Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-27
A DOCTORS
REVENGE
BY ALBERT CHITTENDEN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association


! was advised Ia take the examination
Tor the position of house surgeon.
which WIS vacant. l did so and failed
The question that turned the scale
against me was this:
When you have done everything in
your power for IL patient, what is the
next step"
Having vein Of satirical hninor In
me. | answered the question In this
/ wise:
/ Get rid Of him by sending him on q
trip"
/ saw by The grim looks OF the exam
iners that had lost. The man who
got the position answered the question
In this wise
Try something new even IL 1t has
no apparent connection with the pa
tents ailment To cease your efforts
indicates to him that you have aban-
doned him. To continue them gives
him the benefit of hope Besides, we
must never give up a patient till he is
dead"
While 1 was struggling for a prac-
tee L one day received hurry call to
zee child who had got coin I'm his
wlndpipe. He was but four years old
and. having been given the coin. was
so delighted that he had put it in his
mouth and started across the street to
buy candy with 1t. Forgetting it, he
breathed 1t In.
When l reached the patient / found
two or three doctors. | had been call.
ed several hours before, but when the
message came was not In my office
The Oldest and foremost doctor of
those present was DIR. Gibbs. who ten
years before had fioored me on exami-
nation by asking me what should be
done when everything had been done.
lie didn't remember me. and | was
glad he didn't, for ] dreaded to meet
him.
| found these doctors i'm the very no
sition indicated by that question. They
mad done everything that could be
done, but they hadn't removed the
coin from the childs throat. DR.. Gibbs
appeared to be the most Respondent
OF the lot. Assuming a fierce tone. /
said
what are you gentlemen doing here,
standing about and holding YOUR
hands? Are you going to let the child
| die Of strangulation"
My remarks were made to all the
doctors present, but as spoke / look
ed daggers at DR.. Gibbs
We've tried everything" he said.
We'll. sir. what's the next thing to
do when you've tried everythinG?"
Perhaps you can tell u.s." he retort-
! I'd tartly.
Yes. sir; can, When doctor has
tried everything and all things have
failed 1t is his duty to try something
else. no matter how remote 1t may
seem from The patients aiiment."
Well asked Dr. Gibbs, what do
| sou suggest"
Desperate cases need desperate
| remedies"
l made three steps toward the child.
took him up. laid him across my knee
with his head down and began to
spank him numerically. He yelled
and before ! had given him twenty
blows out came an old fashioned con.
per cent. 1t fell on the floor. rolled
In circle and turned on its side.
was never so astonished in my life.
had had no idea of getting rid of the
obstruction. l had only wished to
beat at his own game the man who
had Kept me out OF a position which
might have enabled me to start prac-
tice. But now that had succeeded !
resolved 10 push on further.
There. gentlemen" / said, "you
have an instance Of the importance of
never giving up a case. Perhaps sue.
cess in this case was not TO be expect
| ed from my expedient. but
success was TO be expected" ex.
! claimed one Of the doctors. "Ifs n
wonder that we who were here before
you didn't think of it. The spanking
induced IN the child an emotion which
called into play certain muscles. relax.
ing others. The head being inverted.
me obstruction. which was loosened by
this relaxation, was bound 10 come
out"
DR. Gibbs advanced toward me and
put out his hand
udNcH the uOuOT or your ac-
quainiance. doctor" he said. but do
/ not hesitate 10 say that you have In
I you that resource which emnentIy fits
you for your profession. shall write
+ mp your device used in this case I'm the
\ Tablet. 70 which / contribute. and II
\ there IS anything else can do for you
don't hesitate TO call on me"
/ didn't need 20 call on him. He and
/ The other doctors who had been pres.
"nt published abroad my cxpcdicnt.
. ricd when the patient lad been given
. ~. and so simple that Il was n won
. der none OF them had thought Of II.
/ } am now an elderly man. ] have
often been solicited 10 take q place on
some examining board. but have al
ways resOlutely declined Ny faith In
erudtion has been sappcd by my own
ease. II ! should ask a candidate
what he should do with child having
cent in bis windplpe / should expect
him TO answer:
l.