The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-26
ADOCTOR'S
STORY
Py RYLAND BELL

| ETY. we separated into small groups.
some discussing a paper that had been
read. some idly chatting and some tell
ing experiences. In our group we fell
to talking about leaving patients in the
hands of nurses we were not sure of,
and one of our number told the follow
ing story
One morning when making my round
of visits | was going upstairs to the
room of sick lady when l heard the
words:
Doctor. my nurse is killing me!''
l stopped and listened for a repeti'
ton. | did not doubt that it came from
the sickroom, though the patient had
not complained of her nurse, whom !
had recently placed on my list of those
recommended. But did not hear the
words again, so resolved to keep my
own counsel and went on to the sick
chamber, knocked and was admitted.
Now, | am enough of a scientist to
know that IN investigator is very easi-
ly worked upon by his theories Be-
fore entering the room l had explained
in my own mind the words had heard.
A former patient of mine had once.
while l was bending over her, whisper
ed to me. For heavens sake, take
away that nursev' l at once made an
excuse to do so. and the patient, whose
nerves were shattered. told me that the
woman domineered over her. l did
not completely side with my patient in
the matter, for she needed firm hand,
but l gave her another nurse.
Nevertheless that case influenced me
in the second one, and. realizing that
was Influenced by it, l resolved to
Danish it and get at the facts without
word with the patient or the nurse
l found the nurse somewhat agitated,
though the patient did not give evi
dence of anything unusual having hap
pened. The nurse had just come into
the room through door opening upon
q back stairway and carried tray, on
which was the invalid's luncheon.
There was no opportunity to speak
10 the patient alone during my visit,
for the nurse did not leave the room.
1t has always seemed to me that for a
doctor to send q nurse from the room
reflects upon her, indicating that he
wishes to say that to the patient
which he does not wish the nurse to
hear. At any rate, / once Offended
one of my best nurses by doing that
very thing. So in this case l went
away without having acquired any fur
ther information about the matter.
On my next visit l made a preteXt
to send the nurse out Of the room to
bring something l wanted. but she
foiled me by going to a closet for it
| couldn't think of any other excuse
and went away as uninformed as be
fore. On my next visit had scarcely
entered the house before again heard
the words:
. Doctor, my nurse is killing mev
This time, since / had not gone up
stairs. the sound was farther away
from me and less distinct. 1t seemed
to come from directly over my head
though paid no attention to this, fol
the ear does not give us the direction
Of sound. ] hurried upstairs and into
the sickroom without knocking, hoping
to learn something by taking them by
surprise. | found the nurse arranging
the patients pillow. Neither showed
a consciousness of anything disagree
able between them.
But despite my remedies my patien
was getting worse. Probably this turn
ed the scale in my mind against th'
nurse. At any rate, / determined to re
y move her without offending her. I tol,
!. her that l had another case in whicl
. she alone would satisfy me and
q would send a substitute, she reporting
= at the new place that evening Thel
9 left without saying anything to he
q charge about the change, intending t
1 do so after it had been made and n
the same time give her my reasons TO
relieving her of her nurse.
y What was my astonishment at M
i next visit to hear on ascending tn
1 staircase the words:
| Doctor, my nurse is killing me!'
i had only an hour before left tn
| nurse who had had charge of the cas-
with another patient, and here wa
the same complaint. ! resolved to IL
3 vestigate on my own account Avoid
ing the sickroom, opened every dool
III u SLuull EOOlh ullGNllJ ONGL lhS AlOh
door was a parrot on a perch besid
S the window where he could see m
carriage drive up and see me aligh
n and enter the house.
Here was the explanation, or a par
o of it. Still keeping my own counse
realizing that had removed the nurs
s unjustly, l returned to the hous
where had placed the suspected W.
, man and told her what had happened.
o Doctor she said, "the morning yo
called when l was carrying in the pi
a tents breakfast had just passed tn
Q room where the parrot was kept an
heard him say, Doctor, my nurse
Is killing mep was in terror when
IT saw you enter for fear you had hear
him and would suspect me. Upon IL