The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-09-26
His Start
He Got 1t by Luck and
Assurance
BY F. A. mitchell

sessesssessses .
At meeting Of the Booneton Medi.
cal society. there not being a,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
1t 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 bloodletting. 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.
l realized this. Upon finishing my
course ut 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 a single certainty In
medicine that I had learned In my col
lege course What difference from
the present, when we have antitoxins
that work with absolute certainty; the
x ray, by which to look into the hu-
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 single Experience was then
the doctors best card. A bald head,
pair Of mutton chop gray whiskers.
presence that bespoke wisdom-these
were sure to bring success to any prac-
titioner. This impressive person of
half century ago did not know one
tenth as much as the poorest student
in class graduating in a 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
I looked like boy and was treated
MS boy. for never did a patient
darken my doors. I was socially well
received by the young people Of town
and formed the acquaintance of a num-
Der Of young girls. 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 admired very much and
thought that If could marry her pos
sibly ! 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 a
towheaded, blue eyed doctor who didn't
look old enough to treat cat. AS to
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 bled
his patients for every disease, and SO
welded was he to the treatment that
he still carried q lancet in his medical
case. The Parkinsons revered him as
a man Of great experience and he was
supposed to have wonderful advan-
tage in knowing the constitution of
every member of the family, includ.
ing the last child born. who was but
(dght months old and sound as a nut
The chance Of my supplanting this au
gust person as physician in the house
hold was as remote as being called
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 beware
of being undermined. His very great
hess is liable to give his competitor
chance. Mr.. Parkinson was fond of
horses and owned some valuable stock
One of his animals was sired by
racer and had cost $4,000. One day
this horse was taken sick. Would his
owner insult the great Swinbourne by
asking him to treat horse? Never! A
veterinary surgeon was called in. 1t Is
quite likely that he knew as much
about what allied the horse and how
TO cure him as the NJ. D.-he certain
Iv knew as much as did-but, despite
his valuable efforts. the animal grew
worse and the veterinary finally gave
him I'D as candidate for button and
glue material.
Mr.. Parkinson was one or those per
sistent men who never say die, ana II
occurred to him that ] might not Fee
very much insulted at being called IL
TO treat a horse. But he could AFFORD
TO insult me. though he could not al.
ford to insult his physician. For II
apy of the family were taken III and
the doctor refused to treat the patient
there was likely to be Grape on the
door At any rate. I was called in to
have a look at the horse.
Mr.. Parkinson had sent the veterinary
ood tbere was no one present nj