Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-05-29
A DOCTORS DILEMMA.
>rhe Way Aid Gene 20 Him at n Crit.
zeal Moment.

>lho Way Aid Come 20 Him at n Crit
zeal Moment.
In "Some Professional Reminiscent
ces." by Or. George L. Shrady OF New
York IA the Journal OF the American
Medical Association, the author relates
The following experience in his early
rareer;
After finishing my hospital inferno
ship and imagining that l was Wen
prepared for the practice OF the noble
art. was summoned % a sick child
In a tenement. Tho little one was
lying in a cradle. playing quite uncon-
cernediy with a rag dcM Nat very
sick" | thought. shut what can be .he
matter with herg' 1 certainly had
never seen the like symptoms before
There was 4 general spotted eruption
over her face and other exposed places.
n rasping cough. bleared, lachrymose
eyes and a profuse coryza. Not small
poN. | was sure. nor its reputed rela-
ton. as / bad seen much or both.
An cN-house surgeon of New York
hospital must not be worSted by such
case as this. There Is one thing"
said | to myself: "shc Is not going to
Gle in any event" Just then the grand
mother OF the child came from n wash
tub in an adjoiaing corner Of the room
and seriously added TO my embarrass-
mont by squarely and rather disre-
spectfully, 1 thought. Pumping out the
question. "Docther. what is the mather
with the choild =
For protection l gathered my con-
g.fffrt ..
countcnaRce curtain and unconcerned
manner while 1 took out my prescrip-
ton book and pretended to be writing. I
found il very convenient ut that ti.ne
not - hear her question. Still she
stood there doiiantly. with her arms
Rkim0o, with smell OF suds and looa Of
scorn. ana repeated her patronizlncly
iQSistcnt demand. No washcrwoulan
had ever dared to Go SO before.
1t was nevertheless trimming 70 n
cross sea with set sails and a gather
ng form. After all. she was only r.
pcSt,ns my query. There was one OH
CT In that room that looked for the an
sweT more eagerly than she could i'm
agine. To gain time he took refuge In
dazcd and distracted thought. adjust
ell his Stethoscope aud mutely notion
Ell the clamorous interloper to b ST.
lent.
The barred chest showed more spots.
The patient cried in fear and due time
was consumed In Quieting her. The re-
sponSihility OF the situation became
more and more oppressive. The sono-
rOus grunts Of my critic overwhelmed
- OIL
signs. The only urgent thing was the
diagnosis. The last resource was In
subterfuge and hypocrisy - anything
bat humiliating acknowledgment of
ignorance.
Again, "Docther. why don't you tell
me what is the mather with the
cholldy'
'Oh, yes" said l. The fact is You
would not understand it II 1 gave tho
name Of the disease. The Latin term is
eoniunctivitis, ana OF course that would
mean nothing TO YOU"
Her supercilous and incredulous
smile 1 shall never forget. Her re-
jOlnder was electric. \ new light dis
PEELED the fog. And Is that the Latin
name FOR moaslesF' said she.
I could have Rugged the woman,
suds and all. but my studied profess
sional reserve came TO my relief. mo,
not the name for the measles, but I
thought YOU wanted TO know what
allied her eyes" Still the old woman
unconsciousiy saved me from utter de-
feat and gave INC my FIRST clinical DEM
0nstration oc~the disease. Since then
1t has always been my religious duty
TO treat the grandmother in the sick
room with becoming consideration.