The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-01-24
N.AAAAAAAAA
D.. EV0DS' First Patient.
The Story of a Young Woman
Physician and a Young
Nan Patient.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1t was proud day for Martha Evans
when, after four years hard work in a
celebrated medical school, she returned
to her native city, rented and furnished
a tiny Office on the main street, hung a
gilt sign in the window and sat down to
await call from some afflicted one.
Martha was a new woman" in the
sweetest, noblest and purest sense Of
that much abused word. She had none of
the coarse, mannish Alterations that so
many women suppose they must display
in order to impress the world with their
mental superiority, but a holy desire to
relieve mankind of Il few of the ILLS that
flesh is heir TO" made her voice soft with
womanly sympathy.
Dr. Evans spent the first three days in
arranging and rearranging the little office
into which she had gathered numerous
tokens of love received from friends and
admirers. and the place wore decidedly
feminine appearance.
On the morning of the fourth day, just
as she was entering the Office door, loud
ring at the telephone made her heart leap
with expectation. She fairly ran to the
instrument and received this message
PLEASE call at once at the residence of
Mrs. Greengo. Mr.. Greengo is ill.,"
In her haste to answer the call she al
most forgot her medicine case. The
Greengo residence was only Il few blocks
distant, but the short walk gave Martha
time to compose herself, and when old
Mrs. Grcengo greeted her the youthful
physician was rs quiet and dignifed as if
life was an old story.
you remember me, don't you, my
dear?' asked Mrs. Greengo, extending
her hand, and Martha replied:
$40 be sure | do, but who is Mr..
Greengo? | thought you were a widow"
81 am widow. my dear. Mr.. Greengo
is my nephew, very brilliant young law
yer, but somewhat given to melancholy.
He seemed we'll enough when he came
down this morning. but a few minutes
ago became ill and asked me to call you"
So saying, the old lady led the way into
the sitting room, where Mr.. Greengo,
clad in dressing gown and slippers and
with eyes closed lay stretched at full
length on great couch before the fire
place. Here is the doctor, Paul, my
DEAR" announced Mrs. Greengo, and
then she seated herself ON the couch at
his feet.
The man on the couch moved his head
bllSutll, Uul Otilcl SlSU VI
heard.
Martha's quick eye noted the giant
frame the long black hair and the large,
strong mouth as she drew chair to his
side and laying her tiny fingers on his
wrist, asked in gentle tones:
"What is the trouble, Mr.. Greengo?
Where are you ill.,"
Without opening his eyes he replied
GROSSLY:
81 am lawyer, madam, and not ply
sician. How do know what is the trou.
BILE? | sent for you to find out"
eyes, sir | know" said the lady coax
ingly, "but you must tell me how you
feel. Your pulse is quick, but with no
signs of fever. Show me your tongue?"
He extended large, red, clean tongue,
and Martha continued in sweet coaXing
tones:
"Your tongue is peculiarly healthy
looking, so it cannot be your stomach
Now, tell me, have you pain any place?
Are you dizzy or faint" The patient
opened pair of large, melancholy brown
eyes, looked her squarely in the face and
laying his hand over his left breast, said:
"For a long, long time ! have had
strangely numb, empty feeling right here
and pain, not an ache, but such pain
as | used to have in childhood when my
mother had punished me. feel like
weeping sometimes. and lately, on sever
al occasions, by heart has palpitated so
wildly that it made me faint and ILL.,"
Martha's cheeks flushed lightly. Kneel
ing beside him, she laid her ear against
his chest and listened. Truly, the pulsa
ton of his heart was peculiarly rapid.
"Are you too i'll to rise?" she asked
timidly.
| "Why if it is necessary, suppose ]
can stand" he replied savagely, rising to
his feet.
Mrs. Greengo shook her head and look
/ ed frightened. DR.. Evans smiled roguish-
ly.
81 wish to get my ear between your
shoulders, Mr.. Grecngo." she said, quiet
4 ly eying the tall figure before her. "Shal
! | stand on the couch or will you sit
down? And please remove your dressing
gown"
He smiled just the ghost of a smile and
! sat down. He was so helpless it required
/ the assistance of both ladies to remove
! his dressing gown. The doctor then
took two strange looking instruments
from her grip and proceeded to give Mr..
Greengos heart and lungs a thorough
examination. When it was completed,
she replaced the Instruments, and, seat
ing herself beside the couch, she said
! quietly:
"Mr. Greengo, | fail to find the least
symptom of disease about you. | think
you have overtaXed your nervous system
little and need some rest and recrea-
ton. If you will spend month in
amusing yourself, mostly in outdoor ex-
ercise. aud will leave work and books
and business entirely out OF the pro-
gramme, ! will give you little tonic and
a promise that you will feel as sound as
ever before the month is out" She gave
him the prescription she had been writ
ing while she was speaking and then, as
she drew on her gloves, turned to Mrs.
Greengo and began an animated CONVEX
sation about old times and old friends.
Paul Greengo watched her a few min
utes. a heavy frown between his eyes,
then arose and left the room without o
word.
Two days later, as Dr. Evans sat be-
fore her own coy CRATE fire reading the
morning paper, the Office door opened
and Greengo entered.
Il have been doing Just as you told