The Washburn leader., 1914-03-06
\ Doctor 5
Story
By II. sANBoRN BROWN

When began to practice medicine
1 was inclined to give my patients
a diagnosis of their cases. but when I
had been detected in a number Of
errors l found what reputation l had
gained as zone of those frank. out
spoken doctors. with no pretense about
him." gone. That had diagnosed
whooping cough as a bad cold and
measles as eczema, with number of
other blunders, got abroad. my prac-
tice dropped away, and was obliged
to pull up stakes and begin over again
in another locality.
In my new field looked wise and
said nothing, or II did say anything
1t was that the case had not sufi-
ciently developed to admit OF dag
nosis. This would have done very
well had l stuck to it stoically. Un-
fortunately. patients or those interest
ed in them need at times to be buoy
ed. This fact got me into trouble
again. Called in to see a little child
who showed plainly the symptoms of
diphtheria. when l looked into the
mothers eager, questioning eyes had
not the heart to tell her of her dar-
ling's danger, so told her it was q
case of sore throat.
All went we'll with the child, and
the diphtheritic membrane in the throat
was breaking down when the child's
grandmotherca came to the house. The old
woman had seen case Of diphtheria
and on looking into the throat saw
that which she recognized.
Heavens" she exclaimed to the
mother-''the child has diphtheria"
The mother tainted. The grandmoth-
er ran to the telephone and, ignoring
me, called on one of my fellow prac-
titioners to come in hot haste. He at
once pronounced the case one of diph-
iberia. but, learning that was treating
it, returned to his Office and called me
up by telephone. explained the mat
ter; but, realizing that l had lost the
confidence of the family in questions. I
begged him to take up the case where
l had left off and finish it. He did
so, and the child. who was already
nearly we'll, recovered.
That young mother soon knocked my
practice into smithereens by telling
every one of her acquaintances that
didn't know a case of diphtheria from
one of sore throat
Considering that my crime had really
been nothing more than tenderness
Of heart, this was hard to bear. WO-
men are apt to accept statements with
out question. and was tabooed with
out an opportunity for defense. The
husband of the lady in question asked
me about the matter and when l ex-
plained it tried to pacify his wife.
But no such excuse would be accepted
by her. ANY doctor not fit to treat
cat could get of with such an excuse
as that" she said.
This time l made up my mind to
stand my ground. II fed from the
tongues of the laity ! would not be
worthy Of place in the profession.
After all. .whatever success q physi
clan attains, his real intrinsic standing
is fixed by his fellow workers. They
may not agree with him. but they will
not deny his ability. For long while
l was dropped out of practice almost
entirely. But gradually other doctors
got into the habit of calling me in for
consultation and recommending pa
tients to me in cases coming within
my especial province. and at the end
of about five years I found myself
again making living. In ten years
stood at the head of my profession
tnsthe city. .ingMi1 1ch praciced.
But by this time:my work as q general
practitioner had Given way to surgery.
There were but few recognized sur
geons in the place. and this was of
great advantage to me.
One would suppose that woman
who had been indignant at my calling
a case Of diphtheria one Of sore throat
and in consequence had ruined my
practice for several years would never
again have any use for my services.
But the child upon whom was sup
posed to have made such blunder.
when twelve, or thirteen years Of age.
contracted a bad case of appendicitis.
An operation was considered necessary
by the family physician. He was not
q surgeon and would not operate him
self. When the mother asked him to
nominate surgeon for the case he
recommended me.
b Meanwhile the tongues she had set
wagging to my discredit had gradually
got to swinging In my favor. The esti-
mate Of my coworkers in the profess
sion: together with the testimony .of
patients I had helped, had reached the
lady's ears. and. although she still be
lieved that ut the time ! trented her
child l didn't know case Of diphtlle-
ria from sore throat. affected by the
praise OF me she heard. SHE greatly
desired that | should perform an oper-
alton involving life or death upon her
son. .ls F 81 Il, 5sS
a physician 10 such should have no
accounts 20 settle with those who have
injured him. undertook the service
- s,,., ,.nSkbn no, mara efnn11nO