The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-07-28
"A DOCTORS REVENGE
By ALBERT cHlrrENpeN.

graduated found making q living
very dinicult job. wished to start 1
BY doing hospital work. There wa
an excellent hospital in a suburba
town where l knew some people, an
was advised to take the examinatio
Tor the position of house surgeon
which was vacant. did so and failed
The question that turned the seal
against me was this:
When you have done everything i
your power for patient, what il th
rext step?"
| Having vein Of satrical humor Ii
me. ! answered the question in thi
wise:
Get rid Of him by sending him on
"trip"
| ] saw by the grim looks Of the ex
sminers that I had lost. The ma,
who got the position answered tn,
question In this wise:
Try something new even IL It ha.
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 = patient till he Il
dead"
While / was struggling for q prac.
tice one day received a hurry call to
see child who had got coin in his
windpipe He was but four years old
end. 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 II, he
breathed 1t in.
When ! reached the patient I found
Two or three doctors. had been call
ed several hours before, but when the
message came was not In my ONCE.
The Oldest and foremost doctor of
those present was DR.. Gibbs. who ten
years before had fioored me on exam!.
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 I dreaded to meet
him.
! found these doctors in the very DO
sition indicated by that question. They
had done everything that cauld be
done. but they hadn't removed the
coin from the child's .Aroat. DR.. GIBBS
appeared to be the most respondent
Of the lot. Assuming 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 strangulation!
My remarks were made to all the
doctors present. but as / spoke I look |
ed daggers at DR.. Gibbs.
'sWe've tried everything" he said. |
well. sir. what's the next thing 10 |
DO when you've tried everything!"
Perhaps you can tell u.s." he retort-
I'd tartly.
Yes. sir; I can. When q doctor has
Tried everything and all things have
'aile It is his duty to try something |
Else. no matter how remote II may
'eem from the patients ailment."
WELL" asked DR.. Gibbs, what do
'ou suggest?"
Desperate cases need desperate
! made three steps toward the child
ook him up. laid him across my knee
Nth his head down and began 10
pank him numerically. He YELLED.
nd before ! had given him twenty
lows out came an old.fashioned COP
er cent II fell on the floor. rollel
circle and turned on It's side.
! was never so astonished In my
fe ] had had no idea Of gstting rid
the obstruction. I had only wished J
beat 1t his own game the man who
I'd kept me out OF a position which z
light have enabled me to start a prac.
co. But now that had succeeded /
solved to push on furer.
There. gentlemen" said. "you Z
Ave an instance OF the Importance OF y
over giving up case. Perhaps sue.
IS In this case was not to be ex.
'cted from my expedIent. butt \
Success was to be expected" ex. .
aimed one OF the doctors. TITS a q
onder that we who were here before v
~ didn't think Of II. The spanking Z
duced In the child an emotion which d
He'd into play certain muscles, relax. a
8 others. The head being inverted.
9 obstruction. which was loosened BY ~
is relaxation. was bound to come 81
Dr. Gibbs advanced toward me and "
{ out his hand. lib
II haven't the honor OF your ac. W
aintance. DOCTOR" he said, abut | do
hesitate to say that you have In iu
q that resource which eminently ats b
Y for your profession. | shall write
your device used In this case IN the
biet. to which I contribute, and Il e
ere is anything else can do for you Oh
ne hesitate to call on me-"
didn't need 10 call on him. lie and sa
other DOCTORS who had been pres.
published abroad my expedient n,
cd when the patient had been given III
and 20 simple that II was a won. at,
none Of them had thought Of Il.
am now an elderly man. I have th
en- been solicited to take q place on mi
ne examining hoard huf have ri. ido