Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-11

cal society, there not being quorum, |
half dozen doctors sat around chat /
ting. The conversation fell upon the
new science of medicine, which prac-
tically had its beginning in the inves-
legations of NJ. Pasteur. and is making
great Roadway in those experiments
carried on by scientists who devote
themselves to original research. Com
mentiug on the great change scientific
research has wrought in the medical
profession. DR. Elderkin, a retired ply
stefan, told the following story:
When l started to practice, though
it was in the latter half Of the nine
teenth century, our profession had lag
ged far behind the progressive spirit
of the times. Though we are still
woefully ignorant, we know far more
than we did then, and when we re-
member that we had at that time but
recently advanced beyond the univer-
sal remedy Of bloodetting. originally
practiced by the barber who shaved
our ancestors, we get some idea of the
low condition of the science Of medi-
cine half a century ago.
Being naturally of scientific mind,
1 realized this. Upon finishing my
course at the medical college l was
surprised that there was so little really
known. Indeed. beyond the fact that
vaccination will prevent smallpox,
don't remember single certainty in
medicine that had learned in my col
lege course, What difference from
the present, when we have antitoxins
that work with absolute certainty: the
Y ray, by which to look into the hui
man body, and have proved that dis
eases are transmitted by the fly and
the mosquito.
l settled in this very town and hung
out my shingle. Experience was then
the doctors best card. A bald head,
n pair Of mutton chop gray whiskers,
a presence that bespoke wisdom-these
were sure to bring success to any prac
/ titioner. This impressive person Of
half a century ago did not know one
| tenth as much as the poorest student
/ in Il class graduating in Il medical
/ school today. But since there was
nothing but experience on which to
base confidence, the old practitioner
had it all his own way, and the young
man had no show at all.
l looked like a boy and was treated
as boy, for never did q patient
darken my doors. l was socially well
received by the young people of town
and formed the acquaintance of num-
! Der Of young girlE. who thought me
"a nice little fellow and snickered
when they called me doctor. their idea
of physician being the elderly party
| | have mentioned. One of these young
ladies l admired very much and
thought that if l could marry her pos
sibly 1 might inspire some confidence
and make a beginning. But she was
the daughter of the principal man In
the place, John Parkinson, and there
was an awful gap between her and q
towheaded, blue eyed doctor who didn'
look old enough to treat a cat. AS Il
being called in to treat Mr.. Parkinson
or any member of her family, there
was no more chance of that than being
! Struck by lightning.
His family physician. DR.. Swim
bourne, in his younger days had bleC
his patients for every disease, and ST
welded was he to the treatment tina
he still carried lancet in his medica
case. The ParllinsOns revered him a.
man of great experience and he wa
supposed TO have a wonderful advan
tage in knowing the constitution o
every member of the family, includ
ing the last child born, who was bu
eight months old and sound as n nut
The chance of my supplanting this au
gust person as physician in the house
hold was as remote as being callet
upon to treat the president of the Unit
ed States.
But no matter how firm one is set
tied on any soft spot let him bewar
of being undermined. His very great
ness is liable TO give his competitor
chance. Mr.. Parkinson was fond o
horses and owned some valuable stock
One of his animals was sired by
racer and had cost $4,000. One ia
this horse was taken sick Would hi
ONu OE luSulI TIE great ESN LjlbOuIHt u
asking him to treat horse? Never! !
veterinary surgeon was called in. 1t /
quite likely that he knew as muc
about what allied the horse and hoy
to cure him as the NJ. DIE certain
~ knew as much as'I debut, despit
his valuable efforts. the animal greI
worse and the veterinary finally CAV
him up as a candidate for button an
glue material.
Mr. Parkinson was one of those pc
sis.ent men who never say die, and
occurred to him that I might not fe'
very much insulted at being called
10 treat a horse. But he could affor
; to insult me, though he could not a
ford to insult his physician. For
any Of the family were taken i'll an
the doctor refused to treat the patieI
there was likely 10 be Grape on ii
doo-. At any rate, was called in
have 4 look at the horse.
Mr.. Parkinson had sent the veterinaI
away and there was no one present
my visit to the patient but myself M
his owner. The horse was lying {
the stable floor to all appearances dea
My first impulse was-frOm force
habit-tO feel his pulse, but remel
u bpFpJ that I uniOIt rar