The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-09-21

who insisted that she was troubled
With some serious organic ailment.
knew better, aud told her so, and she
threatened to employ another physi-
clan. Ia order to satisfy her l made
another examination, and then told
her that the only remedy for her trou-
BILE was electric treatment.
"Will it be sevefe?" che inquired
In voice that suggested fear.
"Yes," I said, in e serious tone,
"it will be severe. very severe; but
1t will be effective, and after four or
hvs treatments you will be entirely
cured"
WELL" she replied, II am glad of
that, but l. won't take it to-day. I'll
come here tomorrow afternoon and
receive the first treatment And she
went away all in a futter.
About 2 o'clock the next morning
the telephone bell rang, and when
answered it I found my woman patti
ent was at the other end of the wire.
"Oh, DOCTOR" she exclaimed, cit
will not be necessary for me to come
TO your Office this afternoon. That
pain has left me altogether.
Altogether" I inquired.
"Yes," she said. II have not felt
it since I left your Office yesterday
Afternoon"
The punishment fitted the crime. /
know that her ill was only imaginary,
and that the suggestion Of q drastic
remedy would make her forget it alto
gether.
One of the greatest difficulties that
physicians experience is in the coll CO.
tion of bills. When person is in
need Of doctor he or she is usually
in great need Of the medical man. For
the time being they feel entirely help
less and throw themselves upon the
mercy and learning of the physician.
Their gratitude at the time is often
intense, but as soon as the patient
recovers this feeling seems to dis
appear, and as time goes on they
actually begrudge the payment of their
just bills.
This does not seem to be confined to
any special class of persons. One
might think that poor people we-e the
worst pay, but the condition is exact
ly the reverse. I have had several
wealthy patients who only paid their
bills after being threatened with a
lawsuit.
Indeed, the average man will pay
his whiskey bills, his gambling debts
and even go to the seashore for vaca-
ton that he does not need, and yet at
the lame time hold up the doctor,
who needs the money just as much,
If not more, than any Of the trades
men with whom the patient has bnsi-
ness dealings. IF the doctor insists
on being paid for his services he is
denounced as q brute and an ssin.
human man.
But the successful doctor must be a
philosopher as well as man Of medi.
cine. He must be willing 70 give .na
take, and, if possible, to constantly
look on the h=;gh: side &c life and Of
humanity.
Not long ago I attended q little
child that was threatened with typhoid
pneumonia. Il was q case that re-.
qdired careful nursing more than,
medical treatment. Something with
in me told me that if the child once
contracted the dreadful disease it
would prove fatal. My work was to
ward it of. AS q consequence, I had
to give the case careful and constant
attention. Y
I FELT that --:ss::. --;:ss::. 9. oe 0noe Or twice q
day would not suffice. So I deliber.
ately sat down at the bedaide Of that
child and remained with it for two
days and three nights. The only in
tervals we're for two hours each after.
noon, when I made hasty visit to
my more urgent cases. At the end Of
my visit to my vigil the danger point
had been passed, and within forty
eight hours the child was we'll and out
OF bed. 81. -, - I,
81 DO not claim any special credit for
my cotton in this case. + can't say
thatit was dictated solely by love
for humanity. although that figured in
]. quite extensively; but il wes more
like g passion; it was 8 desirs 10 con-
quer the diasase. The case absorbed
me wholly. = determined to save
lat e Ike as say cost, and / am glad to