Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-06-05
Tht Storu Tetler.
A TRIUMPH OF MEDICINE.
An English Doctors Story.

An English Doctors Story
"Did you ever give a man the wrong
medicine, DR.. Macpherson ?" I asked
him, as we sat chatting in my snug
gerry, and the famous doctor treated
me to many curious "reminiscences o
his early career. ~ should think tina
most medical men must make Slip
of that kind at least once in life
time"
Macpherson shook his head.
"I do not remember doing so. Bu
I once gave a man an overdose OF 8
drug for a sleeping draught which
nearly killed him. 1t was his owr
fault though, as you will see when
tell you the story"
I was glad to hear that there wa
another story coming, and settled my
self to listen, for Macpherson's remin
iscences are always interesting.
"It was when I was quite a young
man." he began, "and soon after
started a practice ofmy own at Chelsea
Ihad taken pretty large house there
as doctor is bound to do ifhe wants to
get on, and keep couple Of servants
On the night, however, when my ad.
venture happened, both the girls were
away. One of them had become go Ill
that I thought it best for her to &c
home to be nursed, and the other girl
had travelled with her to take care o.
her, and was to return the first thing
next morning. So that when a violent
ring came at the front door bell about
midnight, when was just thinking o.
turning in, I had to 60 and answer il
myself. did 80 with a bad grace, fol
had had a hard days work, and was
looking forward to bed. The violence
of the summons suggested that some
body was in urgent need of my ser
vices, and I sighed to think of the
probability that was to be called ou'
again.
"When opened the door, I found
that it was as I expected. A small
boy, breathless with running, informed
me that was required at once at an
address he gave me in street abou
half an hours walk from my house.
"sWhat am wanted for" I 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 tolo
him to run as hard as he could for the
nearest doctor.
"'But am not the nearest doctor,
I said, feeling for once that l coulc
have spared a patient to one of my
rivals. The boy looked surprised.
"'You are the only one I could
think of, SIR he said, which was fiat
tering, for it tended to show that I wal
becoming known in the place.
"Of course it was no use question.
ing the lad any further, and I could
only regret that he knew my house
better than my rivals, put on my
overcoat and start, carrying with me
a few things on the chance that they
might be necessary, including, strong
soporifc, which might have to use il
I found my patient in great pain which
I could not Immediately relieve.
IT had concluded that my services
were made necessary by some acci
dent, and used as much haste as posi-
BILE, therefore, in getting to the address
which the boy had given me, and
which I had copied down into my
pocketbook before he went away.
GAS approached the house l was
surprised to find it in complete dark
ness, and I could not help wondering
whether I had been made the victim
of practical joke, especially when my
ring at the bell remained unanswered
had expected to find the house lighted
up, and everybody on the alert, await
ing my appearance, and I was prepar'
ed with an apology for my intrusion
when 1 heard steps descending tht
stair and coming along the hall in an
swer to my second ring.
"The door was opened by a genial
looking old gentleman in foweree
dressing gown, who carried a light IL
his hand, and his first words set my
mind at rest as far as my fears of hoal
were concerned.
"'Oh, you are the doctor, 1 sup
pose p he said. will you walk W
stairs, please?'
"He was chatting all the while tha
he preceded me up the broad stair
case in voice that certainly did mo-
show any anxiety.
"'I was beginning to think that the
young urchin I sent had played me
false, and made off with my half
crown without doing anything for it,
he said and I explained that he hao
fetched me from two miles away.
"'I am sorry that you have had te
come so far, he said politely. :!
thought that he would be able to find
a medical man much nearer. Surely
there are some?'
ayes, but your messenger did not
appear to know of them,' answered
and the old gentleman murmured
something about doctor always being
ready for a new patient, as he led the
way into a room on the first floor at