The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-08
A DOCTORS
REVENGE
By ALBERT CHITTENDEN
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

very ulmcult JoD. l WlSne0 10 start Ill
by doing hospital work. There was
an excellent hospital In suburban
town where | knew some people. and
l was advised to take the examination
for the position Of house surgeon.
which was vacant did so and failed.
The question that turned. the scale
against me was this:
when you have done everything 10
your power for patient, what is the
next step"
Having a vein of satirical humor In
me, answered the question In this
wise:
Get rid of him by sending him on a
trip"
saw by the grim looks of the exam
liners that had lost. The man who
got the position answered the question
in this wise
"Try something new even If 1t has
no apparent connection with the pa
TENTS ailment. 70 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 patient till he is
dead"
While was struggling for prac-
tice ! one day received hurry call to
see child who had got coin In his
wlndpipe. He was but four years old
and, having been given the coin. was
80 delighted that he had put it in his
mouth and started across the street to
buy candy with 1t. Forgetting 1t, 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 Dr. Gibbs, who ten
years before had doored ME on exami-
nation by asking me what should be
done when everything had been done.
He didn't remember me, and | was
glad he didn't, for dreaded to meet
him.
found these doctors in the very po-
sition indicated by that question. They
had done everything that could be
done, but they hadn't removed the
coin from the child's throat. DR.. Gibbs
appeared to be the most respondent
of the lot. Assuming a fierce tone, i
said:
What are you gentlemen doing here.
standing about and holding your
hands? Are you going to let the child
die Of strangulationr
My remarks were made to all the
doctors present, but as spoke look
ed daggers at DR.. Gibbs.
We've tried everything" he said.
well, sir, what's the next thing to
do when you've tried everything%
perhaps you can tell u.s." he retort-
ed tartly.
Eyes. sir; can. When a doctor has
tried everything and all things have
failed it is his duty to try something
else. no matter how remote it may
seem from the patients ailment."
"Well," asked DR.. Gibbs, what do
you suggest?"
Desperate cases need desperate
remedies"
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 cop
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. IShad only wished to
beat at his own game the man who
had kept me out Of position which
might have enabled me to start prac-
tice. But now that had succeeded
resolved to push on further,
There, gentlemen" said, you
have an instance Of the importance of
never giving up case Perhaps sue
cess in this case was not to be expect
ed from my expedient. butt
Success was to be expected" ex-
claimed one of the doctors. Its a
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.
the obstruction, which was loosened by
this relaxation, was bound to come
out"
DR.. Gibbs advanced toward me and
put out his hand.
II haven't the honor of your &C.
quaintance. DOCTOR" he said. but do
not hesitate to say that you have In
you that resource which eminently fits
you for your profession. shall write
up your device used in this case in the
Tablet. to which | contribute, and If
there is anything else can do for you
don't hesitate to call on me-"
l didn't need to call on him. He and
the other doctors who had been pres
ent published abroad my expedient,
tried when the patient had been given
up, and socsimple that it was a won
der none Of them had thought Of 1t.
| am now an elderly man. have
often been solicited to take a place on
some examining board. but have al.
ways resolutely declined. My faith in
erudition has been Slapped by my own
case. If should ask candidate
what he should do with child having
a cent in his windpipe 1 should expect
him to answer:
Spank him"
This would never do. 1t would be,
little the profession. and the next child
spanked might refuse to disgorge the
obstruction.
Dogs In China.
Dogs in China are chiefly despised.
except as house workers or for Gull
nary purposes. A black dog with vel
low eyebrows is valued as a first rate