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throw her head back； and feel as grand as a queen。 I have seen more
than one girl act very much in that way。 Are not most of us a little
crazy； doctor；just a little？ I think so。 It seems to me I never
saw but one girl who was free from every hint of craziness。〃
〃And who was that； pray？〃
〃Why； Euthymia；nobody else； of course。 She never loses her head；
I don't believe she would in an earthquake。 Whenever we were at work
with our microscopes at the Institute I always told her that her mind
was the only achromatic one I ever looked into；I did n't say looked
through。…But I did n't come to talk about that。 I read in one of
your books that when Sydenham was asked by a student what books he
should read； the great physician said； 'Read 〃Don Quixote。〃' I want
you to explain that to me； and then I want you to tell me what is the
first book； according to your idea； that a student ought to read。〃
〃What do you say to my taking your question as the subject of a paper
to be read before the Society？ I think there may be other young
ladies at the meeting； besides yourself； who are thinking of pursuing
the study of medicine。 At any rate； there are a good many who are
interested in the subject； in fact； most people listen readily to
anything doctors tell them about their calling。〃
〃I wish you would； doctor。 I want Euthymia to hear it； and I don't
doubt there will be others who will be glad to hear everything you
have to say about it。 But oh； doctor； if you could only persuade
Eutbymia to become a physician！ What a doctor she would make！ So
strong； so calm； so full of wisdom！ I believe she could take the
wheel of a steamboat in a storm； or the hose of a fire…engine in a
conflagration； and handle it as well as the captain of the boat or of
the fire…company。〃
〃Have you ever talked with her about studying medicine？〃
〃Indeed I have。 Oh； if she would only begin with me！ What good
times we would have studying together！〃
〃I don't doubt it。 Medicine is a very pleasant study。 But how do
you think practice would be？ How would you like being called up to
ride ten miles in a midnight snow…storm； just when one of your raging
headaches was racking you？〃
〃Oh； but we could go into partnership； and Euthymia is n't afraid of
storms or anything else。 If she would only study medicine with me！〃
〃Well； what does she say to it？〃
〃She does n't like the thought of it。 She does n't believe in women
doctors。 She thinks that now and then a woman may be fitted for it
by nature； but she does n't think there are many who are。 She gives
me a good many reasons against their practising medicine； you know
what most of them are； doctor；and ends by saying that the same
woman who would be a poor sort of doctor would make a first…rate
nurse； and that； she thinks； is a woman's business； if her instinct
carries her to the hospital or sick…chamber。 I can't argue her ideas
out of her。〃
〃Neither can I argue you out of your feeling about the matter； but I
am disposed to agree with your friend； that you will often spoil a
good nurse to make a poor doctor。 Doctors and side…saddles don't
seem to me to go together。 Riding habits would be awkward things for
practitioners。 But come； we won't have a controversy just now。 I am
for giving women every chance for a good education； and if they think
medicine is one of their proper callings let them try it。 I think
they will find that they had better at least limit themselves to
certain specialties； and always have an expert of the other sex to
fall back upon。 The trouble is that they are so impressible and
imaginative that they are at the mercy of all sorts of fancy systems。
You have only to see what kinds of instruction they very commonly
flock to in order to guess whether they would be likely to prove
sensible practitioners。 Charlatanism always hobbles on two crutches；
the tattle of women； and the certificates of clergymen； and I am
afraid that half the women doctors will be too much under both those
influences。〃
Lurida believed in Dr。 Butts； who； to use the common language of the
village； had 〃carried her through〃 a fever； brought on by over…
excitement and exhausting study。 She took no offence at his
reference to nursery gossip； which she had learned to hold cheap。
Nobody so despises the weaknesses of women as the champion of woman's
rights。 She accepted the doctor's concession of a fair field and
open trial of the fitness of her sex for medical practice； and did
not trouble herself about his suggested limitations。 As to the
imaginative tendencies of women； she knew too well the truth of the
doctor's remark relating to them to wish to contradict it。
〃Be sure you let me have your paper in season for the next meeting；
doctor；〃 she said； and in due season it came； and was of course
approved for reading。
XIII
DR。 BUTTS READS A PAPER。
〃Next to the interest we take in all that relates to our immortal
souls is that which we feel for our mortal bodies。 I am afraid my
very first statement may be open to criticism。 The care of the body
is the first thought with a great many；in fact； with the larger
part of the world。 They send for the physician first； and not until
he gives them up do they commonly call in the clergyman。 Even the
minister himself is not so very different from other people。 We must
not blame him if he is not always impatient to exchange a world of
multiplied interests and ever…changing sources of excitement for that
which tradition has delivered to us as one eminently deficient in the
stimulus of variety。 Besides； these bodily frames； even when worn
and disfigured by long years of service； hang about our consciousness
like old garments。 They are used to us； and we are used to them。
And all the accidents of our lives；the house we dwell in； the
living people round us； the landscape we look over； all； up to the
sky that covers us like a bell glass；all these are but looser
outside garments which we have worn until they seem a part of us； and
we do not like the thought of changing them for a new suit which we
have never yet tried on。 How well I remember that dear ancient lady；
who lived well into the last decade of her century； as she repeated
the verse which； if I had but one to choose； I would select from that
string of pearls； Gray's 'Elegy'！
'For who to dumb forgetfulness a prey
This pleasing； anxious being e'er resigned；
Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day；
Nor cast one longing； lingering look behind？'
Plotinus was ashamed of his body； we are told。 Better so； it may be；
than to live solely for it； as so many do。 But it may be well
doubted if there is any disciple of Plotinus in this Society。 On the
contrary； there are many who think a great deal of their bodies； many
who have come here to regain the health they have lost in the wear
and tear of city life； and very few who have not at some time or
other of their lives had occasion to call in the services of a
physician。
〃There is； therefore； no impropriety in my offering to the members
some remarks upon the peculiar difficulties which beset the medical
practitioner in the discharge of his laborious and important duties。
〃A young friend of mine； who has taken an interest in medical
studies； happened to meet with a very familiar story about one of the
greatest and most celebrated of all English physicians； Thomas
Sydenham。 The story is that； when a student asked him what books he
should read； the great doctor told him to read 'Don Quixote。'
〃This piece of advice has been used to throw contempt upon the study
of books； and furnishes a convenient shield for ignorant pretenders。
But Sydenham left many writings in which he has recorded his medical
experience； and he surely would not have published them if he had not
thought they would be better reading for the medical student than the
story of Cervantes。 His own works are esteemed to this day； and he
certainly could not have supposed that they contained all the wisdom
of all the past。 No remedy is good； it was said of old； unless
applied at the right time in the right way。 So we may say of all
anecdotes； like this which I have told you about Sydenham and the
young man。 It is very likely that he carried him to the bedside of
some patients； and talked to him about the cases he showed him；
instead of putting a Latin volume in his hand。 I would as soon begin
in that way as any other； with a student who had already mastered the
preliminary branches；who knew enough about the structure and
functions of the body in health。
〃But if you ask me what reading I would commend to the medical
student of a philosophical habit of mind； you may be surprised to
hear me say it would be certain passages in 'Rasselas。' They are the
ones where the astronomer gives an account to Imlac of his manag