Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-12
THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN.
Hts Selection Always a Problem of Great
Domestic Interest.

Domestic Interest.
From the Boston Transcript.
At this season Of the year not a few people
are looking out for a family physician. Their
former one is dead, or has retired, or they have
become displeased with him, or they may be
newcomers to the city. II is hardly safe to de-
fer the selection until positive necessity arises,
for then it is too late to make 1t with any ap-
proach to calmness or elaboration. When ono
Of the children is in the throes Of cholera NOR
bus the natural impulse is to call in the nearest
medical man trusting that Providence will have
fitted him for the task, and yet at the same time
fearing that be NAY be Herod In disguise. To
family physician in times of health and pros
perity. To begin with, he should be fairly
along IN years. It is well known that young
doctors have to learn by experimenting on the
bodies OF their pate nts they try their prentice
hands upon such unfortunates as come in their
way, and If they happen to kill them by making
wrong diagnosis nobody is the wiser except
the doctor himself. He profits by the mistake
and 40 do his future and perhaps as yet unborn,
patients.
The other qualifications besides this import
ant one Of age, are not so easy to ascertain.
doctors reputation is thing compounded of
many simples; it is made up partly. Of what
other physicians say about him. largely of his
own manner, chiefly, perhaps, of what his first
accidental patients have reported 1t is q
familiar point Of etiquette that physicians
never criticise one another. but there are some
exceptions to this rule. 1t is hardly in human
nature even for a doctor to refrain from letting
a word or two fall now and then. for the benefit
of q friend, as to the qualities of a brother
practitioner, and thus a competent estimate of
him leaks out. Medical students. also, who do
not feel bound to the rule of silence, are often
capable Of giving good opinion as to the
merits Of rival physicians; the Judgment on
such matters OF the faculty and Of the hospital
staff, though of course never directly expressed,
is easily gathered by a young Bawbones who
has spent some time in the atmosphere of the
medical school.
Still. although these channels Of correct in
formation exist, the layman's estimate Of the
physician is apt to be greatly at fault. Fashion
has much to do with it. There is almost always
young doctor on Boylston street or in
some neighboring locality who is extremely
well spoken about Nobody knows exactly
where he came from or what he has ac-
complished or what his experience has been,
but there Ia general assurance that he is
astonishingly clever. Sometimes this is backed
up bv the particular statement that he cured
Mrs. Rawder of a fearful attack of rheumatism
which old Dr. Standby had been treating in
vain for year.
There is one role which we especially COM
Hbcuu w III search OF physician.
Ii the man whom he has in mind as a candidate
for that proud position is, comparatively speak
ing. stranger in the city, and has acquired
good practice without the backing of friends
and acquaintance, then the chances are that
he is really an able man. He may indeed. have
been pushed by some older and influential doc
tor, but that would hardly have happened un-
less he had first-rate ability to recommend him.
On the other hand it is wise to suspect the ply
sIcian who, having been born and well born in
Boston, started on his medical career with all
the advantages of powerful friends and of
favoritism. He may be. of course, person of
unusual talent whom fortune has helped to a
by his own unaided efforts. These cases hap
pen not infreqnently. Nevertheless, as we have
said, paterfamilias should be wary when such a
doctor is under consideration.
1t is fairly certain. too. that family phvs-
clan ought to be a sympathetic soul, or failing
this, that he should have sufficient dramatic
talen to simulate a fellow-feeling for his pa
tents. Without this kindliness. real or assumed,
his tonics will not be swallowed with that zest
and hopefulness which are essen tial to their
efficacy. Still more clear Is it that the per
sonal equation Of the doctor must ALWAYS be
taken into account robust, hearty physi-
clan iuclines to heroic remedies: Take a cold
bath every morning; throw open your windows;
eat plenty Of roast beef" On the other hand,
the doctor of delicate constitution is very apt
to go to the opposite extreme Wrap up well;
this is terrible weather; avoid draughts and
never battle in cold water The wise layman.
having a tolerably clear idea of his own con-
stitu;ion, will know how to qualify such advice
by allowing for the idiosyncrasy of the adviser
When the selection has once and carefully
been made, it is well to stick to it. Official
friends and busybodIes will be sure to main
tain now that DR.. x, again that DR.. Y, is a
great deal better, but these statements are
seldom Judicial or accurate. Besides. there
would be kind of baseness in deserving the
doctor who has brought the household safely
through the diseases which thus far have as
sailed them. The family physician is family
friend, not lightly to be taken up nor lightly
to be abandoned