Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-10-04

said my patient, pushing the box of
cigars toward ne
You are suffering tonight | asked
with my most professional air.
Yes, l am perfectly certain that 1
shall not sleep wink. 1t would make
me feel suicidal 70 go 10 bed and try.
That is why ! sent for a doctor. but l
am sorry you have had 20 come so far
We'll, Ii is lucky that l ha@,
brought some drugs with me- I said.
opening my brief bag before me. L
will give you q sleeping draught for to-
night. but you must give UP drugs and
live healthy and take plenty of exercise
ard diet yourself Il you really want
cure
Il took out the soporfic l had prcpar-
cd before starting as | spoke, but the
old gentleman shook his head hopeless
ly.
1T is not the least use giving me
drugs, Doctor he said. = have satur-
ated my system with them and they
have no effect upon me-
Then may ask why you have sent
for me-: l asked feeling very much
like losing my temper.
We'll. 1t Is like this, DOCTOR he
said. placidly. Il cant sit up all night
by myself. l feel as though l should
go mad II 90. | must have somebody
TO talk to-
And you Gean to tell me |
began hotly. and paused for want Of
words TO express my indignation.
MY patient took advantage of the
pause to proceed IN his gentle, half
apologize manner:
81 assure you, doctor. that l looked
upon it quite as a business matter. |
do not look upon a physician as
philanthrophist. but as business man.
whose chief induccment after all is TO
make money. May l ask what your
usual fee Is =
MY usual fee is seven and six
pence l said, severely. l was a mod
est beginner in those days. But when
l am called out in the night
You make It higher. Of course put
in my patient, impertubably; shall We
say ten shillings?'
II nodded
And may ! ask how long your visit
usually takes"
1T varies from FIVE minutes to an
hour
THE man performed short calcula-
ton on his fingers.
Then we may call your average visit
thirty -lw and half minutes he said
quietly. Well. l am quite prepared 20
pay you ten shillings for every thirty
two and a half minutes that you remain
with ME. Icu came in a exactly 1920.
Allow me TO pay yon ur till seven min
utes TO l. lie grayely handed me half
If you prefer it, l have not the least
objection to your giving me medical
advice all the time you are here. al
though that Is quite immaterial to me,
SO long as you talk about something,
and keep me from tie loneliness that
dread. Do lake cigar and help your
self to the whisky
His tone was so business-like ard
matter-of-fact that is was impossible
to quarrel with him. Besides. his evil
dent dread OF being alone, which so
many victims OF insomnia have, ap-
pealed TO my sympathies. l was not
successful enough then 10 disregard
the chance OF gaining rich and ecccn-
trio patient, the very class who make
the profession worth praci icing. from
a pecuniary point Of view made no
demur. therefore. bat determined TO
stay at least until had given him di-
rections for curing his want of sleep
by systematic exercise and plain living.
and lighted one of ms cheroOts. which
were. indeed. excellent
AT tie end OF half an hour rose to
so. But my strange patient pleaded
with me so earnestly TO accept another
fee and stay half an hour more that /!
scarcely hai1he heart to leave him. a
fresh idea occurred to me.
Il will stay on one condition. |
said; that you lie down and let me try
to get you to sleep. felt that if could
succeed in doing so should have done
something 10 justify my visi. and
should be able 10 get back TO my own
bed without any danger of offending
possible remunerative patient
He agreed instantly, and drew NJ
comfortable-io looking couch to the fire
in place Of his chair.
Now, II | will DO my level best to
sleep. will you promise not to leave me
till ! am off, he said, and. feeling
pretty confident Of my powers. rather
unwisely consented.
II began by reading aloud to him in
soft, monotonous tone, which / have
generally found effective, and at the
end of half an hour was congratulating
myself on my success, when tho old
gentleman jumped up wide awake, and
fishing in his pocket, produced another
half sovereign.