The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-07-10
CALLING THE DOCTOR.
PeOFlS Are Not C0AsldefAte 81 q
Physiciau'o Comfort.

PeoTls Are Not CoAslderAte - the
Physician's Comfort.
Without intending to be so, people
are extremely inconsiderate to their
physicians, and unwittingly cause them
> great deal Of trouble and weariness.
At q somewhat informal meeting Of
doctors and nurses. held not long since,
for the purpose of discussing the rela-
tions between the two, some very in
teresting facts were brought out and
talked over with that clearness Of per-
ception and directness that character
ize persons whose long familiarity with
their business renders them experts.
"In the course of my duties ~ nur~e," "
said y young woman who has made .
name for herself. II have observed that
Imagination and apprehension have .
great deal to do with sending for doc
tors at unreasonable hours. AS rule
the sufferer might just as wei! wait un-
til morning or send before it is
late into the night. But fidgety and con-
sequential folk seem to think that it
adds to their Importance and the grav-
ity of the situation il they rouse the
house at time when everybody is or
ought to be asleep and send some serv-
ant or member of the family post haste
for medical aid"
When people are ailing they get tired
and nervous and fretful and out Of joint
with everybody and everything. They
are to q certain extent entertained and
amused or at least occupied during the
day. Their thoughts are distracted In
spite OF themselves, and they have less
nervous force to expend upon them
selves. When night comes and the
house il quiet they are left more to
themselves, and their thoughts and
fancies run riot. They magnify their
ills, and dwell upon their pains and
give free rein to their fears. .:sssz-
We all know that by indulging our
selves we get into apprehenaive states
and fancy all sorts OF dreadful things
when once we give way to our feelings.
And it in especially SO with sick per-
sons. They begin to think and to worry
and wonder if they arc really growing
worse, and, if there is an extra twinge Of
pain or little faintness or undue ncrv-
BUSINESS, they lose their heads at once,
and rybody is reused to minister TO
what is really nothing more nor less
than the legitimate result OF too much
self-eNarination aud too close atten-
ton to symptoms that would not be at
ell alarming If they were not dweit
upon.
OF course there are acute attacks Of
various diseases that demand instant
attention, but when the doctor has
made one call he is usually quite well
qualified to state whether or not there
are conditions that are likely to arise
that may give cause for alarm.
II have had many patientsNvhoc could,
with little explanation and qu;eting,
be reconciled to waiting for the doctor
until morning" added the young
woman.
II have made it . rule in my ten
years experience never TO send for .
physician after ten o'clock At night or
before seven o'clock in the morning un.
less there was imperative need Of it.
Doctors need rest and sleep just a.
much as other persons, and it is mani
fest injustice to them to call them out
at night unless it is absolutely neces-
sary. With reasonable consideration.
the doctor will live longer and be mort
valuable to his patients than il he were
dragged out at unreasonable hours aud
upon frivolous pretexts. Y. Lca.
ger -..'