The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-05-05
STORY Of DR.. DAVIS
Queer Physician Who Made
His Own Drugs.
OTHER DOCTORS JEALOUS
Tried TO Get the Secret of His
Medicine.
OTHER DOCTORS JEALOUS

Ciudad Juarez. Mexico, May 5.-After
! living the life OF a hermit for fifteen
! years, Dr. c. J. Davis, once a wei known
physician OF New York City, died in the
Hotel Dieu in FL Paso, Tex, last
! night He had been taken there by per-
sons who found him naked and nearly
dead in the little old adobe hut which
he had called home, where ne had lived
alone for more than twelve years. With
him died a medical secret which physi-
clans had tried for years to obtain.
/ Dr. Davis was far from poor. He
owned mining properties which brought
him in much more than he ever spent,
+ and his account with two II Paso banks
was q. steadily increasing one.
lie was fond of good clothing and
/ jeweI-y and he gratiied himself. When
he was taken to the hospital several
geld watches and a number of diamonds
were found in his hut.
The romance which caused him 20 give
up active life as q physician was
strange one Twenty years ago he had
wen established practice in New York
and was about to be married, when he
discovered in himself the germs Of con
sumption
Knowing the infectious nature of his
disease and the practical impossibnity of
curing it in New York. ne hesitated as
to his duty. Should he marry the young
woman and lead the life he had planned
or should he give up everything and ex-
lie himself 40 the Southwest
DR. Davis made mp his mind. He had
no right to expose a wife 10 the danger
OF contracting the disease which threat
ened his life So the physician came to
the table-iands of Northern Mexico.
Then came change in the physician.
Where he had been congenial and com
panionable he became morose and shun-
ned society. Aexicans do not thrust
themselves upon "a stranger ard the
few Americans were soon repened by DR.
Daviss desire TO be alone. So he was
left untroubled in the life he had chosen
The home he selected was unattractive.
It was a weather-worn hut more than
two hundred and fifty years old. It's
thick walls were pierced only by one
window and a door The self-exiled man
for furniture bought rough cot,
table. two or three chairs and a small
cheap cast-iron stove, the pipe of which
was thrust through a hole in the wall
Day after day he arose. cooked his own
breakfast. cared for his room as well
as he could, and then wandered about
on the mesa or sat in the sunshine until
the heat forced him to shelter. At night
he cooked his wn supper. washed the
dishes and then went TO bed having no
lamp with which to pass the evening
hours.
For some time he lived like this. Then
he added few comforts He had
wooden floor laid to cover the beaten
earth which had served him since the
house was built.
But he was as far from seeking com
panionship as ever. Those from whom he
bought his supplies knew nothing of him
save that he always paid in cash At
tempts were made to draw him out but
they were repulsed Beyond his name no
one knew anything about him
The discovery was made that he was
skilled physician. In mountain regions
pneumonia is a peculiarly fatal disease
The altitude adds an obstacle TO the
work of the physician.
But Dr. Daviss New York experience
had not gone for nothing. He had stud
led pneumonia and had experimental
until he was satisfied that he could de-
feat it. One day he heard of a person
not far from the adobe whose life was
despaired Of He went to the house and
told who he was He promised to do
his best TO cure the sick man
He had brought his own medicine with
him. and these he administered. The
doses were minute, but the drugs we're
most powerful and while they were op-
Grating the doctor sat at the side OF
the patient, feeling the pulse and noting
the slightest changes. For hours this
careful watch was kept up. the drugs
there We're only two-5eing given at
varying intervals.
At last the doctor turned to leave the
house.
He win get well now" he said. point
ing 10 the patient 'IIe viii sleep for
time, and when ne wakes the sickness
viii be gone"
1T was as ths physician said. The
patient was soon as wen as ever.
From that time on DR. Daviss services
were in request. He made no atternpt
to secure practice and refused nearly
al cases save those OF pneumonia When
called 10 one OF those he responded at
once and brought his medicines. Ana
not one of the patients died With the
other physicians the disease was stM
as fatal as ever
Word OF the hermit-doctor spread from
Nexico 10 Texas ana he began TO be
called TO - Paso to treat the sick. He
always responded. and his reputation
grew uutu by the ignorant he was re-
garded as one who could perform mir
acles
T-