The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-29


An old saying credits a clergyman with
seeing the best side OF human nature. q
lawyer the worst. and doctor the rruest-
Whatever may be the accuracy Of the
Irst two statements. there IS Ettle doubt
Of the entire truth Of the last. pain
twists the mask OF most faces. and m
der stress OF nerves even murder wiu
out. The sophisticated might, PERHAPS.
preserve some show OF dignity but those
whose social training has been less Sc
we're ot1er interesting studies 70 any
physician who is fond OF the psychoIoei-
cal end Of his profession. Any hospital on
any afternoon when free patients are
swar1nink IN affords the observer q Gala
for his philosophizing, says the Chicago
Tribune.
Around a waiting-room the patients sit.
apparently free from nervousness. await
ing the summons 10 the desk II the ply
sician in charge OF the afternoon. They
wait a long time. many cf them. for
O'Clock strikes sometimes before those
who came in al or 2:3o can be attended
10. Not being troubled either with rest
lessness or numerous engagements. they
do not seem 10 mind the company Of
their own thoughts for 50 long. AS their
/ fellows are called up glances Of ianglid
interest follow them, but each IS plenti-
fully provided with troubles OF his or her
own.
As the patient takes a seat by the doc
tor curious conversations not infrequcElt-
y begin Doctor. dear says one, -0i
hope youu be after telling me what the
matter wild ne for il 5 a sick woman Ol
am. The giddiness IN me head is Just
awful; and the pain ia me lungs sich as
OF scarcely draws d breath widout groan-
in. And me heart, doctor. for hours
it'll never beat at all. at all And ne
appetite is that bad The doctor
49,
elicit a few facts unadorued by Celtic
imagination. and finally discovers that
ueuralgia. and lively fancy are the chief
trouble.
a woman comes up with a sickly baby
q lttle over a year old. Questions bring
out the fact that something has gone
wrong with the small ''tummy. What
DO you give the child TO eat?@ queries
the doctor. ''Joost a Hddle of whatever
we haf, doctor explains the mother,
and eln liddle pickle, now und again.
"A little WHAT asked the doctor in
amazement. Fin pickle" reiteratCs the
mother. Elm American lady, she SAYS
DOT is gut for das kint Iiddle stomach.
To a surprised matron IL IS explained
that, IN spite Of the American lady s.
authority, pickles are not good for babies
clgesuOns. and reform is promised, but
rather doubtfully, as II the doctor might
be actuated by personal prejudice against
the monumental institution cf the faith
erlsnd.
A colored woman is troubled with rheu-
matism in rather q severe form. and her
occupation is asked. "Ah washes, she
answers adding after a moment TO avoid
Misunderstanding. ''cviothes.' 'Thats
bad for rheumatism, says the doctor.
'Ah know" says she But All pride
mahself on nah washin'. Dexterity and
celebrity is nah motto. sab. and Am en-
deavoL> 10 gain the respect and conf
dence 0o dem for which All works. All
could engage in aroder profession. sab,
but All could neber regard it as SO honor
able. Dexterity and celerity. sab, nah
motto was, is now, and cher shall be-
Cheered by the encouraging news thlt
the rheumatism is not hopeless, she
sweeps out of the door with all the dig
nifty Of a professional"
NO. II, calls the doctor. Fourteen Is
q grandmother, a father a mother,
child Of 10. and a boy OF Is. They are
Italians, and ali face the doctor anx-
iousiy In answer TO the question,
Which is m?' all gestieulste wildly
with worried smiles. The old 1ady7'f
suggests the doctor. More gesticuiauon,
apparently of a negative character.
which speaks English? asks the doc
tor. All nudge the youngest child. who
looks frightened and admits that she
does. wen. which IS sick?' After much
prodding the child says that the boy is
sick. A few preliminaries as to his birth
place, etc, passed over. questioning Tor
symptoms begins. 'Has he any pain"
The child looks doubtful, and az a sug-
gestion asks the mother, who c0usuits
with the grandmother and father. and
finally with the boy himself. The pain is
located. Now, how long has he had it,
More consultation Finally the answer IS.
"A long time" How long-a week-a
month? Violent disagreement among the
family. The doctor. In despair. gently
but firmly demands that one speak at
time. The family. becoming alarmed, re-
fuses to speak al all. More explanations
much tacJ-a few replies-and eventual
y a prescription.
A sad little woman. with desperate tll-
ness written on her Wistfu face. comes
next. The doctor knows her, and speaks
cheerlly while watching her with physi-
clans kesnness and a friends sympathy.
Eventually he says, his voice as tender
as his manner IS firm: Mrs. DAILY. you
must give up and 60 into the hospital.
II IS useless to fight any longer. I VIII
write az order to have you admitted az
once" The womans voice is shrill, ia
spite Of self-contrOl, as she answers;
Doctor. doctor. i've little children. And
you know what the dangers are even
you ask me 70 leave them 70 the neigh
bors. like little waits and stTsysi" Tie
doctor shakes his head. Mrs. Daily, 81 Is
beyond your viii power; you must 20
into the hospital" 'Or else" sdes the
woman. 'I'n be leaving them forever.
She does not fear death. bat the terror
OF her children's loneliness is CHASTITY on
her face as she taxes The order in her
trembling fingers. A sense Of traee5y
falls on the waiting group as she passes
out, and all follow her vith that sponta-
neous sympathy which IS the mighty VIZ
tue Of poverty. An Italian man. with a
child Ga his arms, bushes the baby gent
Iy. He speaks little English, but ls proud
Of what he has mastered. 50 he crocls
ike a lullaby the harsh words, smut
up-s; shut-up-aiH
Another coI0red woman q an old south
ern type comes next. For her the doctor
prescribes less work; she IS en- Old wo-
man and her working DAYS have been
many. she looks alarmed rs lt An IN
dytn p she demands. solemniy. The doc
tor laughs cneerify. 90 dear no. Tou u
1--we another generation With Ifts
cara" My, Esy. cries she. delighted.
But 6ats a rood sayln. You see. Mass
Johnnie, he hysnt drink 10 ordinary CQf-
fae-only wut / makes rld my two ole
black hands And sis sue' Lor5y rar
she CO suffer from indigestion ~ ds
stomach II she touch p9-sfo a1 ain
cooked myself Ny. my. 1octahl Ole
Auu Dinsh xyaut de ard issrs dem cha-
Iuas Etomschs 20 b. tore cul q leu
r. 10 dlsresrrctshls cook She chrcE1s
al the prcspect of living o. serve there
whom she loves Eer oru interest," .n tts .
matter coes not appeal o. her
"1csr humcr ~ the clinics however. +.
is UNCONSCIOUS. and men are eltner 9ltfF 4
.or taciturn- Cf al ths uel Ut1 cone
fr ths Italians r.Fs re urF1 pleasure.
rsrs r-r-srrff- hrirr children rlsh ftrrl, f
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