The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-27
A CONSULTATION.
The Family Doctor and the Fash.
iOnable Physician.

GENTLY arduous, if not over-lucrative,
practice, chiefly among the lower mid
die class whose homes abound in a
southeastern suburb of modern Bah
ylon. Some years ago. when l was
more of struggler than l happily
now am. had by good fortune OBJ
tanned a fOothold as medical adviser
in the household of wealthy city
stakeholder, who dwelt in a spacious
and luxurious mansion some three
miles further out on the Surrey hills
than the extreme limits of my regular
round of visits; and the fees Ireceived
for occasional calls to Mount Aureo
when MIR. Midas Contango had touch
of his chronic tormenter, the govt; or
his somewhat sentimental Spouse
quite grand dame, however, in her
own esteem-was suffering the PEN
alties of systematic outrage on the
digestive fit-up OF her portly person,
were so liberal in their extent as to
form in the aggregate no inconsidera-
BILE proportion of my modest income.
After my connection at Mount Aureo
had continued, to the seeming salts
faction of all concerned, for some
two years, l began to receive more
frequent summonses thitherward. The
only daughter of the Contangos, Miss
Muriel, a fine, tall, gracefully-formed
damsel OF seventeen, who might have
stood for sculptor's model, so per-
feet was her physique, had returned
home for her Christmas vacation from
her fashionable Brighton boarding.
school troubled with a slight cough.
In all respects save this triAing laryn-
geal affection, she enjoyed the excel
lent health of which both her parents
had had possession in their earlier
days, before the indulgences which
follow in wealth's wake had made
them profitable acquaintance of nv
own. 1t was clear enough, too, to me
that Miss Muriel Contango's throat
trouble was purely local; nevertheless,
it was causing serious alarm to the
master and mistress of Mount Aureo.
who idOlized their charming daughter.
The dream of the Cantango existence
was to mate Miss Muriel to some scion
OF the aristocracy, their reputation
for riches having obtained them entree
to society to which. by birth and
breeding, they were not entitled.
Mr.. and Mrs. Midas Contango had
both begun to dread that Miss Muriel's
indisposition would eliminate in bron-
chitis or decline. The slightest cough,
the least bronchus, raised the grim and
terrible specter of phthisis, and the
beautiful young lady was held to be in
Imminent danger of an early grave.
l had examined her chest with the
most anxious and minute care, but
could discover nothing to justify any
fear or even doubt of the correctness
OF my diagnosis; yet, despite balsamics
and sedatives, exposure, however little.
In treacherOus weather would cause
hoarseness and transitory cough.
Indeed, these disagreeable symptoms
often manifested themselves without
any apparent cause, except, as I
judged, the inordinate precautions
taken to avert them. The rooms at
Mount Aureo were always too hot;
Miss Muricl was overlooked, could
not stir out for constitutional in the
garden without respirator, or take a
drive unless hidden in an envelopment
OF costly furs. When l ventured to
hint at this. the invariable reply of the
Contangos was: ''Ah! doctor, if we
did not take this care of Muriel, how
long would she be with usP-the dear
child is so delicate" And nothing I
could say would alter their opinion.
One day in the April succeeding,
when Miss Muriel had been coddled up
at home for four months instead of
being sent to Brighton to continue her
studies. Mrs. Contango was more than
usually concerned about her daugh-
ter's condition. The stockbroker and
his good lady had over night held an
anxious discussion l had made nv
now usual though quite unnecessary
daily visit to Mount Aureo, and Mrs.
Midas Contango was. in her patroniz-
ing and yet solicitous manner. bowling
me out. had almost reached the
door. hat in hand, when Mrs. CONTAIN
60 said. with some effort: doctor,
you know we have the utmost conf
dence in you; we carry out your in
structions to the letter; but our dear
child
Eyes. madam; only you will persist
In treating her, if 1 may be pardoned
the simile, too much after the manner
of tropical orchid. instead of regard
ing her as a beautiful plant of En-
glish growth"
well. you may be right, doctor;
but we are SO very anxious, Mr.. Con-
tango and myself-you see Muriel is
our only child. our sola hone Nov
would you mind our asking the opinion
OF famous specialist as to the casep"
Nothing would be better or more
proper. Pray, whom would you like.
and when may We arrange, contingent
on his being ablesto come. to have him
here?"
Mrs. Midas Contango mentioned the
amen of very fashionable and ex-
sive Londen MUSICIAN with con-
suitative prauticss confined almost en-
tirely to the houses of those who had
been presented ct court He was GER
tainly not the man 1 should have
chosen. for the faculty rather smiled at