The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-01-09
A COUNTRY DOCTOR.

One star differs from another in glory.
There is high authority for this asser-
ton, but its evident truth is Of no special
significance to sick man. Perhaps.
even to u man in perfect health it is not
of striking Importance. But to the OBJ
servant mind it is interesting to note
that the country doctor differs greatly
from his professional brother in the city.
Twas struck by this fact few days ago
during a sojourn in the hill country OF
Connecticut. While there passed =
day with leading physician of tine
township. He leads queer life.
"A city doctor knows nothing of the
difficulties we encounter" remarked my
friend as we drove toward the we'll titled
fields lying beyond the village. 1t was
early morning, and the air was as fresh
As young man just out of college. The
doctor had been up for two hours placing
the affairs of his Office on a solid basis.
"You see," he continued. .'it is not so
bad in summer, but when the snow
comes lead terrible life. freeze my
nose and ears, | am overthrown by drifts,
at night suffer from cold, and ut mid
day the sunlight on the sn ow hurts my
eyes. Nevertheless, am happy"
He whistled IA merry tune. touched his
mare with the whip. and in few min
utes drew up at a farmhouse, whose
white walls and green blinds were pain
fully inartistic.
He was gone about fifteen minutes-a
doleful quarter Of an hour for me- A
COW munched grass in the front yard
and an old oaken bucket was the only
''citifed" thing in sight. BY that strange
law of action and reaction it took me
back TO that awful night when saw
1.-The Old Homestead" at New York
eheater.
When the doctor had replaced his
drug store underneath the seat and had
gathered up the lines asked:
"What kind of case did you strike
there."
Nothing Serious" he answered. "A
young woman of seventy is suffering
from facial neuralgia. She has youth
and energy in her favor. however, and
will be all right in day or two"
looked at him in surprise. Had his
lonely life affected his brain?
lone trouble have" he went on,
'lies in the fact that cannot obtain any
assistance in critical cases. When one
of your New York physicians desires
advice from a colleague all he has to do
is to send message down the block
somewhere. There are times when
would give half my income for another
doctors aid. but can't get it. / have
to follow the bird that focked by itself
and do my own consulting. must stop
here moment. I'll be out again in FIVE
minutes"
don't believe rural physician has
any idea of time. It may be that he has
the ability to count a pulse, but his in
depreciation Of what is comprised in tho
expression, five minutes" is peculiar
held that mare for fully half an hour.
| The flies bothered her and she grew rest
| less. There was no relief for me but to
gaze at the undulating landscape and
indulge in day dreams. "a pleasing
| land of drowsiness it was, of dreams
that wave before the half shut eye. and
| of gay castles in the clouds that pass,
forever flushing round a summer sky"
On verdure crowned hill some miles
to the northward arose gigantic tree
that seemed to rejoice in its enormous
size. Perhaps beneath its branches tho
treacherous redskin had closed his heavy
eyes. Perhaps it will look down upon
the valley when Chicago has grown
modest and Patagonia has been admitted
to the Union.
Such feverish fancies filled my mind
until the doctor's return.
Whats the matter inside:' | asked.
''Oh, nothing to worry about. The
sick man is about ninety-eight years
cid, and oyerworked himself Yesterday
in the bayfield,. He'll come out all
right. I've prescribed q days rest and Il
calomel pill. Why, do you know. that
man, in spite Of his age. can dc more on
a farm in a week than you or could d.
in a month This is q healthy country.
my friend =
| began to think he was right. Dur
ing the morning he made ten calls. Not
one of his patients was under seventh
| TTOntiuufd on DdGe SM