VII 



A VILLAGE DOCTOR'S CLINIC 

 BY A. Z. HALL, M.D., Eaton, Colo. 



Life itself is far more fascinating than theory is 

 about it. Observation is much more convincing than 

 argument. Let us forget theories and arguments for a 

 few moments and look at some real people. Just jump 

 into my car and "make the rounds" of a few interesting 

 cases with me. Then, after we have seen these folks, 

 we can philosophize a little. 



AFTER THE OPERATION, WHAT? 



First, let us stop at this beautiful, flower-embowered 

 bungalow. The patient meets us at the door. She is 

 Mrs. G. S., a musician, about forty years of age, the 

 mother of one child. Two years ago she had a hys- 

 terectomy performed after repeated incisions had been 

 made and drainage instituted for peri-uterine infec- 

 tion. She had been on the operating table seven times 

 in one year. Her recovery from the operations was 

 exceedingly slow. Nervous symptoms developed. In- 

 somnia has been persistent and progressive during the 

 last twelve months. She has averaged only between 

 two and three hours* sleep per night for several months. 

 She developed tachycardia, smothering sensations, 

 cyanosis, indigestion and, quite naturally, despondency. 

 She predicted the day of her death. Various physicians 

 were consulted. "Simply nerves, my dear Madam," 

 was the verdict. "You must learn to control yourself," 

 they reiterated. One surgeon of repute recommended 



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