The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-30
IaE MEpICAL Profession
Some itnd wora, for tho Doctor vino is
Onen Abused.

Speaking of doctors, / wonder whether
these medical men from every section
of the Sountry between the mountains
of The east and west who are gathered
in LoulAville this week understand how
often they are condemned bitterly and
without reason. They are called quacks
and humblgs and ayarlcious self-seek-
ers. They befool weak women, They
feel pulses. look wise, prescribe bread
pills or cQlored water, and charge out
raseously for the same. You have heard
that sort OF talk, OF course, We all
have. Ru; somehow / have noticed that
that 1t comes usually from the robus-
tlous individual who boasts that he has
never had days sickness in his life
and regards visits TO physicians ana 10
church as kindred marks OF effeminate
weakness And somehow / have also
noticed that these same individuals are
prone 10 surrender quickly to slight ill
ness; 10 whine and whimper at physical
pain that ID not a 1.-THE of that borne
uncomplainingly day by day by thou
sands OF fragile women, and that they
become ready subjects for deathbed re-
pentance as soon as fever or other all
ment begins TO sap their strength, And
when hear men OF this type delivering
their little phllipplcs against the doc
tors / am reminded always of one or
two OF those unreported happenings
that come within the observation OF ev-
cry newspaper man,
1t was In florists shop not long ago
that ! Glanced TO meet certain Louis
vile doctor. As | entered the place the
clerk was saying
1.-THE usual roses, doctor?"
Yes, and n few yariegated carna-
lions. She saw some OF them the other
day for the first time. and said she liked
the 'speckled pinks'"
Our greetings followed. and then, as
the doctor Is young and gifted with good
looks. as well as q voice and manner
that both men and women like, tried
a weak Jest at his expense:
1.-THE usual roses. doctor?" said.
Sounds little suspicious, doesn't 1t ?"
He laughed yes, that's right. get
them every day. They're for girl, too,
and I'm very fond OF her. II you've
nothing better to do, take drive with
me, and wen have chat before leave
the flowers"
I had nothing better TO do than to
have this chat with one Of the bright
est and most companlonable men OF my
acquaintance, and half an hour later We
entered an inflrmary In the southern
part of the city. Entering one OF the
private rooms, we saw a child, u girl
OF ten or twelve years, tossing restless
ly from side to side. She was a pretty
child, but the brightness of the blue
eyes beneath the heavy lashes and the
crimson spot In each wasted cheek told
us Of consuming fever. She Saw but one
OF us as we entered the room. In fact,
throughout our stay stood at the foot
OF the bed silent and unseen. was
content to watch the smile that parted
the parohed lips and the chIlds look of
supreme content that lightened her face
as she saw my companion.
"You weren't here yesterday, doctor"
she said. THE flowers came. but you
didn't Were you very busy"
yes very busy, little one. But 1
brought the flowers myself to-day" and
he opened the parcel.
"Ohl and you've brought me some
speckled plnks. too" was the child's cry,
and after one delighted sniff the poor,
thin arms reached around the Doctors
neck. / think at that moment he was
thinking OF another little girl at his
own home, to whom speckled plnks and
all the other good things Of life were
commonplace; little girl that he waa
watching with daily, Jealous care TO
rear in health and beauty. | know only
that the moments stretched into the
quarter hour and then the half while the
fashionable physician sat In quiet con-
...NN 1.tl Na1,1 Ia AWsafa
tlce was waiting for him as the thin
little voice broke into hoarse laughter
at his stories, but he did not think OF
other patients until The too-bright eyes
grew drowsy. We left her sleeping,
/ with her posy clasped tightly to her
paln-racked chest, and for a while our
drive was n silent one.
what Is the trouble with herr"
asked finally.
Consumption" he said. "she can live
only few weeks longer. She seemed
60 take a fancy 60 me when she first saw
me, and am trying to keep her comfort
able It's all we can do, in spite Of all
| our study"
The child may be dead now, do not
know. She was one OF a big family, and
her parents are poor Woodworking Ger
mans In the East End. Her expense for
the room and nursing and dainty food at
| the intlrmary we're paid from the fash
| ionable physlcian's private purse. He
| can afford Il. He sends in big bills.
understand, TO the rich men OF the city.
He happened to like the look that came
| into the child's face whenever she saw
him and he paid for his fancy. That
was all. Some people call him a hum
bug, 1 suppose. Perhaps he IS.
There IL another true story, but this
| happened years ago. and / tell It rs II
was told 10 me. | can mention names,
too, In this case. for the doctor wns that
splendid surgeon and kindly gentleman.
! David Yarnell, and he Is no longer In the
\ active ranks OF the profession he graced
I so long. ....
ut was bitter night in winter" said
my informant, and we had pleasan.
party at the Pendennis Club. DIR. Var
dell wac already an old man. who rarely
| paid night visits, md when call came
for him from the home of one OF Louis
vllles wealthiest men he promptly sum
moned his assistant and sent word thu;
the inclemency Of the weather would
prevent his personal attendance. The
| case was not serious one and could wei
wait his visit the next morning. The
same was true OF the next call. but his
answer was different. It came from a
cottage far down town and the request
| that came over the telephone was 8
woman's, asking that the doctor tell her
how tu make her husband more comfort.
able through the night. 1t was from O
| family that had once been prosperous
But that had been years before. Ill-luck
and ill-hcalth had long since reduced
them to dire straits, and former frlendt
had fallen away with their fortune. But
the answer of one old friend was:
"'Don't be alarmed, my dear As snor
an can drive down ! viii be- with you
''rhe first call had been from a home
| NOT hnlf a hoHen sanareR nMnY WHOM