CHEATING THE PHYSICIAN.
It was by no means an uncommon thing with me, while studying medicine,
to take long walks. One day, in the progress of one of these rambles, I
came so near the family mansion of a young man with whom I had formerly
been acquainted, that I thought I would, for once, go a little out of my
way and make a call on him. And judge, reader, if you can, of my
surprise, when I found him exceedingly sick. For residing, as we did,
only a few miles apart, why had I not heard of it? Most people, in
truth, would have called on some of the young doctors--for there were
three or four of us together,--to take care of the sick man, especially
by night. Young doctors, I grant--and this for various reasons which
might be named, were it needful--are usually the very worst of watchers
and nurses of the sick; but the public often appear to think otherwise,
and even to prefer them.
I found him under the care of an old school physician;--one who, though
he otherwise prescribed very well, gave quite too much medicine; and
like the old physician mentioned in the preceding chapter, mortally
detested cold water; at least he detested its use in bowel complaints.
The young man's case, however, was as yet wholly unlike that of the
elderly gentleman of the foregoing chapter; and cold water at first, was
not particularly needed; nor perhaps quite safe.
Some few days afterward, I called again. Found my young friend rather
less feverish, but no better; in fact, he was much worse, and was most
obviously running down. I continued after this to call on him daily,
till he too, like the old man before mentioned, began to beg for cold
water. But his physician said, "No, not a drop," and with a good deal of
emphasis.
One day, while I was at his bedside, he turned to me, and with a most
imploring look begged to know whether I believed a very little cold
water would really hurt him. I told him no; but that a good deal
doubtless would, and might even prove the means of his destruction.
"Simple a thing as water is," I said, "it is to you, in circumstances
like yours, a sword with two edges. If it should not cut away the
disease, it would probably cut in the other direction, to the
destruction of your health, if not of your life."
My remarks had both awakened his curiosity and increased his desires for
the interdicted beverage. I found I had gone too far, and I frankly told
him so. I told him it was not in accordance with medical etiquette, nor
even with the rules of good breeding, for one medical man to prescribe
for another's patient without his knowledge. But this explanation did
not satisfy him. Water was what he wanted; and as I had opened the
budget and removed some of his fears, water he must have. He was
willing, he said, to bear the responsibility.
Water, then, in exceedingly small quantity at a time, was permitted; but
it was to be given by stealth. The physician was not allowed to know it,
or, at all events, he was not to know under whose encouragement he
acted. His friends were very careful in regard to the quantity, and I
had the happiness of finding him, in a few days, very much better. But,
as I said in reflecting on the recovery of my aged friend before
mentioned, it is not quite certain, after all, how much was effected by
the water, and how much by the recuperative efforts of Nature herself.
She might have been long waiting for that opportunity to rally, which
the judicious introduction of the water, and the partial or entire
discontinuance of other medicine, greatly facilitated.