The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-12-23
A Doctors S
Story
By H. sANBoRN BROWN

I was inclined to give my patients
a diagnosis of their cases, but when L
had been detected in a number of
errors | found what reputation 1 had
gained as zone of those frank, out
spoken doctors, with no pretense about
whooping cough as a bad cold and
measles as eczema, with q number Of
other blunders, got abroad, my prac-
tice dropped away, and / was obliged
to pull up stakes and begin over again
in another locality.
In my new field I looked wise and
said nothing or if did say anything
it was that the case had not suffi-
ciently developed to admit of dag
nosis. This would have done very
well had l stuck to it stoically. I'm
fortunately, patients or those interest
ed in them need at times to be buoy
ID. This fact got me into trouble
lgaln. Called in to see little child
who showed plainly the symptoms of
diphtheria, when l looked into the
mothers eager, questioning eyes l had
not the heart to tell her of her dar-
ling's danger, so l told her it was
case of sore throat.
All went well with the child, and
the diphtheritic membrane in the throat
was breaking down when the child's
grandmother came to the house. The old
woman had seen case of diphtheria
and on looking into the throat saw
that which she recognized.
Heavens" she exclaimed to the
mother-"the child has diphtheriar
The mother tainted. The grandmoth-
er ran to the telephone and, ignoring
me, called on one of my fellow prac-
titioners to come in hot haste. He at
once pronounced the case one of diph-
liberia, but, learning that was treating
1t, returned to his Office and called me
up by telephone. explained the mat
tor; but, realizing that 1 had lost the,
confidence Of the family in question, l
begged him to take up the case where
/ had left off and finish it. He did
SO. and the child, who was already
nearly well, recovered.
That young mother soon knocked my
practice into smithereens by telling
every one of her acquaintances that l
didn't know a case of diphtheria from
one Of sore throat.
Considering that my crime had really
been nothing more than tenderness
Of heart, this was hard to bear Wo-
| men are apt to accept statements with
| out question, and / was tabooed with
out an opportunity for defense. The
me about the matter and when / ex-
planned 1t tried to pacify his wife.
But no such excuse would be accepted
| by her. "Any doctor not fit to treat a
cat could get off with such an excuse
as that" she said.
| This time ! made up my mind to
stand my ground. III ! fed from the
tongues of the laity would not be
worthy of place in the profession.
| After all, whatever success a physi-
| clan attains, his real intrinsic standing
Is fixed by his fellow workers. They
may not agree with him, but they will
not deny his ability. For long while
l was dropped out OF practice almost
entirely. But gradually other doctors
! got into the habit of calling me in for
consultation and recommending pa
tlents to me in cases coming within
my especial province, and Mt the end
of about five years l found myself
again making living. In ten years
I stood at the head of my profession
| l,, tb, nj In, xtyli I
But by this time my work as a general
practitioner had given way to surgery.
There were but few recognized sur
geons In the place, and this was of
great advantage to me.
One would suppose that n woman
who had been indignant at my calling
case of diphtheria one of sore throat
and in consequence had ruined my
practice for several years would never
again have any use for my services
But the child upon whom | was sup
| posed to have made such blunder,
when twelve or thirteen years OF age
contracted bad case of appendicitis
An operation was considered necessary
by the family physician. He was not
surgeon and would not operate him
self. When the mother asked him tc
nominate a surgeon for the case he
recommended me.
Meanwhile the tongues she had sci
Wagging to my discredit had gradually
got to swinging in my favor. The esti
mate of my coworkers in the profes
sion, together with the testimony OF
patients | had helped, had reached thu
lady's ears. and, although she still be
lieved that at the time treated hel
= child didn't know case of diphthe
ria from sore throat, affected by thu
praise of me she heard, she great,
desired that l should perform an oper
alton involving life or death upon he
son.
A physician as such should have m
accounts to settle with those who hav,
injured him. | undertook the service
required of me with no more feelini
than If had never known her or he
child. But her former error forced he