The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-10-27
CHOOSING A DOCTOR.

CHOOSING A DOCTOR.
SUGGESTIONS FROM A PHYSICIAN OF
THIRTY YEARS PRACTICE.
Reasons WHY Certain Practitioners Should
Not be Chosen First-Desjrable Quail
ties of Medical Adviser-An Old Car
dinaIs Advice.
In choosing a medical attendant, per-
sonality goes a long way with most people.
When some member of the family falls
very ill, usually practitioner OF pre-
su1ned eminent standing is called in as
consultant by the attending physician.
Nine times out of ten this consultar
ton results in the consultant's con-
firming and approving the diagnosis
and treatment of the ''family physi-
clan'' In mauy instances this appro-
baton is hearty and well deserved; but
in some, l am sorry to say, the con-
sultant yields his judgment to politeness
and good nature rather than discredlt the
family DOCTORS treatment, etc.
Never choose a recent graduate in medi-
cine, as he is always inclined to do as the
professor Of practice taught him, as he
usually knows the formulas of the various
prescriptions presented by that professor.
Yet he lacks the experience and learned
touch-the tactus eruditus-Of his teacher.
The newly made doctor is also imbued with
the idea that drugs possess the power to
travel through the system and drive out
disease. Just as Il ferret chaSeS the rats
from between the floorings and walls OF
an old house. 1t takes the embryonic doc
tor at least ten years to know that he
should curb his dose giving tendencies
and to learn that most diseases, if let
alone, will get well of themselves.
Never choose Il doctor who has q hobby
in medicine, as he is most sure to trace all
forms of disease to that offending organ
ism which may be his especial study. /
have known men to trace every disease to
the stomach, to indigestion, and another
to the liver, and another to the nervous
system, and another to certain pelvic de-
fectS, if the patient should be woman
The man who attributes all troubles tc
malaria is likewise to be avoided as a
guiding and good reasoning doctor. Ma
laria covers up a good deal OF ignorance,
just as charity covers a multitude Of sins,
the difference, however, being that in the
DOCTORS case the patient usually suffers
and sometimes dies because of malaria, F."
while the charity axiom is always sure to
be of service to somebody.
Never employ a doctor who is strictly
welded to authority Authority gen
orally means that q doctor who bows down
in reverence to it has no logical turn of
mind, and he either lacks knowledge or
information OF courage to rely upon his
own methods Such q doctor can never
find q case such as he has under treat
ment in any of the books of authority,
because there are no two diseases exactly
alike, any more than there are any two
faces exactly alike The features of all
are nodded in common, but the expression
in totality is absolutely different
Never choose doctor who claims to
cure everything, particularly if he is some
what advanced in life and has become
welded to fixed ideas and Interchangeable
themes. Such doctor invariably quotes
the shining lights of the past, and he sees
no advance in his profession. This man
has lordly contempt for the microscope
and chemical analysis, and he feels above
searching for new discoveries, either in
finding out what may be the character of
the illness or in the new science of admin
istering as little medicine as possible.
After a medical man passes his sixty fourth
year he should be retired if possible, like
general officer in the army. He is then
too firmly allied to his own individuality
to unbend his dignity to new facts.
When you do choose medical adviser,
seek to discover if he is a man of good ed
ucatiOn, good manners, good habits, good
reasoning powers and good health. Edu-
cation implies that his mind has been
trained to logical deductions, and they in
turn teach one to associate every action in
life with common sense.
Good manners indicate gentle, soothing
methods and patience-qualifcati so
much appreciated by the sick, who are
usually fretful and irritable Good man.
ners soothe, and this soothing does very
much towards begetting confidence, and
confidence is nineteenth of the battle-it
is almost victory.
Good habits teach the community to
know that the physician is never beclouded
by the harmful fumes of drink. A clear
intellect, CT all things, is absolutely pre-
requisite in doctor.
Good reasoning powers to teach the doc
tor to be strong in his resolutions, to be
brave in emergencies, which is self conf
dence; and that popularity in the doctor
begets cheerfulness, hopefulness and
strength. A patient soon appreciates
these qualifications, and they are all pow
erful by the sick bedside.
Good health is q boon and blessing
which all men require in the transaction
of their pursuits, but more particularly
required by a physician, who is compelled
to undergo SO much physical labor, az
well as mental disquietude.
Tho c,,rip frtip,a hripOc with II f,.o;y,
Of ailments and diseases which can very
readily be avoided, as most Of them are
developed by the imprudences and care
lessness of the patients themselves. A
few warm days carly in April make us
very uncomfortable, because we have not
discarded the heavy flannel underwear.
and we likewise retain the thick outer
garments. The discomfort of the heat
causes many to change for lighter mate
rails, and then suddenly comes Il cold
wave born in the heart of the northwest
ern Rocky mountains, and bronchitis or
pleuriSy or pneumonia rusheS in upon the
unguarded and overconfident individual.
is it therefore strange that Jones or Brown
OF Robinson Succumbs, and that we are
shocked at the suddenness and fatality of
the attack Wherefore we must never
change our heavy underwear until the
certainty of continued hot weather arrives
In carly June. A little heat saves many
cold
Many years age picked up an old book
printed in Paris in 1706. 1t was library
being sold ct the celebrated auction rooms
In the Rue Druot, i'll Paris. I bought it
simply because of letter written by Car
dlnal Richclieu to the Due de Valois, and
which was printed as the introduction to
La Vic ct IL Mort" by one Dionis,