The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-14

|
looked more like q medical man than !.
I took Jernegan into every house
where there was q woman patient
sick enough to require trained nurse.
iatyoducing' him In some casts q my
assistant. In others 40 . consulting
peactihonse or specialist whose Views
| I desired to obtain. While driving
from one house to the next I intended
10 visit gave him a hint a. to what
should require Of him. that he might
b prepared to speak with an ap-
parent show Of knowledge Of the sub
ject, especially when there was q
nurse who had some knowledge Of It
herself. Though some Of my cases
were causes Of anxiety to me. I could
not but be amused at the serious.
thoughtful manner be esaered upon
Zach case I asked him to consider.
He even knew enough Of a consulting
physician's relations with the doctor
who calls him into the case to defer
to the others judgment while giving
an opinion. And I was surprised ut
how adroitly be concealed the fact
that he didn't know what he was talk.
ing about.
We entered one house where tho
nurse. Mrs. Webster. a woman rather
older than the average. was q very
motha ' person and evidently devoted
to her charge. Miss Edwards. down
with typhoid fever. Or. rather. the p.
tent was In that weak state which
follows Immediately after me disease.
Jernegan put on more professional Inn.
portanee than usual, reminding me Of
certain doctors I have known who
conceal theis want Of knowledge Of Z
case under an appearance Of great
wisdom. Presently he said to me:
"Please excuse me. doctor; there are
certain features Of the case that I
should like to inquire about from tho
NURSE" Then. turning to her. he add.
ed. Mrs. Webster. I desire to confer
with you In another room"
I glanced at the nurse. and her ex.
preston spoke volumes. She could
not refuse to 60 with him. yet her
face told me that she dreaded to do
%. She looked sort Of appeal to me.
as though to communicate without
speaking that there was q reason why
she should not leave the patient. But
Jernegan's face indicated that the In.
tervicw in another room must take
place. and the woman led him out
He shut the door behind them and left
me with the patient.
The moment We were alone together
an agonized expression came over the
invalid's face.
"Have you called me BY telephoner'
I asked.
"Twice."
"1'ell me In a few words what 10 the
trouble"
"She's trying to poison me-"
The expression on her face was %
full Of horror that stopped her. ]
went to the telephone and called for
another nurse. then back to the pa.
tient. told her what had done and
that would remain until the arrival
Of the substitute. This done. I went
about the room collecting what medi.
cines I could find
Meanwhile Jerncgan remained 10 the
other room with the nurse. In ten
minutes the one I had called for ar.
rived. and. placing my patient under
her care. went to the room where
JerneGan and Mrs. Webster were
Jernegan was looking at book. Mrs.
Webster was standing looking out Of
window. She appeared very much
troubled.
"There's your quarry" said Jerne-
gan. for the first time dropping all as
sumption of being a doctor.
II know It," replied. The patient
has told me all. Mrs. Webster. will
you please come downstairsy'
We all went to the door below.
where we would not disturb the pa.
tient with a scene. and I told Mrs.
Webster to prepare to leave the house.
She said she must 90 to the patients
room. but did not permit this, Of
course.
did not like simply to turn the wo-
man OF because l suspected she had
some malign intention toward her pa.
tient, and I did not Ike to have her
arrested, for I hardly knew what to
charge her with. Notwithstanding the
invalid's condition, I went to her, leav.
ing Mrs. Webster in charge Of Jerne-
gan, and asked her II she felt strong
enough to tell me what had occurred
between her and her nurse. Miss Ed.
wards told me that she had seen Mrs
Webster on one occasion dropping q
powder In some fluid medicine before
giving It. After that Miss Edwards
held in her mouth all the medicine Civ
en- her till her nurses back was turn
ed, then got rid Of 1t.
A sick person Is SO liable to see what