
which at times make his lot desirable
one, as compared with that of the ma
jority of city physicians. His patients
are nearly all his friends, while his im-
portance in the community is great
and recognized, and his advice is COM
monty asked upon many subjects
which, though not always connected
with his art, are in the province of any
wise man to decide upon. Though
anything more than fair competence
| is rarely achieved in the country, there
are far smaller number of farnishing
| doctors among the country practition-
ers than are to be found among the
city toilers. 1t is we'll known that in
this country there are a large propor-
ton Of graduated men who do not
achieve, in the cities, a bricklayer's
daily wages who are compelled to wait
many years ereIthey reach even this low
standard. A country doctors expenses
are fewer, he is often more of prophet
in bis own country, and his achieve
menis are frequently such that he may
we'll be satisfied with his work and
proud ofhis calling.