Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-10

three years, and as sat musing be-
fore the great box stove and its roaring
wood fire one wintry day, mentally
covering fair countryside drive, I
concluded that those three years had
been reasonably prosperous.
AS I dreamed along in this fashion
my Office door was opened with rush,
and Darius Robson plunged before
me, very scant of breath, with the
news that his little boy was critically
ill of Group and that DR.. Squiers, who
had been attending him, had recon-
mended that be called to ''put tube
or something in the child's throat"
that it was new but sure cure with
which Squiers was unacquainted, 50
far as his own practice was concerned,
but that he had heard of several sue
cessful operations L had performed.
''Will you come, doctor?" asked Rob
ison in tones and manner indicating
doubt and the gravest anxiety.
Certainly, Mr.. Robson, I replied;
81 will he there within Lalf an hour, y
at which with .'Thank you, doctor, !"
Darius bounced ort CT tE- office, and
the next instant he was running across
the street to the general store-a COM
bination OF postoffice, drug store and
all kinds of merchandise.
Within five minutes / was ready
with my instruments and medicine
case, and minute or two later the
stable boy brought my horse and cut
ter over from the country tavern,
where I boarded, and / was of. The
two-mile drive over good sleighing
with fresh horse waSa short one, so
that within 20 mipnses was at the
side of the suffering child with the
grief-stricken parents and good old
Dr. Squiers, very dignitied but inter
estcd, watching my movements with
the closest scrutiny.
found the boy, about four years old,
suffering from acute membraneous
laryngitis. He was creeping about
over. the bed, pursuing his lips, opening
his mouth, gasping and reaching out
with his hands, as if: to pull .he air
down TO his little lungs; his face wns
te-cn est Vas
pressed between the ribs and above
the clayic!es, and the pitch and char
acter5of his very difficult breathing in
.dicated the presence of membraneous
obstruction in the larynx and CLOTHS.
Dr.. .Squiels administered the chloro-
folm, and T performed the operation
OF tracheotomy, inserting tube. The
breathing OF the child improved so
suddenly and so we'll that the shock
caused the father, who had watched
the operation, to fall in fainting con-
dition, thus adding to the terror OF the
mother and wife, who was waiting IN
anadioining room. DR.. Squiers prompt
ly attendedEb this side incident, how
ever, and in short time the respira-
tions of the child were easy and re u
lar, the natural color had returned to
its face, and he had taken a small
portion of food. Meanwhile the father
and mother had acquired q condition
of self-control a d happiness, so that
when + started home it was III the
midst OF one of those dense and wholly
beautiful halos OF gratitude and adula-
ton which come so frequently to alt
practitioners of medicine and which go
a | ng way toward wip:ng ont the ia
tigue and disappointments so common
to the profession. -.s
These details told today, in the
light of new instruments, new methods
and new operations, sound common
place, but 30 years ago they were un-
usual and dramatic, and besides, at
the time OF which I speak, Darius Rob
ison was county supervisor and was
the supervisor whose vote defeated my
desire to serve the county. Moreover,
he had shown an unaccountable an
tipathy toward myself ever since l had
located III the county.
Robson was raised farmer and had
district SCHOOL education, but he was
OF sn observing, investigating turn OF
mind, and, being industrious, frugal
and correct as to his habits, he was
recognized as valuable citizen who
was we'll informed, interested IN cur
rent affairs and sincere in his devotion
to the prosperity of his township.
Among other things he had made a
special study of the tramp problem
and by extensive reading Gpon phil
osophical subjects, and the causes
which are supposed to lead to mendi-
cacv and itineracy, had views quite in
advance OF those held by his neigh
bors.
However, lie was appreciative and
grateful, as were his wife and boy, over
the service had performed, so that
while enjoyed hearing the words OF
praise, sometimes quite fulsome, [ did
occasionally grow weary over the same
details of the same story and the same
commendations which I was certain to
hear each time met him or any mem
ber of his family.
Therefore when i. learned, about ii
year later, that the Robisons were
going to move to the northern part OF
Wisconsin to engage in the lumber
business, 1 felt some regret and some
satisfaction in that while L might be
losing local friend, my reputation
would be carried into the Souter world
possibly to my own advantage. They
had been gone year or more when |
received letter telling me as to the
good healtho the family, that Robson
was making money and urging me,
when / took ~ vacation, to pay them a
visit. I made proper acknowledgment
of the receipt OF the letter and forgot
the matter until year later Ireceived
another letter of similar import, add
ing that tle deer hunting in their vi.
ciniv was fine Again Iwas obliged
to decline the invitation with thanks.
Then, for, couple OF years, I heard
nothing further until one day ra'
ceived telegram summoning me to
small lumber town but q few miles
from Robison's mill to perform an op