The San Francisco call., 1909-04-11

tling against unavoidable relapses and unforessen
complications over and Everybody inter
ested in the case, and grew very fond OF the
patient he such dear lovable fellow, so fearful
OF giving extra trouble, grateful for everything
did. and so anxious to get back on the job" We
pulled him through and triumphanty sent him home.
But that very night there hurry call for the
ambulance and when 1t arrived they found 1t haA
come from our old friend He had slipped on the
stairs and crushed his skull. And SO they brought
him back again to to die
Though Sentimental Tommy" was rather an ex-
treme case, r know. yet there are often merely
hystericsl disturbances which so well simulate all
kinds of medical and surgical affections that the most
skillful doctors often deceived But the most
curious case have ever heard OF that grew out OF
hallucinaton occurred while Peggy serving her
time in the maternity ward
She trained in large city hospital and this ward
was consequently a very busy one. One night the
stork visited them six different times Two Of hiss
visits paid in quick succession The first time =
he brought little girl to OF some 40 years
old, and almost simultaneously he brought little boy
to the next bed the mother being young girl When
the surgeon passed little later he asked about the
babies. and the told him that the first was
a girl and the second boy. The babies In time
brought their respective mothers. and my lady In
bed number one, after receiving her child, said
Where's the other one?" There is but one" said
and said she knew it herself. and besides she had
heard Peggy tell the surgeon that the first was a
eF-' ths second boy"
Peggy tried explain the real facts to the woman.
but she would not believe her. She insisted they were
trying to keep of her children from her. Now
the mother in bed number two at all delighted
at the advent of of her baby. happy thought
Cured to the surgeon. He told number two about
number one and she right willingly consented to give
up the boy So he handed to number
and joyously welcomed and made much Of Though
the surgeon and Peggy told her the real conditions
she continued doubt them and persisted in her
version Of the And do you know. that
left the hospital with the children firmly convinced
that they in truth both Of her very owni
Peggy says it is the only time she substituted
Providence" though she received letter from
patient that unintentonally accused her of playing
that role The letter from young negress, and
and this is the way 1t ran:
Dear Nurse: Will you let have another card.
have a prescription to I'LL and don't think viii
need after this write to say that the old
est baby has died and thank you for your kindness
Pansy."
There are so many funny incidents come up when
you nursing negroes. Some Of them use potatoes
to bowlegs. and they make onion bandages for
the smisery matter in what part OF the body 1t is
Once negro recovering from anesthetic mis-
took for his wife. He insisted upon me kissing
him. and when refused he would turn to the sur
geon and say II tells you. boys. It's mighty hard
when the old woman goes back on you" Can you
imagine how my southern blood boiled? But this
absurd instructive racial pride vas cured most ef
fectvey by little incident. and learned to pity
suffering and to recognize fortude no matter where
found it,
1t happened one day that was called upon to
wash an aged negro who had been brought into the
accident ward seriously injured knew Il was
Itch
unconscious feeling OF abasement. and hard as I
tried to control myself the habit Of generations was
too much for and few tears Of humiliation would
creep out The old fellow It, and surrnisng that
was just young and oversympathetic he said In the
sweetest voice imaginable, Thar. honey. don't you
cry. 1t don't hurt so much Don't you go and spoil
your pretty eyes for old niger like me-" And
this old fellow who could be brave and thoughtful
enough to say this when he in mortal agony made
me realize how big and fine he really was, and how
little and petty had been And was cured of my
pride