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Show A Doctor's Mistake At some of the more primitive German and Bohemian watering places a quaint old custom prevails, in virtue of which the resident medical or bath doctors take up their stations every morning at a fixed hour, under particular trees, on the leading promenade of their respective Dade Ort, so that their patients may be enabled to make sure of finding them for consultation and advice at a particular time and in a particular place. A good memory for faces is a "ne qua non to these sons of [unreadable], who in the height of the season frequently "interview" from fifty to sixty invalids apiece during thee al fresco receptions. Mistakes as to identity, however, will occur, and sometimes result in singularly comical complications. Recently one of the most popular physicians at a crowded Dade Ort was visited under his tree by an American gentleman, a recent arrival, who complained that the waters caused him such terrible headaches that he thought he had better drop them and depart to other clime. The doctor, unwilling thus promptly to lose his patient, looked him over hastily and, perceiving that he wore a hat, sombrero, told him, "It was not the waters that made his head ache, but his unconscionably heavy hat." Swiftly the American betook him to the nearest hatter, of whom he purchased a straw fabric so light as to be all but imponderable, and went on drinking the waters as before. His headaches, however, growing worse instead of leaving him, he again called upon the medical adviser a few days later, and told him that his head was still so bad he really must try some other care. The doctor, who in the meantime had forgotten all about his previous prescriptions, and was as reluctant as ever to let his patient depart, again cast a comprehensive glance at him, and espying the straw hat exclaimed: "You cannot expect to be free from headaches if you wear such a preposterously light head covering. A man of your age, nearly bald, and in this hot weather, must protect his head from then sun's rays, by a stout, solid hat!" The American gazed at his interlocutor for a few seconds in blank astonishment, then, after bowing profoundly, he sardonically replied: "Thank you, doctor; I am off to the railroad station!" turned on his heel and departed. |