The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-27

This works very satisfactorily where the
nerves are concerned, where hysteria and
the ''vapors are the sole cause of the i'll;
but when it comes to the jumping tooth
ache that's another matter. She can't for
get it until she has dosed it with toOthache
drops, and when it comes to distraction
and extraction she has to consult a dentist;
no amount of Christian Science will pull
tooth.
A SERIOUS MATTER.
OF course it is we'll enough for man to
have his belief and live for it and die in it,
even if it is suicidal, but when a mans be-
lief leads others into bodily danger, in
duces them to depend upon a false sense of
security, or, worse still, to rely upon things
not only false but harmful, it is another
matter most serious in its consequences.
DeacOns and their wives, with their
charms and signs are the most harmless;
they do harm only in harmless ways. Some
people follow their example; they amuse
others and others amuse them; so things
are equalized. Even the deacon and his
wife, when real sick, forget all about their
charms and go to the doctor. as all inteli-
gent people should who respect their COM
fort and well-being.
Despite their eccentricities and obstinacy
of opinion, there are many ministers and
deacons who are conscientious in medical
matters, who are true and sympathetic
friends of the conscientious and properly
qualified physician. To all such an apology
is due for the use of their titles in this
connection, but even they must realize the
truth of the statements, although the dea-
con and the minister herein specified would
be hard to find; yet there are many who
have one or more of the failings herein de-
picted, and these have all been rolled into
one for the sake of example and ascribed
to the deacon or minister, because those
words were good for handle to fit the
whole lot of mankind. Even if the minister
and the deacons are guiltless Of these
shortcomings there are many in the con-
gregation who sin against their own good.
The Lord only knows how many people go
to church on Sunday and go to see the doc
tor during the week Thus the doctor gets
his own at last, and often with compound
interest, for that which was little thing
at first, fostered by neglect and inappro-
pirate if not harmful remedies. becomes
as it were, a fierce and hungry wolf gnaw-
ing at the vitals.
THE DOCTOR AND HIS FEES.
And let me say a word about the doc
tors fees That is the bette noir that fright
ems people away from the physician; they
say they can't afford to pay his fees, they
are so large; but it is better to call doctor
in time and pay his fee than to pay the
expense OF a funeral. When a physician
looks at the practice of his profession
a mere business, means of making money,
regardless of any higher motive. it is time
that he took to some other calling; he can
make money faster and with less harm TO
the community. The physician must per-
force have the wherewithal for life, ne
must request material compensation for
his services. but setting aside the needs of
daily life perhaps few lesser luxuries,
the conscientious physician has nobler
and loftier purpose.
The ministers heart may bleed with pity
TO a soul on the road TO destruction, and
so the physicians heart goes out in SYM
patty and commiseration for the unfortu-
nate sick and dying and he witnesses with
sorrow the careless or willful ways in
which people incur the dangers of disease
or neglect natures warnings.
The grosser portion of the public, and
that is by far the greater portion. pictures
the doctor as spider i'm a web waiting 10
enmesh victims in his tolls. In that picture
they are right. as TO the charlatan, but as
one does not judge gold by dross, so one
should not set up the charlatan the
touchstone to test and the hallmark TO