Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-04-28
HOSPITAL TALES.
Told Out Of School.

Kansas City Star: In the east corridor
all was settled for the night. The resi-
dent physician had gone home. The ma
ton was busy entertaining the young doc
tor in the quiet of the dining room, and
the night nurse might have been heard
giggling over the telephone to a gentle
man friend. Lights turned low; bells
hushed; an occasional moan or snore or
placid calm, indicative of the triumph OF
system over pain.
The front door bell tangled suddenly,
fiercely, and was opened TO two burly
medical men, bearing between them a
small, frail old gentleman, wearing a long
white beard. The matron, with the deft-
ness of long practice. concealed the young
doctor in the diet kitchen, then with dig
nified mien. bore down on the group.
Il want a room for this gentleman at
once"
Yes, doctor"
"A special nurse in attendance"
Yes. doctor
zone of the older nurses preferred"
Yes, DOCTOR
A great busting occurred In east cor
ridor, and presently the little old gentle
man was tucked into bed and the two doc
tors were giving loudly whispered instruc-
tions TO the special nurse.
Must not be eft ~alone-break the habit
-hallucinations-sleep." and other mean
ingful expressions drifted down the cor
ridor and into the pricked ears of the
other patients, now wide awake. The two
doctors went away, and the matron with
drew TO her own.
"Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling.'' began the
hysterical old maids bell. The night
nurse shut the east corridor door with a
firm hand. and sought the telephone re-
ceiver. hanging limp the while.
Hello, still there? Thought you was
gone" the giggling began again. And then
the storm burst.
"Ding-a-ling-dang dong" every bell in
the corridor shrieked and implored. The
night nurse hung up the receiver and
rolled up her sleeves. She attacked The
fever patient first.
I'm getting the ice-cap now she re-
marked as she whisked by his door. "In
a minute" TO the chronic indigestion pa
tent and What do you want?' TO the
hysterical old maid, whose spells were
most TO be feared.
What's the matter with the new pa
tent next door, demanded the sick lady.
Il don't know. Anything you want?"
answered the nurse.
rs he dangerous? I'm so afraid of
him.. Won't you please sit in here for a
few moments? I'm so nervous, 1 can't
sleep. O~h!"-seeing the night nurse
about to depart, nurse, / want a hot
water bottle. My feet are as cold as ice,
and will you
But the nurse teS2 &C. SC tho eTasty
chronic indigestion patient down the hall
Nurse said he, my doctors orders
arc that / am to be kept quiet. Yet here
/ am walked up by an internal noise at
IL o'clock at night. I'll have another acute
attack sure. Isn't it time for my medi-
cine?"
yes. I was just going TO give il to you"
The fever patients bell began again It's
quick. q%ueruIous strain, and the night
nurse stuffed her hands In both ears. and
fed to the ice box, where sat enthroned
the Young doctor and the ardent matron.
tapping custard, each in turn, from a large
silver spoon. 1t made the n.ghs nurse
very tired. She looked at the tip OF the
matron's pretty boot without so much
as a glance at her own felt slippers, but
with a hot swift thought OF shame, she
snorted loudly and seized the handle to
the ice crushing machine. The happy two
forebore remark.
Back 70 the fever patient she sped, who
meanwhile. having found the ice cap a
forgotten whim, demanded to be sponged.
The night nurse, on her way to prepare
for the bath, was placing a hot water
| bottle at the maiden toes Of the hysterical
lady. when the new old gentleman begin IN
prayer.
Dear Lord. I am ready to die. Yes,
dear Lord. take me as / am unworthy
and full OF sins. yea YEARLY, am / a sin
ner. But Jesus has promised to save"
thundered the old man in stentorian voice.
The hysterical lady's thin pink toes
curled away from the hot water bag in
horror, and her thin right hand grasped
the nurses shoulder.
Nurse, don't leave me. I'm afraid Of
him." she began TO cry. The nurse DEITY
extricated herself from the spinster's
grasp and replied from the vantage
ground OF the doorway.
He's all right. Now you go 10 sleep.
and don't fret"
But now ..le operative patient began her
piaintn mournful lay. and the old man
announced boldly. yet with fervor 10 the
special nurse:
I'm dying. I've been dying since
Wednesday morning. Tan yea pray
You're not dying anything of the sort"
answered the experienced special nurse
loud enough TO be heard by all. You're
all right. All you want is sleep"
Can YOU prayg' persisted the dying
man. ="
nurse.
Then kneei down here and hcIp NV so,,,
70 pass to the other side
You're not any more dying that I arm !"
the nurses cold young voice was heard 70