Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-06-22
The Doctors First Case
By Fred F. Foster.
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THOUGH "a prophet is not without
honor save in his own country and
home" contains truth that is applica-
able to any and every vocation, Frank
Woodson, having completed his
course at medical college, displayed
his ''shingle" in Garfield village, where
he was born and had always had a
home, where no physician had ever been
located.
As he sat alone in his office-a small
and meagerly equipped apartment
quite late one dismal August evening,
wondering when his professional serv-
ices would be called into requisition,
young man entered his presence and
exclaimed:
"Col. Barnes is thought to be dying,
and you are wanted in his home as soon
as you can get there"
The young doctor fastened into the
presence of him who was to be his first
patient, whom he found lying on a
couch-near which his only child,
motherless daughter, was sitting and
chatting his temples. He was in an un-
conscious condition, his heart beating
feebly, his lips as livid as those of
corpse, his skin clammy.
During his medical course DIR. Wood
son had been especially interested in
toxicology, and Immediately diagnosed
the case as one of alkaloid poisoning.
He administered an emetic, subcutane-
ously, which acted at once, restoring
his patient to consciousness, though he
was too weak to utter word or even
move hand.
DO you know anything concerning
the medicines which he has been TAX
Ing p he inquired, addressing the daugh-
ter. '-ss7. -a-- 4
''For two days he has been improving
SO rapidly that DIR. Howe deemed it adj
visable for him to take no medicine, but
occasionally to take little wine as
stimulant.''
"How did this attack come on:''
IAN hour or so ago he expressed
desire for some wine, and got it for
him. Soon after he remarked that he
was terribly sleepy and, lying down
upon the couch, socn became uncon-
scious. 1 feared that some heart trouble
had attacked him which might prove
fatal and sent for you,''
~ should like to see the glass from
which he took the wine."
@1Hc seldom took more than two
swallows of it at time, and drank it
from the bottle in which it came to
him.
LET me see the bottle, if you please"
1T is the one without label on the
stand near which you are.''
Just as he had taken it into his hand
DIR. Howe entered the room, and soon
had been informed relative to the con-
dition in which Col. Barnes had been
found by the inexperienced practitioner
and the treatment" causing him to
nervously exclaim:
ut is incomprehensible to me why
such symptoms should have manifested
themselves, but you undoubtedly saved
his life.''
A few moments later DR.. Woodson
said:
II should like to confer with you pri-
vately," addressing DR.. Howe.
'Then will leave the room," Miss
Barnes observed, and presently the two
physicians were by themselves.
''What do you think of the casc??" DR..
Woodson asked.
'As said before, it is incomprehensi-
bic to me, was the reply.
'It is not to me-
"Isn't?" fell from DR.. Howe's lips in
tone of amaZement. M
Gin my opinion he was deliberately
poisoned, with intent to KILL
''What!" calculated DIR. Howe, in a
more amazed tone than had been his
before.
"Had you left with him any medicine
which, even in an overdose, would pro-
duce symptoms such as were his?''
81 had not"
''Do you think that, within his reach,
he had any alkaloid poison?"
II do not" ya.t5z5
''Do you see the tiny specks on the
inside of this vessel?" inquired DIR.
Woodson, holding up the bottle in which
was the wine.
''Yes."
''The wine itself would not generate
them?"
''It would not"
''My theory is that the wine was doc
tored. and il you have no objection to