The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-08
A TRIUMPH OF MEDIcIpe.


the famous doctor treated me to many GU
rious "reminiscences or his early career.
Il should think that most medical men
make slips of that kind at least once in a
lifetime"
Macpherson shook his head.
4 do not remember doing so. But once
gave man an overdose OF a drug for
sleeping draught which nearly killed him.
1t was his own fault, though. as you viii
see when tell you the story"
l was glad TO hear that there was an
other story coming. and settled myself 10
listen, for Macphorson's "reminiscences are
always interesting
1t was when was quite a young man."
he began, and soon after / started a prac-
tice OF my own at Chelsea. / had taken a
pretty large house there, as a doctor is
bound TO do II he wants to get on, and
Kept couple Of servants. on the night,
however, when my adventure happened,
both the girls We're away. one of them had
become so I'll that l thought Il best for
her TO go home to be nursed, and the
other girl had travelled with her TO take
care Of her, and was TO return the first
thing next morning. So that when a vio-
lent ring came a. the front door bell about
midnight, when / was Just thinking OF
turning in, had to 90 and answer il my
SELF l did so with a bad grace for l had
had hard days work. and was looking
forward 10 bed. The violence OF the sum
mons suggested that somebody was in ur-
gent need Of my services. and sighed 20
think of the probability that / was to be
called out again.
when opened the door, / found 1t was
as l expected. A small boy, breathless
with running, informed me that 1 was re-
CURED at once at an address he gave me
IN street about half an hours walk from
my house.
What am wanted for?' asked, but
the boy could not tell me. He had been
passing the house, he said, when an old
gentleman opened the door. gave him half
crown, and told him to run as hard as he
could for the nearest Doctor
" But | am not the nearest DOCTOR 1
said, feeling for once that l could have
spared patient to one of my rivals The
boy looked surprised,
" You are the only one / could think Of
sir he said, which was fattering, for II
tended to show that l was becoming
known IN the place.
"Of course, 1t was no use questioning
the lad any further, and / could only re-
greet that he knew my house better than
my rivals, put on my overcoat and start
carrying with me few things on the
chance that they might be necessary, in
GLIDING strong soporific which / might
have TO use II found my patient in great
pain which / could not Immediately re-
lieve.
Il had concluded that my services were
made necessary by some accident and
used as much haste as possible there
fore in getting to the address which the
boy had given me, and which had copled
down into my pocketbook before he went
away.
AS l approached the house / was sur
prised to find Il In complete darkness. and
l could not help wondering whether / had
been made the victim OF a practical Joke.
especially when my ring at the bell re-
| NAMED unanswered. / had expected to
| find the house lighted up, and everybody
on the alert, awaiting my appearance. and
was prepared with an apology for my in
| trusion, when l heard steps descending
the stairs and coming along the hall in
answer to my second ring.
| The door was opened by genial look
| ing old gentleman in lowered dressing
gown. who carried lamp In his hand,
and his first words set my mind at rest
as far as my fears OF a hoax were con-
ceTned.
Oh you are the doctor, I suppose?'
he said. WIN you come upstairs, pleaseg
He was chatting all the while that he
| preceded me up the broad staircase In a
voice that certainly did not show any
anxiety.
1 was beginning TO think that the
| young urchin l sent had played me false
and made off " It'll my half-crown without
| doing anything for ", he said; ana | ex-
| planned that he had fetched me from two
miles away.
" I am sorry that you have had to come
so far he said, politely. L thought that
! he would be able to find a medical man
much nearer. Surely there are some7
Yes, but your messenger did not APP
| pear to know of them. l answered, and
| the old gentleman murmured something
| a al W. hafr
new patient, as he led the way into a
room on 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 l had come to
| attend
THE room was Comfortably almost
| handsomely furnished as a sitting room.
and contained a cheerful looking fire.
before which two armchairs were drawn
| up, with a small table between them
containing two glasses, a bottle of whis.
ky and a syphon Of soda water. besides
box Of cigars But there were no signs
of a patient.
A" Take your greatcoat off and sit down,
said the old gentleman; you can put your
things on the table. / suppose you win
not object to a glass Of Scotch and
cheroot? ! can recommend the cheroots.
"He had seated himself in one of the
arm-chairs as he spoke, and was filling
the glasses.
=" Pardon me- said in considerable
establishment, but had 1 better not see
the patient before l do anything else?
HE looked UP as If surprised at my
suggestion.
"'Oh, am the patient he said plac-
idly.
Il stared in greater surprise than ever
for he looked quite a picture Of health
and he smiled good-naturedly
" II you will sit down l will tell you
what is the matter with me- he said as
placidly as before. I do not like to see a
man standing when / am sitting, and If
you do not take your coat off you will
catch cold when you 90 out again. You
doctors never use your knowledge to take
care of yourselves. That is better'-as
I obeyed wonderingly.
" ! am a victim of insomnia he went
on, 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
a city of the dead. 1 think that 1t will
send me mad some day
d" Yes, It is a great affiiction.' I said
shortly, not a little chagrined that 1 had
been summoned at that time of the night