The Doctor's Friends

 

 

THE DOCTOR’S FRIENDS

The Doctor finds his many friends among all ranks and classes, both poor and rich.  Some people have a great love of filling the surgeon’s purse with money, by bringing on their own illness, as nearly nine out of every ten do, perhaps through exposure to cold and to heat.  Improper use of drugs oftentimes brings on sickness and even death, a person may take too much, not knowing the strength of it and therefore the Doctor has to be called.  This is a good job for him, but not so good for the person if a poor one, he has perhaps, to give all the money he has spared for the past few weeks.  So that by people’s own foolishness, the Doctor’s purse is always replenished.

Intemperance may be also classed a hurtful drug both for the body and soul.  A drunkard never has a penny, all he earns goes to pay fines and Doctors and his children oftentimes in rags and hunger for days at a time and their father, and what is more shameful still perhaps, their mother “drinking”.

Dated:  13/9/1907

Editor’s Note:  Above Essay is from Delia Mahon’s 1907-1908 school year copybook