The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-30
pressed. he looks here as Hamlet, taas

melancholy Dane, may have looked ia
some of his moods. The portrait is very
unlike the engravings that appear in
the various editions of Poe's works,
and very unlike the man described In
the poem on "The Portrait of Poe"
If there are any other original por.
traits of Poe than the two here spoken
of, should like to know of them.
Ex-Mayor Hall,aof New York, has re.
Gently published his memories of Poe.
but apprehend that he does not clearly
remember the personal appearance OF
the bewitching American author, whom
he saw nearly half a century ago. and
who died of delirium tremens when not
yet forty years old.
SQUAD OF BLUNDERsoNE DOCTORS.
have had some lively times with my
doctors in New York and there can be
no harm in telling of them. Some time
ago got back from foreign country.
to which they had sent me as last re-
sort. and from which they thought
would never return. had been laid up
for long time with complication OF
maladies which threatened to put an
end to life, and an eminent member OF
the medical faculty, worthy and wise
practitioner, looked after the case.
Months passed away without recovery.
He came to think that the case looked
desperate and made his thoughts known
with proper gravity to others than my.
self ''What is the progress?" asked
him one day, and he admitted that it
was not favorable, soon after which il
seemed proper to provide for his fees.
In order to make sure of the case and to
see whether anything farther could be
done in it, he suggested the calling of
council of highly distinguished medicos.
and next day the council was held in
the sick chamber as / lay abed. They
examined the case, in which they found
anomalous symptoms, and it soon be-
came evident from their looks and whis-
perings-which were. of course, noticed
by the patient-that they regarded it as
dangerous. They went into an ada
cent room to exchange views in private,
and when they returned after time, to
take another look at me, saw by the
increased sobriety of their faces, that
there was no hope. "What is the prog
nosis?" asked, the reply to which was
dry smile, and "What is the price OF
it?' the answer to which came next
morning in the shape of bill for $50 for
the consultation. In order to settle the
whole business beyond doubt, another
highly distinguished medico, whom we
will call DR.. Pantagmel, and who has
the reputation of always being able to
forecast the result of an illness that is
sure to be fatal" was next called in.
He gazed at me, felt my pulse, smelt
my forehead, asked few questions, and
gave his opinion that the sufferer was
in serious straits. The prognosis was
unfavorable, and the price of it was $50.
els he dead yet?" asked an enterprising
newspaper reporter who knocked at
the door one night after midnight.
After a short time found out, as
patients are apt to find out, the real
opinion of the medical advisers. The
regular doctor, the three eminent
doctors who held consultation, and the
highly distinguished doctor who sed
his proboscis as a mortality detector,
had pronounced my doom, saying eau.
tiously that recovery was not to be
looked for and that the end was ap.
preaching.
Still indulging private doubt of the
accuracy of their prognosis, de-
terrnined that, before death and burial,
I would go over the seas and abroad.
i took ship from this port and in fort
night was on the shores of the Mediter-
ranean, with no change from my mort
bund condition. When l got to Nice,
Scotch doctor living there was sent
for. He came in a lively way, ex-
amined the case, noted the symptoms,
which were. those of nervous prostra-
ton, gave some advice, left some medi-
cine and said there was good prospect
of recovery. SIS that your prognosis.
doctor?" s'It is" ''And what is it's
price?" "Ten shillings," as he smiled.
But" said /, Il have paid the New
York doctors more than twenty times
as much for a prognosis just the oppo-
site of that!" He smiled again, repeated
his visits at cheaper rate on subse-
quent days, and in month was
somewhat improved somehow. When
spring Ullue cdLue, nc aOV1ScG NE 10
spend the summer among the Scotch
mountains where he knew doctor to
be recommended. l took the advice,
set out for the Highland hamlet he had
spoken of, and there saw the doctor he
had commended. This new doctor
laughed merrily at the stories told of
my experiences with my prognostica-
ting and costly medical advisers in New
York, and at once gave a favorable
prognosis of the case. When asked
what would be his fee for this surpris-
ing prognosis, he replied four shillings,
but that other visits would be half that
rate. / secured his services for the
season, took the drugs which he gave.
enjoyed the hills, the sunshine and the
breeze in his company, grew jocund
while he sang the songs of life among
the heather, got well as the months
sped along, and took ship in due season
back to New York, where l looked up
the doctors of representation who had
declared me to be doomed man a year
before and charged prodigious fees for
the blunder-headed prognosis.
These experiences merely show that
some eminent doctors may sometimes
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