Show DR PRENTICE The Career of the Great Optician Op-tician Told to The Herald 60000 INCOME PER ANNUM I Interesting Incidents In the Lire of This Successful Man An American Amer-ican by Birth In many respects Dr Prentice whosi name has been brought so prominently prom-inently before the public laely by reason of his astonishing cures is a remarkable re-markable man He is undoubtedly most gifted and by inheritance taste and association was cut out to occupy a prominent position in the world of surgeons His name ani fame are in the months of a grat many perSons and a HERALD rap rter in the course of a conversation yesterday learned a number of interesting facts connected with the doctors career He was born in Ciacinnati Ohio and was educated in the regular schocls both in Cleveland and Philadelphia Here he graduated at the uge of 21 though he could have duo so two years earlier but for the face < ice that the law governing govern-ing the prajtioe fooM the graduation gradu-ation of a minor For two years he was a general pricti hoer and at the age of 23 years oecame surgeon sur-geon of the Bjlirnore it Oem Railroad by special appointment Tuis position he held for two years when he again I resumea a general uractica in Philadelphia Philadel-phia where he reuianed until 1876 He always had a taste for specialty work and fortified himself particclnrly from taste in thid direction In 1878 ne went to Europs to fit himself for the treatment treat-ment of special cases After remaining there for some time he came back to this country but returned to Europe in 1881 when he had an opportunity of bs coming familiar with the work of the masters in speaialty cases When he came back to this country he entered into practice as a specialist and has continued in it ever since going to Europe twice in the meantime and returning re-turning the last time in February past It was in 1885 that the doctor gave to the profession one of its most valuable advancements in the discovery of optical defects It is a system for examining the eyes as to defects which differs from the old method where only a general idea of the eyes deficiency can be had by reducing the inquiry of the imperfect refraction of the eyes to a definate point The plan is simple and yet almost of mathematical accuracy and it naturally commends itself to the unprofessional for its good sense and to the optician for the very valuable service it renders him in aid ine to the discovery of imperfections im-perfections of the sight It en enables the physician to proceed with accuracy in determning the fault in re fraction without fatigue to himself or wearying the patient In this connection connec-tion the doctor told a rather amusing bnt very significant story About two months ago Dr Noyes I and Dr Andrews of Detroit stopped hee on thdr way from New Zealand where they hal been in search of health In con veiSition with Dr Andrews the latter stated that when he found a natient suffering from nervousness which he was unable to cure hs generally turned the patient over to an ccculist with satisfactory results Then h spoke of an affection from which he aWL red and which he was unable to eradicate Dr Prentice at once began testing Dr Andrews eyes with his system the result being that Dr Pi entice pn scribed the remedy lor Dr Andrews which the latter had said he gave frequently to to his own paien s It was found further that Dr Noyes res sim larly affl ceJ and Dr Prentice prescribed pre-scribed f jr him ry removing artificially the fimperfeet refraction of one of his eyes 1 In the hands of a good man my system will overcome the difficulty of imperfect refraction and triag certainty cer-tainty waere there was doubt before said the Doctor Continuing the D it tor said I lived three years in New Orleans and built up a practice that brought me in GO000 a year but I could not stand the climate nor the tendency to malaria which we experienced thre Of course when 1 went to Naw Orleans I was comparatively compar-atively unknown The case that gave me my start was a peculiar one A man named L J N foster of Mississippi Missis-sippi had been afflicted with a cataract on both eyes fie was operated on by Dr Harr son with the advice of Dr Agnew of Ne V York But the eye ran out and the doctors advised that no attempt be made on the other because be-cause the attempt would be ren dered nugatory by certainconstltntional troubles in the patient Foster came to me and I told him I thought I could cure him With the assistance of my wife only I performed the operation and in three weeks Mr Foster could read the New Orleans Picayune and could see to write me a check for 1000 which up to that time was the largest fee I had received from one case Of course the result spread rapidly allover all-over Alabama Mississippi Louisiana Texas and the surrounding States un til in thrde years as I previously said my income was 60000 a year I operated on a greet many blind people I and caused many of them to see which I built me a reputation I was invited to Fort W < < rth Texas and during the twelve weeks spent there my practice brought me in 18 000 My wife who I acted as my cashier tooK in 3400 in six days III make a practice not to use any of the blue stone remedies and others of that kind which cause so much trouble and I find better results from the use of milder remedies I have made many persons to see simply by the use of glasses a notable case being that of a young lady from Park City who when she looked out of the window after I had given her glasss 1 ilted to her condition exclaimed Jh doctor does everybody see the world like this Another rule I make is never to tell a patient I can cure him unless I have confidenceJn my abitity to perIOrm the operation Outside of the question of morality I take it that it is unwise in a business sense totate any money from a person for an operation where there is not good reason to hope for success as the reputation f a surgeon is money There is more money in telling the truth than not Asked as to how be came here the doctor said that in pasting through he was attracted by the climate and it did < I his wife so much goodithat he determined deter-mined to remain I found the people frngal industrious and prosperous I thereupon entered hero for practice These are candid reasons My deal ings have been pleasant both professionally profes-sionally and financially and my business busi-ness has certainly been profitable I shall remain here until October then leave for the east on some important business and 1 expect to return as soon as that is concluded As loot as there is work f r me to do here I shall make salt Like my principle prin-ciple abode I kno w of no otbercitv that has equal attractions and there is a certainty of its being a large and beautiful city You can say I am very well satisfied The Doctor is a quiet and free talker he does not eeem to ba an enthusiast but that he is master of his profession is demonstrated by the many remarka ble cures he has effected here in a very brief time and with sj little of pain to the patients |