DOCTORS’ BEDSIDE MANNERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 6

DOCTORS’ BEDSIDE MANNERS

MANY WHO HAVE MADE FORTUNES FROM IT. ~ A pood bedside manner ((he Pall Mall Gazette nays) is a most valuable asset to a medical man. Many doctors have made their fortunes by if. Sir Richard Qunin used to tell how, when quite n young man, he was asked to assist a very well-known physician. Sir Richard assumed an expression which he thought correct when his senior turning and catching sight of him, remarked. “For heaven’s sake, man, don't look like that or they’ll think you arc the undertaker.’’ On one occasion a doctor after a City dinner was called hurriedly to the bedside of a certain haughty society woman, the wife of a financier. He proceeded ns best he could, and his first act after .greeting her was to take his watch from his vest pocket to count her pulse. This, however, was |loo much for him in his befuddled condition, and, proceeding to replace it, he muttered to himself, “Drunk again!” To his astonishment tho lady canpht hold of his hand, and, with tears, cried out, “Yes. I know, but oh, doctor, don't mention it, and it shall never occur again.’’ Sir Morell Mackenzie had the. most charming manners, and was most courteous, always anxious to show consideration to rich and poor alike, and a pood story that he used to tell against himself bears this out. A certain old gentleman who was very prolix and a terrible bore used to come every morning about ID o'clock, just when the doctor was beginning to be busy, and to insist, on going through nil his symptoms each day.

Sir Morell was the politest of men, and would not hurt the old fellow’s feelings, though he wasted valuable time. Ho stood it for some time, but at last hit on the plan of immediately painting the patient’s throat with some innocuous fluid and telling him. that he must not apeak for two hours.

This answered admirably for a time, when Sir Morell, going into the hall for some reason or other, one day met the old man coming out of one of tlfe waiting rooms, and was informed that ho had waited two hours, as he. had forgotten to inform Sir Morell of some new symptoms.