What’s become of the old time family doctor? Except in sparsely settled rural districts, he is “non est inventus.” The family doctor was firmly entrenched in the confidence of the family! To them he was an oracle of wisdom and skill. He didn’t forsake the family in the dying hour, but stayed till the curtain of death was rung down. He ministered both in medicaments to the sorrowing, and sympathy and consolation as well.
He was the court of last appeal! With crude weapons to combat disease, he was wonderfully successful. He endured hardship and exposure. His means of travel were not autos and taxis, but astride “Pegasus” he would ride form sunrise to sunset, in winter, with its chilling blasts, and under the scorching rays of summer.
It is no exaggeration to say that he was the repository of information upon almost all subjects! In fact, he was hailed by his clientele as an animated, peripatetic encyclopaedia of general knowledge. He could recall the past as well as current events, to the edification of his friends. His talents were not circumscribed by any narrow pent-up Utica of specialism, but were found equal to any emergency. He amputated limbs, extirpated tumors, and thrown upon his own resources was no mean hand with the knife, and he kept an eagle eye to see “laudable pus!” That was the assurance of surgical skill and triumph.
The old-time doctors ministered to rich and poor alike; and their ministrations were based upon the broad spirit of philanthropy. While they didn’t lay up treasures here, yet it could be said of their unselfish devotion, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The pioneer doctors were, with rare exceptions, Good-fearing and God-serving men. They were honest, kind, patient, self-sacrificing men. The present day grasping mercenary spirit and practice would have been criminal in the estimation of the good men of the remote past. The doctors of the past were not extortionate, but were reasonable and liberal.
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