Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-07-23
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I, PATIENT.
by NiIIiamT Nichols
Copyright 1885, BY J. B. Lppineott COL

Stln8cy were Huely pleHueu' "heh A''
Lorine and her medical adviser came
together for discussion OF her case
The points at issue were the length
particularity and minuteness with
which she should describe her symp-
toms, real or imagined, the systems OF
treatment to which she had been sub
jected, the effects, good, bad or in
different, produced by them, and the
opinions thereof, weighty or valueless,
Of many persons unknown to her
auditor. 1t was a contest, valiant but
unequal, and at last the woman had
the man at her mercy.
"Oh, doctor, dear DOCTOR" she rat
tied on, "you can't imagine how pleased
yes, rejoiced-I am to be under your
care. wish I could tell you, describe
to you, the miserics I've suffered, the
horrors I've undergone at the hands OF
those wretches. Ugh! it makes me
SILVER to think of them. But can't tell
YOU; can't bear even to think of them.
Now there was that last one, so highly
recommended, too. went to him, doc.
FORFEITURE my going to him-abso-
lutely putting my life in his charge,
doctor-just after had escaped from
that quack who had made me take
electric shocks and ride horse-such
a dreadfully hard trotting horse, too
four hours every day. And what, doc
tor, do you imagine that next wretch
did? Think of it! He thrust me into
what he called a 'restcure;' absolutely
nothing to do, nothing to see, nobody
to speak to. Why, doctor, it was mad
dening, simply maddening!"
my dear Mrs. Loring," I broke in,
"pray do not agitate yourself with
such memories. If you please"
But she had regained breath and
was again in full career. Rest-cures,
water-cures, milk-cures, steam-cures:
tlrenchinps internal and external, pills.
pads and plasters; sea air, mountain
air; massage, calsthenics, and OUT
door exercise; drugs by wholesale,
diets without number, treatments rep
rcsenting q range from the latest and
best in the medical science to close ap'
proach to the superstitions of voudoo-
ism-all these she had survived. For
two long hours her tale flowed on in
food which overwhelmed all inter
ruptions, and when she paused ut last
il was rather from WEAKNESS than from
an exhausted subject
For a woman of such experiences
she looked remarkably well. Her COM
plexion was pale and sallow, and her
nerves were ION edge" as she herself
phrased it; but the stethoscope showed
that he. lungs were not affected and
there was nothing to cause alarm in tho
action of the heart. Her digestion was
weak-it could hardly have been other
wise after the trials to which it had
been put for so many years-and I'M
questionably she had had some genu-
inc twinges of rheumatism, but these
were not very weighty reasons for
traipsing about two hemispheres. AS
many of my predecessors had prob
ably decided, it seemed clear to me
that the best plan to pursue was to let
her entertain herself with some harm
less dose, and to strive to induce her
to forget that she believed herself an in
valid.
"Your case, Mrs. Loring, is most in.
tercsting,' said l, gravely.
"And complicated" said she, earnest
ly. $50 many physicians have spoken
of complications"
"They could hardly avoid it. But
that is not the point just now. | shall
have to ask you to submit implicitly to
my guidance. 1 shall give you pre-
scription of great efficacy, but ona
which must be used with rigid care.
You will arise at regular hour-letns
say seven o'clock. You will then take
three drops of the medicine in wine
glass of water--the glass must be full
to the brim. Then go out of doors and
walk slowly for Is minutes in the sun
niest spot available, not for exercise,
of course, but in order to have the cir
culation at its best to promote the ac.
ton of the delicately powerful combi'
nation Of drugs. l will arrange with
Mrs. Clark for your breakfast diet.
After breakfast you will sit in the open
air for an hour, at the end of which
time you will take walk or ride. Don't
return from it until the dinner hour,
when you may take a second dose. Rest
for an hour after dinner, and then pass
your time as you please out of doors.
A third dose should be taken at sup
perfume, and fourth before retiring.
rely upon you to carry out these di-
Iections to the letter"
Indeed I WILL" she promised, and
then her face fell, and she leaned toward
me as she asked: doctor, have / q
tuberculous diathesis? There was a
Frenchman, such delightful man 1
thought at first, who talked so beau
.ifully about that. Tell me, truly, do
you think have one?"
Mrs. Loring," declared, earnestly,
take my word for it, you have nothing
to fear on that score"
"But there was that London DOCTOR"
abe persisted, che said that / was
nnaemic; and he looked so wise, with
his great white beard like an ancient
sage. If it had not been for the snuff,
perhaps-but, doctor, do please tell me
it he was mistaken; I had to give him
up; really, doctor, had to; the snuff
was too much"
Another instance of groundless
fears" said I.
"And hereditary tendencies? So
many advisers have spoken of them,
doctor, but always so indefinitely; that
is, all but one was indefinite, and he
would you believe it, doctor?-he in
sisted that there must be govt in the
family, and he would have it SO, though
I knew, doctor, I knew he must be mis-
taken, for / never remem bered-never,
doctor, never-my father suffered in
his feet Int once and then doctor I