Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-11-05
A DOCTORS EXPERIENCE.
He Tells Why He Was Induced to Aban-
don His Profession

don His Profession
\ we'll known business man from
Texas was in Washington not long ago,
on his way 10 New York, when a re-
porter met him and had a long talk
with him. Instead of being either judge
or major he was doctor, and the re-
porter asked him how he happened on
that title.
81 used to be a physician, was the
reply.
What did you quit it for, if that's a
fair question:"
The gentleman from Texas hesitated,
and the hotel clerk Joined the reporter
in coaxing him to tell the story Of his
life.
Il suppose / might as well," conced-
ed the gentleman, "and here goes.
When / was 22 years old, left Ken
tucky for a town in Arkansas, and there
l hung out my shingle and continued
the practice of medicine l had such
good luck that L became quite confident
of my ability, and / felt quite able to
tackle any sort of case that came my
way. l had been practicing about three
years, and had saved up nearly 81, 900,
when one day young fellow led his
father into my Office, and the old gem
tleman wanted me to remove his eye, as
1t panied him so he couldn't stand it. T"
81 had never had much experience
with eyes, and of course / shouldn't
have undertaken his case, but / thought
l was equal to anything, and at once
began making my preparations for the
operation. l understood from what the
son said that the pain from the bad eye
affected the other, and as it had been
blind for ten years the family thought
the best thing to do was to remove it. In
avery short time 1 had my patient under
the influence of ether, and without call
ing in any assistance further than the
son went to work and soon had the eye
out. Then as / began to put it in shape
l noticed, to my horror, that had tax
en- out the wrong eye. The thought of
what l had done startled and frightened
me so that l at once hurried through
my work and sent the old man home in
a carriage.
''Then drew out what money l had
in the bank, packed up my belongings,
and, after settling all my bills quietly,
took a night train and left the town
for Mexico. Being extremely sensitive
anyway, the thought of the terrible in
jury hadsinflicted upon this man so
wrought upon my feelings that could
not stay in one place, and I wandered
about Mexico for three months. At the
same time / was afraid that might be
ed and carried back for the punishment
so richly deserved. Aftep four months
l came over to Texas, and in a remote
town l opened an Office again and
changed my name. l managed to make
a living and staid there for five years,
worrying so over the man that l had
made blind and perhaps had left to die
that | became gray and wrinkled.
81 presume would have died there,
but one day happened into San An
tonic and met man / had known in
the Arkansas town. At first thought
of trying to get away, but l concluded
that the time had come for me to take
my punishment, for couldn't stand it
any longer, and l went up to him and
asked him if he Didn't come from
Blankville and did he know Mr.. X.
and the doctor who had got out Of town
so disgracefully. I was relieved to find
that he didn't know mo at all, and he
at once proceeded to tell mo that the
disappearnl. zee vi the doctor was still IN
unsettled mystery, and that Mr.. X. was
in good health. / told him had heard
that the doctor had taken out the wrong
eye and that the old man had become
stone blind in consequence. He assured
me that the old man had not suffered
any Inconvenience at all, because he was
blind, anyway, In both eyes and had
been for years, and another physician
had finished the job quite satisfactorily,
and the patients general health had
greatly improved.
"You have no idea," concluded the
gentleman from Texas, "how this news
relieved me, and in my enthusiasm
gave up the practice Of medicine forever
and put my money into manufaotur-
ing establishment that has almost made
me rich in the past 30 years. mover
went back to tho remote Texas town
again; neither did 1 ever go to the
Arkansas town, nor tell my informant
who L was. AS it happened | was all
right, but the suffering / had endured
was enough to cause me to put that part
Of my past clear behind me and keep it
there. Washington Star.