Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-03-13
DOCTOR WHO is
WINNING REN0WH

A young doctor who is winning re-
nUwn in his practice on the mountain
at Sewanee is DIR. A. L. Lear. He is
spoken of very highly, and the follow
ing from the paper published at Sc
vance, gives an insight AS to his devo-
ton to his patients:
"We are always proud of our bril-
! liant and devoted DIR. Lear, who last
week added another to bis many lau-
| rels, when by heroic treatment he saw
ed a human life. A young labo1er at
the Science Building had his fingers
drawn into the cogwheels of the hoist
ing engine, and before the machinery
could be stopped almost the whole
hand was ground to pulp. He was
rushed to the hospital and placed upon
| the operating table, but before surgi-
cal anesthesia could be induced he sue
! cumbeu to shock and loss of blood. In
| the tragic suddenness of the occurrence,
| it was remarkable to note the order
and precision which characterized the
transformation of the scene; and the
CELEBRITY with which each person pres
emit few to his or her suddenly altered
duty, bespoke the perfect organization
of a well-traiDed staff. Artificial res
piration was resorted to at once, Miss
Suddath and Miss Brazleton working
until they could scarcely stand; me-
chanical devices were applied, every
thing that skill and ingenuity could
suggest was attempted, but in vain.
No pulse could be detected, and the
poor fellow exhibited every sign of
death His heart had apparently ceas-
ed to beat, his body was cold, his eyes
were glazing, and bis face had assum-
ed that grey, wRxen look which is so
sadly familiar to us all
Suddenly DR.. Lear, who from the
first moment of respiratory depression
had worked with lightning like rap
iflity, and seemed to be in half a doz-
Ell rIaces at once, threw himself ON
mis- knees at the patients size, and
gluing bis lips to the mans mouth,
the condition of which from various
causes can be better imagined than de-
cribed, literally forced air from his
own body into his lungs. Again and
again he would extend his chest, and
once more fastening his mouth upon
the mouth of the seemingly dead man,
be would drive the life-g,ving air into
the recesses of the mans lungs. In
obviously increasing and painful ex
haustion~. he continued this heroic
treatment the nurses COMPRISING the
patients chest after each 'stroke of
the human pump" After what SEEM
ed an age to the by-stander, the slight
est twitching of the eyelids. the faint
est beating of the pulse, betokened
that the treatment had not been in
vain. But the Doctor did not desist
until fully satisfied that animation had
really been restored. Then, rising I'M
steadily to his feet be staggered into
an adjoining room, where he was seiz-
ed with violent illness. Recovering
somewhat he returned, amputated the
poor mans hand, snatched hasty bite
to eat, and started Immediately on
ten-mile trip to see sick man In the
"Too little Is known of our good
doctors self-sacrificing labors for the
poor. Human nature takes so much
for granted, and men are so apt to for
get to say, "Well done, good and
servant" We see him driv-
ing about the streets or writing pre-
scriptions at the Supply Store, and we /,
wonder that he cannot always come to |
us Just when we send for him. What |
we do not see are those endless drives |
into the mountains, day aud night, in !
every kind of weather, over every sort |
of road, to the hut of some remote |
who be knows before |
hand can pay him absolutely nothing. |
He never talks about it, nor does he |
think about it. Nor doGs he blaze |
abroad the singular success of his OPP |
erations, as for instance the case of |
Bruce Wallace, upon whom a few |
weeks ago he operated for acute APP |
pendicitis, and who was up and about !
on the sixth day. To him all this ls
in the ordinary course of his profess
sion. But no man could go on thus
year after year, unless that profession
was in the tue sense his vocation.
More than once, to the writer's per-
sonai knowledge, he has been offered
important posts elsewhere, which paid
a living salary. But he cannot be in
luced to leave Sewanee and his people
IF the mountains. His treasure is here
and therefore his heart is here also.
In what he does for others, without
thought of self and too often without
1ope of reward, we realize the signifi
,ance of what writer of Holy Writ
said many centuries ago: Honor
physician with the honors due him:
'or verify the Lord hath created him."
J. G. Wall, whose daughter, Mrs.
D. Hopkins. resides here, and who is
we'll known here through frequent
visits, speaks very highly of the
young doctors energy, and indiffer