The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-05-29
THE DOCTOR
IN CAMP
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1913. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M. QUAD

the services Of Il skillful physician
were in demand. That winter We put
in at Calico Flats there was somebody
on the sick list a.. the time. and there
were days when we had three or four
patients in the hospital at once.
As to medicines. our mainstay was a.
hot sweat. When man began to-
dump around we didn't lose time by
feeling his pulse or looking at his
tongue. Three or four stones were put
into the fire to heat, blankets borrowed
for the occasion, and when we got
steam on the knots and twists and
kinks in that chaps case had to un-
ravel. He'd come out as long and fat
and thin and white as you please, and
If any one pointed a finger at him for
the next week he'd cry like baby.
Next to the sweat We had decOctionsI
Of herbs, barks and roots.
But, as said at the start, sickness
became so prevalent and our plain
remedies had 80 little effect that IL
was finally decided to send up to Sac
ramento for a doctor. The idea was
to have him come down and brace us
all up and leave medicines and RENE
dies, and the expense was to be borne
by shake purse.
You see." said Judge Perdue as wei
talked the matter over, I'VE don't want|
a doctor that we may brag over the
other camps. We want one because
we are sick in the old fashioned way"
That's itr' chorused half dozen
voices.
1--WE want the old fashioned sickness
that we used to enjoy so much at
home. We want a doctor that will
come in and say we are goin' to die
for sure and then turn to and cure Us.
We are jest fairly cryin' for doses Of
them drugs that used to lift feller
outer bed and make him think he'd
bit into moldy pumpkin! Lord, how
I would like to come down with case
of old fashioned bilious feverp'
A letter was sent to a dealer In the
town asking him to forward doctor.
and in about FIVE days along he came.
He was young man Of twenty-four,
just out of college in the east and just
landed on the slope without dollar In
his pocket, and all he brought to camp
with him was a lancet, some prescrip-
ton blanks and a stick Of salve for
making sticking plasters.
There were four men In hospital that
day, and after a bit the doctor entered
to take a look at them. 1t happened
that he came to big Jim Smith first
Smith was threatened with infamma-
tory rheumatism and was In no mood
to take nonsense.
run out your tongue" said the doc
tor as he bent over the man.
Big Jim displayed it. but in such
begrudging way that it was plain to
see that he thought it all bosh.
"Your pulse" said the doctor, as he
reached over for Jim's great paw.
pulse? / amt got any" growled
Jim.
"Oh, yes. you have. Here 1t Is In
your wrist. Keep still for moment"
Stranger" said Jim, after the doc
tor had dropped his hand, dye mean
to tell me that ye kin feel q mans
wrist and tell what ails his insidesT
"Yes, in measure"
Excuse my not CALM you a har,
but some Of the boys will do It FOR
me afore you are an hour older"
What are your symptomsT asked
the doctor.
Never had any"
'But how do you feelr'
"Sick."
"How were you taken"
STRANGER, what are you drivin' atT
demanded Jim as he sat up in bed.
Have you got pains"
I'm course I have. Dye s'pose Pd|
be lyin' fat on my back here II any
thing less'n a ton was holdin' mel
DOWN.
"Do you acheT'
"Rayther."
ANY fever"
"Waal, I git away with a quart Of
cold water at a gulp."
The doctor sat and studied the caseI
for a few minutes, and then he camel
over to the shanty where the commit
tee had assembled and said:
Gentlemen, the case Of Big Jim Isl
a serious one. He needs a change oil
diet scenery and air. My advice Isl
that you brace him up as well as youl
can on chicken soup and beef tea and
then send him of for Trip to Cuba"
When he was going out he said he
would drop in next morning and have
a look at the other cases, but he never
had the chance.
When the boys found that he had
come without even a dose Of quinineI
and they heard him talk about chicken
soup and trips to Cuba for man who
hadn't $5 to his name they waited
upon him in a sort Of hilarious body,
and at midnight he went up the trail
at the rate Of twelve miles an hour,
with a crowd behind him aching for
l. haofoI