Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-08-29

1 tA" IAON0Mo1Vno W NhAtff
and his reputation was far more that
OF the drawing-room than professional
However, l, humble Il conscientious
practitioner. could not afford, had so
desired, TO decline TO meet him, and |
consented TO facilitate arrangements
for an interview at the great mans
convenience.
The fashionable physician drew up
In his imposing equipage at tho door
Of Mount Aureo half an hour behind
tho time appointed. was introduced TO
bis patient, making tho while proiuse
apologies for having been unavoidably
detained by a critical case-thot of the
DuIo OF Deerwood-to whose house in
Mayfair he had been summoned by the
Duchess request 10 give his opinion as
10 the treatment adopted by the at
tendant medical gentleman
"Whatl' said the society exquisite
for such tho celebrity certainly was 90
"whatN exclaimed he, in grandilo-
quent tones, striking a theatrical atti-
tude, lis Il that fine young lady We are
to consult aboutP That superb girl, in
such perfect condition. Come, madam,
confess that you are only making fun
Of u.s."
We'll" replied Mrs. Contango, i'm
pressed, as she was meant to be, by
the importance OF the pompous per-
sonage who was addressing her, "
admit appearances are in my daugh-
ter's favor, and hope that you may
be able TO assure us that her condition
is not serious; but she is always losing
her voice always coughing-and II
we we're not TO take care A food
OF tears drowned the rest OF the sem
tence.
"But," airlly remarked the famous
doctor, "my dear madam, why dis
tress yourself3 All may be well. Let
me hear from this gentleman, your
family attendant, the symptoms us he
has interpreted them
gave the history OF the case in a
| few words.
"Well, we'll; there seems to be moth
ing serious; but we must examine the
chest with the utm ost exactnoss TO de-
eide that"
Pardon me-" interrupts mamma,
"but will you allow me to remain in
the roomPn
"Of course madam" responded
tho favorite Of fortune. "You have
a sacred right to stop here. Pray, sit
down" And then he directed me to
commence the examination. l per-
cussed with minute carefulness every
part Of the thoraX, and, as before,
could really find nothing abnormal
There; you perceive that ! have
tested with exactness, and the resO-
nance is everywhere perfect" l
mSdc tho remark as a mere matter Of
form. for ! had not failed to note that
the very superior West End practition-
er had not condescended TO pay the
slightest attention to my proceedings,
but was talking in low tones to Mrs.
Midas Contango all the time.
'Ah, well, now 1t is my turn" said
he, and with the most delicately i'm
pressive care placed Miss Muriel
again in position; not, as l had done,
with the arms crossed on the chest,
but stiflly extended. In place Of tell
/ ing her to count 'thirteen 70 sixteen, 4"
he gave her book and directed her to
read a dozen lines, and then to sing
the gamut, an octave and half The
mother was watching all this in ad-
mlration and devouring every detail.
"Ah! humphr' said the oracle; lit
seems there is something-but ex-
tremely difficult to differentiate Let
US hear what percussion yields" And
his style was truly enchanting. Every
tap with the fingers was given with a
flourish and a graceful sweep worthy
Of the most expert professor OF sleight-
of-hand that ever entertained a Coun-
tess guests There was a momont Of
studied indecision. and then, with a
covert smile, turning 70 me, he said:
There it is. Listen, my dear young
friend as he beat his digital drum
now on this side. then on that "Ii.k-
tack, tick-tack. Harkl do you hear
it2 There is very appreciable dif-
ference in resonance; when / say 'ap-
preciable difference do not say an
enormous difierence-no-but there il
isl'
''For my own part, sir" | returned,
IL can not, with all Difference, detect
the slightest difference.
"oh, very likely; but there, never
theless, II Is. Now come, however;
though--having ascertained the truth
about the case-my time Is short, let
me convince you. l will turn my
back TO the patient and you shall
again percuss. will tell which side
you are tapping upon by tho variation
in the sound" He turned round, and
| percussed as equally as possible
the two sides OF the thorax. You
are on the left side" He was quite
right! In a moment however, my
surprise was changed 10 admiration
OF the fashionable physicians smart
audacity. His professional-nay.
yet hope ! may more truthfully write
II unproiessional-tric was obvious
enough, but performed with such per-
feet aplomb that ! was duped even
whilst taking part IN t. He had
turned his back to the patient, to Mrs.
Midas Contango and myself, but he
was looking into a large mirror above
the console which faced himl
What could do? | was mute. The
tables had indeed been so completely
turned upon me that had nothing TO
say.
Madam, must not alarm you.
observed the triumphant specialist TO
Mrs. Contango, who was in blissful
Ignorance OF the deception; "these del
icate gradations In tone can only be
at once detected after immense prac-
tice, only by those who examine
stream OF patients; but there is some