The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-02-05
rAn,x Amra,oAM nocrona.
some very queer Details Of Thsls
Practice.

Some Very queer Details Of Thsls
Practice.
Il may be well here 10 refer TO the
method OF obtaining a medical profess
sion In those days. says the American
Monthly Magazine. There were but
two schools OF medicine In the country.
The one at Harvard college. just es-
;ahlished. and that al New Haven, or
ganized In 1854. But by reason Of the
dangers and expense Of travelling they
we're by no means we'll attended. In
general the medical education was suck
as the student could pick up hSsery-
ing as an apprentice to some noted
practitioner. which combined thesdu-
ties Of a student with many mental af'
fairs. lie ground the powdera, mixed
the pills. rode with the doctor on his
rounds. held the basin xhen the patient
was bled. helped to adjust the plastera.
SOW wounds and run With the Walls OF
medicine from one end OF the town to
the other. Il was white day when
such a young man enioyed the rare
good fortune OF dIssectlng a half-putrld
arm. 50 great. indeed, was the DIM
Guilty OF obtaining anatomical subjects
that the medical school at Harvard
college made q single body do duty for
a whole year Under such clrcum-
stances the doctors knowledge was
practical. and derived from personal
experience rather than from books.
The advantages OF study were sparing-
| ly enjoyed. Few physicians boosted OF
a library Of flfty volumes. His appren-
tlceshlp ended. the student returned to
his native town 10 assume the practice
OF medicine. AZ that period, With the
exception Of the minister and tho
Judge, the doctor was The most impor-
tant parsonage IN the community. HIS
genial face. his engaglng manners, the
sincerity with which he inquired after
the carpenters daughter and the IN
terest he took IN the family Of the
poorat laborer made him The iayoriie
for miles around. He kneu the names
and personal history OF the occupants
OF every house be passed. The farmers
lads palled on their hats 10 him, and
the girls dropped courtesies as he
, passed. Sunshine and ran. daylight
/ and darkness were alike 10 him. liz
would ride ten miles In The darhaos'
night oyer the worst Of roadA N 4
. pclting storm. to administer dose o.
/ calomel to an Old woman or attend
, child In NJ The drugs we're storee
B away on the shelves OF the village
e store. among heaps OF shoes. Rohar
\ hats packages Of seeds and iitches o
e bacon. The physician was eonpelle,
B TO compound bis own drugs. make MI
1 awn tlncturoa aud put up bis own pre-
n scrlpiions Ills saddlo-bag was th'
" only dug store within forty miles
3 Each spring The blood must BE- nurihoi
l. the Kidneys excited and the damsel VIII
y tainted profusely bled. Large doses o
}, scnna and mama aud rhuharb and mo
= lasses taken daily. Il d safe 70 "a.
!. that more medicine was taken ever
J. year BY the well than Ia noE taken b
a the sick IN the same time
Il Water was denied the patient tor
I. mcnted With fever. In its stead wa
,e given a small quantity Of clam iuic'
= Mercury vas taken until the lips turne
Is blue and the gums fell away from N
d teeth. The writer has a vivid recolle,
" lion. when abou, years old. In a ral
sr ing fever. pleading for water. the nurs
IA handed the pitcher and the child naiii
fed her burning thirst. Her brothe
overhearlng what was going on. rushe
p into the room. exclaiming: you wi
KIN her" bat /, was too late