The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-10


/ was forcibly reminded OF this change.
that has been Tor some years In progress,
by recent experience OF my own that,
while not particularly alarming as the
result proved, was nevertheless discon-
certing for the time being and caused
me no little concern, however iil-adyised
and unjustifed II was TO be annoyed by
the matter.
II was In this wise. / had a pain.
Now. the last time had a pain serious
enough 10 be worth mention, TO say moth
ing of expert attention, was, l should
say, some fifteen years and, perhaps. two
decades ago.
At that time II was still the custom for
person possessed OF pain TO consult a
doctor. This is no longer the vogue. II APP
pears, even II you can find the doctor--a
real doctor, that Is, OF the old-fashioned
sort-the family physician" and ''medi-
cal adviser" kind OF doctor--the doctor
that treated all the members OF the fam
lily froms the old grand folks TO the In
fant In arms. and even the cat and the
canary bird--the doctor who was prepar-
ed 10 give prompt and skilful attention
TO every kind of III from an attack OF the
ascaris lumbricoides TO the more simple
and we'll defined ailments. what may be
called the common. or garden, varieties.
Whatever Il was that allied you. all You
had to do was 10 drop in at the first con-
venient Doctors office and he told you
what was the matter with you and un-
dertook to cure you without any hesita-
ton whatsoever.
But this is all changed. as was brought
10 my attention by my recent experience
I'm the effort 10 secure a cure for my pain.
had a general notion that the pain was
in my stomach. But that as may be.
found n doctor. bright young fellow.
and he listened attcntively to my possi-
bly, vague description. He was very kind
and considerate and said he though
would probably come out all right But
he added that before he ventured TO
write a prescription he would like to
have me consult a specialist
The doctor explained that. as he was
only a general practitioner, he did not
feel like assuming initial resp p1nJibil,ty
for a pain In any particular part of my
anatomy and asked that l consult an abb
dominal specialist. He directed me to one
and ] sought him ou..
Tse stomach specialist examined me
carefully and admitted that he thought
he could help me. Before deciding finally,
however, he said he would be gratifed IL
I would take time to call on an oculist
that he mentioned and let ,hc oculist ex-
anime me. He said something about re-
hex action. or something of that sort,
and regretted that he was no. able u
fully report on my case withcct having
the oculist test my eyes.
l was very grateful 10 hin, and, In ac-
cordance with his advice, 1 proceeded as
soon as possible TO the office OF the ecu
list TO whom he had directed me. The oc-
dlist asked me about my symptoms and
told him that i had a sort OF a pain in
my stomach. He said he didn't care so
much about that. he was an oculist. only.
and would like to know how my eyes
felt. / told him that they seemed ID feel
all right but admitted that only an exam
ination could give assurance as 20 that.
SO the oculist examine my eyes and made
me read big and little letters on A piece
of card board. lie expressed himcelf as
satisfied with his examination, so Tar as
IL went, but cautioned me that | snould
not accept IL as final, conclusive. or COM
prehensive in respect to the general casa.
Doctor So-and-So, he told me, was a spe
cialist in the matter OF lungs and
should not under any circumstances neg
lect TO have my lungs examined before n
course Of treatment was decided upon.
| paid him his fee and feeling very
thankful TO him for what he had done
for me, I eagerly sought out the lung
specialist.
BY this time / was feeling sick pretty
much all over. The pain WAS spreading
and / was not surprised that the lung
specialist found symptoms calculated TO
give him concern and make him doubt
that the seat OF the difficulty had been
yet located. He could not be sure. how
ever, as he only made practice or treat
ing lung diseases. While In a general
way, he might advise me. he said, he
thought II would be the wiser course to
make an immediate call on the doctor
Just around the corner who made spe-
cialty OF diseases of the kidneys. He
thought a report 'on the condition OF the
kidneys ought TO be available before at
tempting to make an Intelligent diagno-
sis OF my case.
felt very much relieved by his advice
and naturally lost no time in seeking the
kidney specialist. The kidney specialist
gave me a very thorough examination,
asked me many questions about my par
ents and business occupation and after
some consideration told me that he be-
lieved ne had graspcd the conditions
pretty well but advised that, before 1
asked for his decision, I call on medical
brother who was at the other end OF the
city and who made a special study OF the
practice OF treating phenomena OF the
infundibula. Ho himself. he said. usually
excluded In his practice, the treatment
Of the infundibula and confined himson
exclusively 10 the rest OF the kidney.
was greatly encouraged by his coun-
sells and, as you may we'll imagine, was
rejoiced 10 learn, after an exhaustive ex-
animation OF my infundibula, that there
was no occasion for alarm In connection
Herewith. But the infundibula special
list suggested that, In order to feel per-
fectly secure about the matter had
better call on specialist whom he mem
toned who was an adept in the treatment
OF knee joints.
After seeing him. he felt satisfied. I
might feel sure that there was nothing
more TO be done.
I will not weary my indulgent reader
with rehearsing further. Suffice IL is. to
note that after calling on the knee joint
the reports brought him and desired
gave special consideration 10 treatment
~ the muscles of the hands. That upon