Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-10-06
THE YOUNG DOCTOR.

IL
ally became part of Jerseyville public opin
| ion: for Lemuel was shrewd and candid and
rich. successful business man and an hon
eest one at the same time; and be had made
Jerseyville, which would be called Jones
vile to-day, If he had permittedit.
"Now. look here. young man." old Lem
uel said one day, as be walked into the new
young doctors Office, shut the door and sat
down, II want to talk with you awhile.
With you, understand-not at and around
you, as most folks have to. ] hear that in
your interviews with patients You let them
do all the talking, and simply shake your
head, or nod it, or smile, or frown, and put
I'D your medicine, and write the directions,
and 20 away, and find the patient better
when you return. Now, want you to talk
half an hour. | know you can if you want
to-"
The new young doctor looked old Lemuel
Jones over a minute or two, and replied,
quietly: Whats the use of talking, Mr..
Jones? There's scarcely anybody in the
world, unless he is deaf and dumb, but is
willing and able to save you the trouble. Be
sides, things you say are repeated and dis
torted "-and he paused a moment.
Nothing you say to me will be either re-
peated or distorted" replied old Mr.. Jones.
looking him in the eye. "Now talk awhile.
confound it"
Every WE'LL" said the young doctor, I'll
talk. And first. III tell you why don't
talk"
That's exactly what want" exclaimed
old Mr.. Jones. Il want you to talk and tell
me why you don't talk"
Every well, replied the doctor. THE
truth is, / have no time to talk. have to
keep my mind on two things-my practice
and my appearance"
"Your appearance?" asked old Mr.. Jones
surprised. And you look like sensible
man, tool"
Eyes, my appearance" insisted the new
young doctor. Il cannot afford to have q
single hair lie wrong. My face must be
shaved every day with exactness, my mus
tache combed to a nicely and every hair of
both eyebrows must be at the proper angle
My clothes must fit as if they were part OF
my cuticle. Every position, every move
ment of the body, must be according to rule.
1t takes me hours of study to accomplish
this"
"And you look like sensible man, tool"
insisted old Mr.. Jones.
Certainly dc" replied the doctor, quiet
ly. THAT is part of my study. If you can
only appear like sensible man people will
think you are, and you need say nothing;
they will do it all for YOU"
an be dumbed If you ain more than about
half right" admitted Mr.. Jones. tits get.
tin to be so more and more, though it didn't
use TO be that way. How do you account for
it:"
People are getting to think more and
more with their eyes, and less and less with
their BRAIN" replied the new young doctor
mot sensible people" interrupted old Mr..
Jones.
"No, not sensible people," admitted the
other; "but those are in terrible minor
ity. If had to make my way 'doctoring'
sensible people only would starve."
Right again" admitted hard-headed Mr..
Jones. "Dumbed if you amt. Well?"
well, get myself into just the right
mental and physical shape and then go out
among my patients. Ispend maybe ten min
utes with each one. During that time the
patient, if strong enough, and probably from
one to half dozen with him, are willing to
do ninety-nine hundredths OF the talking
and am willing to let them"
'Dumbed if they amt" said old Mr.. Jones.
I'm so myself when I'm sick. I'm a regular
old maybe. Welly'
II shake my head, nod it, smile, frown,
look at the patients tongue, feel patients
pulse, write prescription, tell them when
to expect me again, and leave"
"Old Doc Remington never will leave"
exclaimed Lemuel Jones. II can hardly
drive him away. WellT
That's about all of it." said the new
young physician.
Don't you tell 'em how it was that they
happened to get sickg" inquired Mr.. Jones.
"0f what use would it be-" inquired the
doctor. They wouldn't believe it. or If
they did they would forget it the next day.
My business isn't to tell people how they
happened to get sick. My business is to take
them after they are sick, and, in reasonable
space OF time. get them WELL"
And that not too soon?" inquired the
other.
We'll, no." replied the physician, thought
fully; mot so soon that they won't appre-
ciate my efforts. You get sick man on bis
feet too soon and he won't admit that he'
been sick"
Dumbed II 1t isn't so,' admitted old Mr. |
Jones again. "But how did you find all this
out ?"
By thinking and observing, while Others
we're talking" replied the doctor.
DO you think it's right to deceive PEG. |
'ley" asked old Mr.. Jones, gravely.
Il do not deceive them" said the doctor:
although to be cure ! sometimes let them |
deceive themselves. II tried to undeceive |
them they would not understand me, and |
would hate me for contradictingt
'Dumbedi if they wouldn't" muttered the
Did gentleman. TITS human nature. Wellge
Five dollars" said the young physician,
lmiably and politely.
Old Lemuel Jones was taken aback for a
but he was too good a business man
lot to know that there was something in
his young fellow that would be of still more
benefit to him if he could get him to tell it;
md he paid the money without vince.
You can't talk for nothing" be said. smil.
ng, and I'm coming in day after tomorrow
ma set your tongue running FIVE dollars
Worth again. Everywhere.
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