Catoctin clarion., 1910-03-03
Candied Fruits
BY ARTHUR BINGHAM
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

pressed me. 1t was this:
Remember that mind has a great
effect over matter. Therefore Try to
detract SO far as possible from the
terror your patients naturally have
for you as practitioners. Above all
things, preserve cheerful exterior.
rhe more hopeless u case appears to
Jou the more hopeful appear to be,
Cor by giving way to your antcipa-
ions you lessen the patients chances
for recovery, and you may be WRONG
in your prognosis. DO not force pa
tients to take your remedies II 1t can
possibly be avoided. Rather persuade
them or banter them. Remedies taken
against n patients will are apt not to
act as remedies. Better Il pres, ription
of something to divert the attention
from the disease than fix it on that
disease by unwelcome doses.'
Ii seemed to me that there was
lot of common sense in this advice,
and | cut 1t out of the printed ad-
dress aid pasted it within my writing
desk in order that whenever | opened
the desk | saw the injun, ton staring
me in the face. so that ii was impos-
Sible for me to forget ii. truly be-
icve | would have bull; up large
practice by observing it had not that
very observation Of it Oh one occasion
led to my leaving the profession.
| had been practicing but short
time when. returning to my office one
day, found note from stranger
stating that a member of his family
needed treatment, but was much
averse to receiving a visit from ply
sician or taking remedies. He suggest
ed that | call without the patients
knowing that | was physician and
studying the case without asking for
symptoms after the stereotyped med
cal fashion.
This, owing to the rule | had laid
down, was very eHs! Tor me. 4 went
10 the house, rang the bell and was
admitted to the uIaM Wing room, where
| was received by very thin woman
who did not appear To KNOW my er-
:aud, SO | told her of the note that
had been left at my olllce. She seemed
to he slow in understanding meat
any rate, for some reason. did not re-
spond very freely. making vague re-
marks such as Just so" a doctor:'
"I'll see" indicating that she had not
been admitted to the confidence of the
uerson who had asked Inc to call.
The lady went out of the room and,
presently returning, asked me to walk
upstairs. | did SO and was uShered
into Il boudoir where sat girl who
but for Il slight palencss did not ap-
pear in bad health she was not even
in dishabilc: but, the older woman
having left me with her. it was evi-
dent that she was the patient. went
in armed with my checricst smile, took
the girls hand as Il matter of civiiity,
thereby getting her pulSe-it beat
tritie quicker than normal--sat down
by her. said something TO make her
laugh and saw that her tongue was
slightly coated In this fashion | rat
tied on. telling her stories and interest
ing her until nad secured her conf
dence and predisposition in my favor.
Then said abruptly:
but you're not looking very well
today"
Then she told me that her back was
troubling her and she slept badly and
mentioned symptoms thH indicated to
me condition very common and FOR
which there were Il number of simple
remedies. When ! went away | told
her that | would send her a box Of
canGicd fruit. IL few OF which |
thought she would like every day.
Then | left her to have some medicine
| intended for her divided between
half dozen real candied fruits ana
sent them to her with my compliments.
| called again soon and asked the
lady who had received me how she
had managed to impose upon the
young lady that ] was not doctor;
that 1t was important that | should
know what story she had told In order
that what should say would tally
with it. She told me not to worry
about that she had given good rea-
son for my calls. | asked her If | was
to see the person who had left word
at my Office for me to treat the young
lady, and she said he was away and
would be away several weeks.
BY the time he returned had made
love to my patient. and she had re-
.rnn1aI faunpnI,lu In1an1 che gpIlt
me to him--a mere form, she said-he
being her uncle. to ask for her hand.
did so, announcing myself as the
physician he had asked to treat a
member of his family.
"Well,' he asked. did you pull the
wool over the old girls eyes?"
didn't understand what he meant
by the "old" girl, but replied that l
had succeeded admirably. went on.
but when | said something about the
young lady he interrupted me.
"Young lsdy be hanged! She's fifty
five"
1t came out that the elderly woman
was my intended patient. had given
myself away to her at my entrance,
and she had taken me to see the
young lady. asking her to act in her
stead. The girl from pure mischief
consented to do so, but there were
two of us hoist by our own petard.
The two older ones were brother and
sister; the girl was their niece, an,
orphan and possessing fortune.
married her, and she preferred
that l devote myself to taking care Of
her property rather than sending pa,
fiants candied fruits.