CHAPTER XXV 



IN THE REPAIRING SHOPS 



We medical men are wayside repairers of the human 

 machines which break down on the road of life. In 

 many ways our day's work is very like that done by 

 our friend who carries out the repairs at a neighbouring 

 garage. Both of us are good or bad workmen according 

 to whether we know well or ill the use of every part of 

 the machine we are called on to repair. Both of us grow 

 more skilled as we become more experienced, for human 

 machines, like motor cars, have their weak points, and 

 only experience makes a man thoroughly familiar with 

 them. Both, too, are sometimes shouldered with burdens 

 of undeserved blame when they really merit a high reward 

 for the application of patient if ineffective skill. Then by 

 way of compensation they sometimes receive a large fee 

 and grateful thanks for executing a very ordinary piece of 

 repair. A patient seeks our aid who finds life intoler- 

 able because of giddiness in his head. A small plug of 

 wax is removed from an ear passage by the use of a 

 syringe and tepid tap water ; he is instantly restored to 

 his normal life and comfort. He thinks a miracle has 

 been performed upon him, whereas he has merely received 

 a routine attention. The mechanic at the garage may 

 earn a reputation by putting an unworkable car to rights 

 when others had failed by merely removing a little water 

 which had somehow gained admission to the carburettor. 

 It is not my intention, however, to draw a comparison 



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