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to stick to my long tried practitioner。 When the bills for
〃professional services〃 came in； and the new carpet had to be given
up； and the old bonnet trimmed over again； and the sealskin sack
remained a vision； we both agreed； my wife and I； that we would try
to get along without consulting specialists； except in such cases as
our family physician considered to be beyond his skill。'〃
The Counsellor's story of his friend's experiences seemed to please
the young Doctor very much。 It 〃stirred him up；〃 but in an agreeable
way； for； as he said； he meant to devote himself to family practice；
and not to adopt any limited class of cases as a specialty。 I liked
his views so well that I should have been ready to adopt them as my
own； if they had been challenged。
The young Doctor discourses。
〃I am very glad；〃 he said； 〃that we have a number of practitioners
among us who confine themselves to the care of single organs and
their functions。 I want to be able to consult an oculist who has
done nothing but attend to eyes long enough to know all that is known
about their diseases and their treatment；skilful enough to be
trusted with the manipulation of that delicate and most precious
organ。 I want an aurist who knows all about the ear and what can be
done for its disorders。 The maladies of the larynx are very ticklish
things to handle； and nobody should be trusted to go behind the
epiglottis who has not the tactus eruditus。 And so of certain other
particular classes of complaints。 A great city must have a limited
number of experts； each a final authority； to be appealed to in cases
where the family physician finds himself in doubt。 There are
operations which no surgeon should be willing to undertake unless he
has paid a particular； if not an exclusive； attention to the cases
demanding such operations。 All this I willingly grant。
〃But it must not be supposed that we can return to the methods of the
old Egyptianswho； if my memory serves me correctly； had a special
physician for every part of the bodywithout falling into certain
errors and incurring certain liabilities。
〃The specialist is much like other people engaged in lucrative
business。 He is apt to magnify his calling； to make much of any
symptom which will bring a patient within range of his battery of
remedies。 I found a case in one of our medical journals； a couple of
years ago； which illustrates what I mean。 Dr。 ___________ of
Philadelphia； had a female patient with a crooked nose；deviated
septum； if our young scholars like that better。 She was suffering
from what the doctor called reflex headache。 She had been to an
oculist； who found that the trouble was in her eyes。 She went from
him to a gynecologist； who considered her headache as owing to causes
for which his specialty had the remedies。 How many more specialists
would have appropriated her； if she had gone the rounds of them all；
I dare not guess； but you remember the old story of the siege； in
which each artisan proposed means of defence which be himself was
ready to furnish。 Then a shoemaker said； 'Hang your walls with new
boots。'
〃Human nature is the same with medical specialists as it was with
ancient cordwainers； and it is too possible that a hungry
practitioner may be warped by his interest in fastening on a patient
who； as he persuades himself； comes under his medical jurisdiction。
The specialist has but one fang with which to seize and bold his
prey； but that fang is a fearfully long and sharp canine。 Being
confined to a narrow field of observation and practice； he is apt to
give much of his time to curious study； which may be magnifique； but
is not exactly la guerre against the patient's malady。 He divides
and subdivides； and gets many varieties of diseases； in most respects
similar。 These he equips with new names； and thus we have those
terrific nomenclatures which are enough to frighten the medical
student； to say nothing of the sufferers staggering under this long
catalogue of local infirmities。 The 'old…fogy' doctor； who knows the
family tendencies of his patient； who 'understands his constitution；'
will often treat him better than the famous specialist； who sees him
for the first time； and has to guess at many things 'the old doctor'
knows from his previous experience with the same patient and the
family to which he belongs。
〃It is a great luxury to practise as a specialist in almost any class
of diseases。 The special practitioner has his own hours； hardly
needs a night…bell； can have his residence out of the town in which
he exercises his calling； in short； lives like a gentleman； while the
hard…worked general practitioner submits to a servitude more exacting
than that of the man who is employed in his stable or in his kitchen。
That is the kind of life I have made up my mind to。〃
The teaspoons tinkled all round the table。 This was the usual sign
of approbation； instead of the clapping of hands。
The young Doctor paused； and looked round among The Teacups。 〃I beg
your pardon；〃 he said； 〃for taking up so much of your time with
medicine。 It is a subject that a good many persons； especially
ladies； take an interest in and have a curiosity about； but I have no
right to turn this tea…table into a lecture platform。〃
〃We should like to hear you talk longer about it；〃 said the English
Annex。 〃One of us has thought of devoting herself to the practice of
medicine。 Would you lecture to us； if you were a professor in one of
the great medical schools？〃
〃Lecture to students of your sex？ Why not； I should like to know？ I
don't think it is the calling for which the average woman is
especially adapted； but my teacher got a part of his medical
education from a lady； Madame Lachapelle； and I don't see why； if one
can learn from a woman； he may not teach a woman； if he knows
enough。〃
〃We all like a little medical talk now and then；〃 said Number Five；
〃and we are much obliged to you for your discourse。 You are
specialist enough to take care of a sprained ankle； I suppose； are
you not？〃
〃I hope I should be equal to that emergency；〃 answered the young
Doctor； 〃but I trust you are not suffering from any such accident？〃
〃No；〃 said Number Five； 〃but there is no telling what may happen。 I
might slip； and get a sprain or break a sinew； or something； and I
should like to know that there is a practitioner at hand to take care
of my injury。 I think I would risk myself in your bands； although
you are not a specialist。 Would you venture to take charge of the
case？〃
〃Ah； my dear lady；〃 he answered gallantly； 〃the risk would be in the
other direction。 I am afraid it would be safer for your doctor if he
were an older man than I am。〃
This is the first clearly； indisputably sentimental outbreak which
has happened in conversation at our table。 I tremble to think what
will come of it； for we have several inflammable elements in our
circle； and a spark like this is liable to light on any one or two of
them。
I was not sorry that this medical episode came in to vary the usual
course of talk at our table。 I like to have oneof an intelligent
company； who knows anything thoroughly； hold the floor for a time；
and discourse upon the subject which chiefly engages his daily
thoughts and furnishes his habitual occupation。 It is a privilege to
meet such a person now and then； and let him have his full swing。
But because there are 〃professionals〃 to whom we are willing to
listen as oracles； I do not want to see everybody who is not a
〃professional〃 silenced or snubbed； if he ventures into any field of
knowledge which he has not made especially his own。 I like to read
Montaigne's remarks about doctors； though he never took a medical
degree。 I can even enjoy the truth in the sharp satire of Voltaire
on the medical profession。 I frequently prefer the remarks I hear
from the pew after the sermon to those I have just been hearing from
the pulpit。 There are a great many things which I never expect to
comprehend； but which I desire very much to apprehend。 Suppose that
our circle of Teacups were made up of specialists；experts in
various departments。 I should be very willing that each one should
have his innings at the proper time； when the company were ready for
him。 But the time is coming when everybody will know something about
every thing。 How can one have the illustrated magazines； the
〃Popular Science Monthly；〃 the Psychological journals； the
theological periodicals； books on all subjects； forced on his
attention； in their own persons； so to speak； or in the reviews which
analyze and pass judgment upon them； without getting some ideas which
belong to many provinces of human intelligence？ The air we breathe
is made up of four elements； at least： oxygen； nitrogen； carbonic
acid gas； and knowledge。 There is something quite delightful to
witnes