The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-01-02
Her Illness
It Was Diagnosed by Many
Doctors. but Correctly
by Only One
mr. aanrrura
By +. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. ISL

II was sunday morning. Inc 6LAte
Street Presbyterian church Of Berke-
ley was crowded to hear the first SER
mon of the new minister, the Rev.
Charles Fordham. Miss Dorothy Cum
mings, daughter Of Deacon Cummings
the deacon was one of the pillars of
| the church-sat In her fathers pew
spellbound by the minister's elo-
| Quence.
The following Tuesday evening Miss
| Cummings appeared at the weekly
prayer meeting. surprising those who
for years had been regular in their at
tendance.
On Thursday the minister dined at
the home of Deacon Cummings, and
Miss Dorothy during the evening found
an opportunity to say to him that she
had been deeply impressed by his Sun
day sermon and would like to converse
with him on the subject Of the dis
course. Mr. Fordham signified his will
ingness to further enlighten her, sug-
costing that she call at the church
whenever she chose.
| Miss Cummings did not appear at
the church on the second Sunday of
the new clergyman's administration.
To inquiries concerning her her mother
announced that she was tndisposed.
Mrs. Cummings bore a message to the
same effect from her daughter to Mr..
Fordham and asked If he could find
1t convenient to call during the week,
since she was not well enough TO go
out She desired conference.
Now, the Rev. Mr.. Fordham was q
| young bachelor. but old enough to I'M
derstand the care that must be observ
ed by clergyman. He told Mrs. Cum
mings he had laid down rule for his
| guidance which he preferred not on
any account to break through. This
rule was that he would not make any
but formal visits to the women of his
congregation and ali spiritual instruc-
tion must be administered at the
church. He did not explain why he
had made this rule He simply stated
the fact.
A few weeks later the Cummings
family physician. DR.. Efingham Treat.
was called in to see Dorothy. He look
ed at her tongue. felt her pulse and
stuck a little glass thermometer in her
mouth. Then he took out the prescrip-
| don blank with which doctors invari-
ably end call. especially a first call,
and wrote a prescription. This done,
be left her. stating that the trouble
was not serious. AS soon as he had
i gone Dorothy threw his prescription
into the fire.
A week passed. and Miss Cummings.
being no better. her father called up
Dr. Treat by telephone and was in
formed that be had gone to Smiths
drug store. Mr. Cummings phoned the
doctor there and asked him to call on
/ Dorothy, since she was no better, and
| be cher father, was worried about her
Treat, having forgotten what medicine
he had recommended the girl and not
wishing it to appear that the case was
| not constantly Oh his mind. asked
Smith, who sold the CumminRses all
| their drugs, TO look up the prescrip-
ton and tell him what be had ordered.
| Smith discovered that no prescription
from the doctor to any Of the Cum
mings family had been recently filled.
On his way to visit the patient the
doctor was stopped by the Rev. Mr..
| Fordham to inquire about Miss Cum
mings. He wished to know whether
| Dorothy was very sick and gave con-
| fidentially as reason ner request that
| he should cali to administer spiritual
advice, his refusal. according TO his
rule. stating further that If she were
| In danger he would not hesitate to go
to her at once.
| The doctor promised the clergyman
that II Dorothy should become dan
gerously Ill be would notify him and
drove on. But on the way ne I'D some
| thinking. He was nobody's fool. and.
putting the information he had de
r1ved from the clergyman with that
Of the druggist and having suspected
that his patient was perfectly we'll
he began to see through her little
scheme Having arrived at the Cum
mings home, he went through the usual
formalities of a professional call and
on departing informed the family that
his own health was breaking down
from overwork and he was about to
| give up his practice for at least year
He would, however. write out state
ment Of Dorothy's case. SO far as he
had observed 1t. which might be Of
service to any physician who should
next treat her. Sitting down In the
| Uhrorv he xvrofo.
| Ny diagnosis OF this case IL that there
| is a cordial affection. There are frequent
/ heart 1utterings. followed by depression
| But since the heart is affected by nervous
| conditions | do not fear organic trouble.
1 1 rather infer mental influences How
| ever, since l may be mistaken in this d.
| agnosis would recommend watching the
action Of the liver. the kidneys. the spleen
| and other organs
Dorothy kept her room and refused
herself to visitors. DR.. Archibald
Swain Chichester, whose practice was
among the ultra fashionable set, next
took up her case. read DR.. Treats
diagnosis-or. rather, scanned it con-
temptuously asked the patient great
many questions. gave especial direc-
lions as to her diet. wrote the Gus
tomary prescription-Or, rather, pre-
scriptions. for there were three of them
and departed. promising to return
again in a week. Since Mrs Cum
mings was now much troubled about
her daughters condition Dorothy did
not dare to burn up her prescriptions.
but when the medicines came she daily
poured a small portion Of each in a
sink. Since she thwarted her physi-
clans intention in her behalf it is not
remarkable that she gained no benefit.
But, on the other hand. If she gained
no benefit she suffered no injury.
Now. Dorothy In her feminine way
was a far better diagnostician than any
of her physicians Though she had
met the Rev. Charles Fordham but
few times, she had noticed IN bis eye
that peculiar spark Of love which
flashes at times between two persons
Of opposite sex. as well as felt 1t in
her own heart. During his first SER
mon she had kept her gaze Fixed upon
him and had several times noticed bis
momentarily concentrated upon her.
During her illness-or, rather, her Sc
clusIon-he had made repeated inqui-