New-York tribune., 1895-09-01
A TRIUMPH OF MEDICINE.

| cal men must make SLIPS VI '''"'
once in a lifetime.
Macpherson shook his head
"I do not remernbe doing So But once gave
| man an overdose OF a drug for sieep'"s
draught which nearly killed him. 1t was Ms
| own fault though as you will see when ten
you the story"
| was glad to hear that there was ano'he'
| story coming and settled myself 10 hs'en' '''
| Macpherson's "reminiscences are always '"'e'
esting
eft was when | was quite a young man. ne
began "and soon after started P'"'' "
my own at Chelsea. mad taken pretty Ia q
house there as o doctor Is bound 10 uo u nv
wants TO get on. and kept couple OF SET a'''
on the night however. when my adventure nap
pened both the girls were away. One or them
had become so Ill that thought 1t best loi "e,
to go home to be nursed and the other giri hau
,raveljad with her 70 take care Of her. and was
to return the first thing next morning 30 Una.
wber n violent ring came at the front door beil
about midnight. when l was just thihhi"s %
turning in | had to go and answer IL mysei'
7 did so with a bad grace. for / had had a haiu
days work and looking forward 10 oeu'
The violence of the summons sugges'eu '"",
somebody was In urgent need OF my services '"'
I sighed TO think Of the probability that was
to be called out again
..Wben I opened the door. found that 1t was
as | expected A small boy, GREATNESS WIN
running. informed me that | was required AT
once at an address he gave me In street aoou'
half an hours walf from my house.
".What am wanted for?' l asked, but the boy
could not tell me- He had been passing tne
house he said when an old gentleman opeheu
the door. gave him haf-crown. and told MN MN
To run as hard as he could for the nearest uoc-
...put an, NOT the nearest Doctor said feel
ing for once that | could have spared paueN'
to one Of my rivals The boy looked surprtSeu, o,r
You are the only | could think or sir
he said which was nattering. Sr 1t tended 10
show that | was becoming known IN me pldoei; ,ai
"Of course II was no use questioElns ~. Ia az
any further and | could only regret that ne
knew nv house better than my rivals put on
my ovcrcoat and start. carrying with me lew
things on tne chance that they might be heces-
sarv including a strong soporhc whicn h.snt
have to use If found my patient IN srea' pam
which | could Immediately relieve. -,
II had concluded that my services were n',os mao
necessary by some accident. and used as ii'uc"
haste as possible, therefore, In getting 10 'ne au
dress which the boy had given me. and which l
had copied down into my pocketbooK oelore ne
went away ..os 90
AS approached the house was surprised 70
find II in complete darkness. and could not help
wondering whether had been MADE tne C- nlc'ia,. t
of practical Joke, especially when my ring d,
the hell remained unanswered had expected
to find the house lighted up. and everybody on
the alert awaiting my appearance ana Wa
nrenare1 with an apology for my Intrusion when
I heard steps descending the stairs and coming
along the hall in answer to my second ring
..rba door was opened by a genial-lookng old
Gentleman in a lowered dressing gown. who car
red a lamp in his hand. and his hrst words set my
mind at rest as far as my fears of hoax were
"'Oh. you are the doctor. suppose" he SAID
VIII YOU walk upstairs. please
"He was chatting all the while that ne pre-
ceded me up the broad staircase in voice that
certainly did not show any anxiety.
81 was beginning to think that the young
urchin l sent had played me false ana maze OH
with my half-crown without doing anything Tor
it, he said: and explained that he had fetched
me from two miles away.
"I am sorry that you have had to come so far.
he said politely I thought that he would be
able TO find medical man much nearer. surely
there some?
Yes but your messenger did not appear TO
know of them answered. and the old gentleman
murmured something about a doctor always
being ready for new patient as he led the way
into a room the first floor at the back and
placed the lamp on the table. | glanced around
the place quickly. expecting to see some sign of
the person I had come to attend.
The room was comfortably. almost handsomely
furnished as a sittng-room. and contained
checrfu-looking fire. before which two arm
chairs were drawn up, with a small table be-
tween them. containing two glasses. bottle OF
whiskey and a syphon Of soda water. besides
box Of cigars. Bat there was no sign Of pa
tient ,
Take your grestcoat off and sit down. said
the old gentleman; you can put your things on the
table. suppose you will not object to a glass or
Scotch and cheroot? l can recommend the
cheroots.
He had seated himself in one of the armchars
as he spoke. and was filing the glasses.
Pardon me- I said, in considerable astOnsh-
ment. but had I not better the patient be-
fore do anything else?
He looked up. as il surprised at my sugges-
ton.
''Oh | am the patient he said placdly.
Il stared in greater surprise than ever. for he
looked quite picture of health, and he smiled
good-naturedy.
7 oil hati ic
the matter with me- he said as placidly as be-
fore. I do not like to see man standing when
| am sitting, and If you do not take your coat
off you will catch cold when you go out again.
You doctors never use your knowledge 10 take
care OF yourselves. That is better'-as l obeyed
wonderingly.
after had taken the other armchair i suffer
terribly You cannot tell what it is to stay
awake all night long while the rest of the world
is asleep. Not a soul to speak TO, the one living
person In city of dead. | think that 1t VIII
send me mad some day.
Yes It is a great affction.' said. shortly.
not a little chagrined that had been summoned
al that time OF the night to a consultation which
could have been held at any time, but 1t can be
cured in time with healthy living
:" But that does not help me to- night said my
patient pushing the box of cigars toward me.
"'You are suffering tonight" l asked with my
most professional air
Yes am perfectly certain that shall not
sleep wink. 1t would make me feel suicidal to
go to bed and try. That Is why sent for doc
tor: but am sorry you have had 10 come so
far
"'Well, II Is lucky that have brought some
drugs with me- l said. opening my brief bag be-
fore me- I will give you sleeping draught for
tonight. but you must give up drugs and live
healthily, and take plenty OF exercise and diet
yourself II you really want cure
II took out the soporfc had prepared before
starting as | spoke. but the old gentleman shook
his head hopelessly
at is not the least giving me drugs, doc
tor he said. 1 have saturated my system with
them and they have no effect upon me-
Then may ask why you have sent for me -
| asked feeling very much like losing my tenn
per
"'Well. II is Ike this. doctor. he said pacidly
L can't sit up all night by myself ! feel as
though | should go mad II do. / must have