Article October 5, 1899 Issue

Young Medicos Caught Out

New Orleans Times-Democrat

"When I was attending medical college," said a New Orleans physician, "our old professor of materia medica and general practice told us one day that he had a remarkable case which he proposed to exhibit next morning in clinic. 'I have persuaded the man to allow you to examine him in the interest of science,' he said, 'and you will each make an independent diagnosis in writing.' Next day the patient appeared. He was a strapping big fellow, and, without any preface, he peeled off his clothes and took his place on the table. We examined him in squads, thumping his chest, listening to his lungs, feeling his pulse, taking his temperature, and doing everything else we could think of. I soon discovered valvular disease of the heart in an advanced stage, but said nothing, according to the rule, and sat up nearly all night writing my diagnosis. When the professor took his place on the platform at lecture hour his desk was heaped high with our written reports. 'Well, gentleman,' he said blandly, 'I find here forty-six diagnoses, each describing a different disease. I consider the variety of your discoveries as very remarkable, especially'—here he paused and deliberately polished his eye-glasses—'especially, gentlemen, as there was nothing whatever the matter with the patient.' The silence that ensured was so thick you could have cut it with an axe."

New Orleans Times-Democrat.

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