The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-05-04
DOCTORS TELL STORIES.
An Anecdotal Iallcv With Reminiscent
IhvSicianS

ing incidents we're told.
"po you know that every man,
however unreliable may be his word.
has his influence, especially IN keep
ing in circulation OF starting report
dcrogatory to a man 5 character said
No. |. when quite a youth | com
mcnccd the practice Of medicine in an
adjoining State over fifty years ago.
1t was in community where there
was an old physician who had become
rich and independent, having every
thing his own way. When called he
was very slow to respond, especially If
he thought the fee slow in being paid.
In fact it was a splendid orcnng for a
physician. BY close attention, kind
ness and promptncss in responding 10
calls soon found myself busy, q. sue
cess, CT which felt u paldonablc
pride. For months everybody had
word Of encouragement to the young
doctor.
early one morning | was summon
ed to see child several miles in the
country who was said to have swal-
lowed string Of buttons. hasten
ed to the place and found the child all
serene in the midnight Of quiet
morning nap. I decided not to inter
fcre, protested against waking the
child, very much to the disgust of the
mother. Finally after being repeat
edly solicited to do something for the
child, fndipgit in no pain whatever,
for long time declined to act.
Again and again I examined it, could
find it in no pain whatever. I doubt
ed it having swallowed the buttons.
The mother repeatedly assured me
that she saw it swallow them. l
could but feel that she was mistaken.
Yet, at weak moment being begged
so heartily by both herself and hus-
band, gave it full and free emetic.
Yet no sign of buttons. During the
child's vomiting its clothing became
much soiled and had to be removed
for clean ones. Upon pulling off the
apron the buttons became exposed,
having slipped between tae aprep and
dress.
"Thereupon the air became lurid
with anathemas hurled by both wife
and husband upon the poor young doc
tors head for not having sense enough
to know when child had swallowed o
string Of buttons. Although I had
for more than an hour told them that
I did not believe that the child had
swallowed the buttons, or even if it
had done SO the buttons would not
hurt it, that by due course of nature
they would pass from the child un-
harmed.
''Failing to pacify them, l left them
in this perturbed state to find out
year hence that from false reports
made by these people l had lost the
practice, good will and esteem Of the
whole neighborhood. To reinstate
myself made this miserable creature
face me before each family, tell the
truth, and the whole truth, in refer
ence'to the button tragedy. To cap
the climax almost every man in the
neighborhood voluntarily came to me
and apologized for ever believing re-
port put in circulation by such noted
liar as this man was known to have
been for years. So it is we'll to have
! the good will Of everything, even q
! dog in any community, whore you
! want to practice medicine.
Doctor No. 2gave the copy Of 9 note
that he received from patron that
was somewhat unique in spelling.
s'Dear Doctor, Cum kuiok, Jon is wus,
he is nifty bad, them dostes Of GALA
mule made him pourful badd orr, the
Sewers in his mouth smells puri,,
badd, am feard mortifikashun has
sprung"
The doctor in o reminiscent mood
told what disastrous effects at ono
time followed non compliance with
his prescription. Although this old
gentleman could not spell, he claimed
that he was "natrul DOCTOR that
ne doctored and fed his "niggers' ac-
cording to ''natur." Not paying much
attention to sanitary measures, he
found himself one fall confronted with
typhoid fever in his quarters. He
was restive because the doctor would
not allow his patients fed on hos and
hominy and stewed beef. So one day
during the Doctors absence he fed
them most heartily on beef stew, in
consequence Of which in less than two
weeks there were thirteen new-made