River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-04-01
FROM THE VIEWPOINT
OF A PHYSICIAN
By DR.. T. w. Ashley

In the "a years that | have been a
resident of this city it has been all
most completely modernized. To meet
the demands of a new dispensation
the necessary equipment has been pro-
vided.
Miles of cement walks have been
laid in place of wooden walks, in a
poor state of preservation in some in
stances. Electric lights for lighting
the home and streets in place of kerr
osene lamps, and shortly we are to
have white way which will add
beauty to efficiency. The best of
water from a plant that gives service
in quality, quantity and price second
to none in it's class. Beautiful lawns
where weeds used to flourish luxur-
inatly. Miles of telephone wires ov-
er which one may talk to their friends
though miles away. Modern homes
with all the accessories that go with
them. Many other modern improve
ments which space will not permit,
could be mentioned.
This modernization has not con-
fined itself to the city but has extend
ed into the surrounding communities.
The modernization of the home has
brought the city to the farm, and the
modern modes oftransit have brought
the farm to the city. In the place of
platform wagons drawn by fine hors-
es in some cases, and not infrequently
buggies, not so frequently that they
could not easily be counted, now make
their entry in automobiles. The trac-
tor often may be seen making its
noisy march across the field. Elect
ric lights in some instances light the
home and barn and it is now possible
in a modernized cow to avoid busy
tail in fly time by allowing George to
do the milking with a patent mixer
These modern improvements indi-
cate an increase in prosperity and
wealth, alos comfort, and furnish a
long and strong peg on which to
hang an argument in favor of a hos
pital modern in its appointments, Of
fering it's services to the 1000 pop
ulation in and tributary to this city,
and by virtue of it's position to be
located in the city of River Falls.
During the same period the practice
of medicine and surgery have been
modernized and to meet the demands
of new dispensation modern quip-
ment is necessary to obtain the best
results. The physician and surgeon
who has not the modern ideas and
equipment, must send his patients out
of the ordinary, to those who have, or
accept such results as he can obtain
under the conditions in which he is
compelled to work. Doctors can and
do practise under most unfavorable
conditions, but who shall say how
much the community may suffer from
that fact, and in some rare instances
the doctor, after faithful and skillful
service be censured for results for
which he was in nowise to blame.
/ hear someone remark, that if it
is of so much benefit to the doctor to
have ready access to hospital at all
times, why do not the doctors build
their own hospital? l wish / could
answer all questions connected with
this subject as easily as l can this.
Contrary to pretty general opinion,
from the disease known as financial
plethora the doctors as class are
immune-in other words, poor. 1t is
not my purpose to write an eulogy on
the medical man, but at my age and
years of service, with tinted horiz-
on in the west, it viii not am sure
be considered bad taste for me to say