The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-04-05
THE DOCTORS STORY.
By Charles S. Hathaway.

IS prominent lOHlllpH bu iht NNii VI
my little country Office for nearly
three years, and as ] sat musing be-
fore the great box stove and its roaring
wood fire one wintry day, mentally
covering a fair countryside drive, /
concluded that those three years had
been reasonably prosperous.
As / dreamed along in this fashion
my Office door was opened with u rush,
and Darius Robson plunged before
me, very scant of breath, with the
news that his little boy was critically
i'll of Group and that DIR. Squiers, who
had been attending him, had recon-
mended that l be called to put n tube
or something in the childs throat"
that il was new but sure cure with
which Squiers was unacquainted, so
far as his own practice was concerned,
but that he had heard of several sue
cessful operations i had performed.
"Will you come, doctor?" asked Rob
ison in tones and manner indicating
doubt and the gravest anxiety.
Certainly, Mr.. Robson" i" l replied;
81 will be there within half an hour"
Mt which with "Thank you, DOCTOR"
Darius bounced out of the 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 i was ready
with my instruments and medicine
case, and a minute or two later the
stable boy brought my horse and cut
ter over from the country tavern,
where boarded, and was Off The
two-mile drive over good sleighing
with a fresh horse was short one, so
that within 20 minutes 1 was at the
side of the suffering child with the
grief-stricken parents and good old
DR.. Squiers, very dignified but inter-
ested, 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, pursing his lips, opening
his mouth, gasping and reaching out
with his hands, as if to pull the air
down to his little lungs; his face was
blue, the chest was Hattened and de-
pressed between the ribs and above
the clavicles, and the pitch and char
acter of his very difficult breathing in
dicated the presence of membraneous
obstruction in the larynx and glottis.
DR.. Squiers administered the chloro-
foim, and performed the operation
of tracheotomy, inserting tube. The
breathing of the child improved so
suddenly and so well 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
an adjoining room. DIR. Squiers prompt
ly attended to this side incident, how
ever, and in short time the respira-
tions Of the child were easy and regu-
lar, the natural color had returned to
its face, and he had taken n small
portion of food. Meanwhile the father
and mother had acquired q condition
of self-control and happiness, 80 that
when started home it was in the
midst OF one of those dense and wholly
beautiful halos of gratitude and adula-
tion which come so frequently to all
practitioners of medicine and which go
long way toward wiping out the IA
tigue and disappointments so common
to the profession.
These details told today, in the
light of new instruments, new methods
and new operations, sound common
place, but 20 years ago they were un.
usual and dramatic, and besides, al
the time OF which 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 IN the county.
Robson was raised q farmer aud had
district school education, but he was
OF an observing, investigating turn o.
mind, and, being industrious, frugal
and correct as to his habits, he was
recognized as n valuable citizen who
was well informed, interested in cur,
rent affairs and sincere in his devotion
to the prosperity of his township
Among other things he had made {
special study of the tramp problem
and by extensive reading upon phil
Dsopulchi subleClS, uHu luc CuuHt'
which are supposed to lead to mendi
cacy and itineracy, had views quite il
advance of those held by his neigh
bors.
However, he was appreciative ant
grateful, as were his wife aud boy, owe
the service / had performed, so tina
while 1 enjoyed hearing the words o
praise. sometimes quite fulsome,I did
occasionally grow weary over the same
details of the same story and the sam,
Communications which was certain IL
} hear each time met him or any mem
/ her OF his family.
Therefore when / learned, about {
year later, that the Robisons wer'
going to move to the northern part o
Wisconsin TO engage in the lumbe
! business, ] felt some regret and SOM
, satisfaction in that while might b.
! losing a local friend, my reputation
would be carried into the outer worl,
possibly 70 my own advantage. The,
| L.. Il.