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I dare not guess； but you remember the old story of the siege； in
which each artisan proposed means of defence which be himself was
ready to furnish。 Then a shoemaker said； 'Hang your walls with new
boots。'
〃Human nature is the same with medical specialists as it was with
ancient cordwainers； and it is too possible that a hungry
practitioner may be warped by his interest in fastening on a patient
who； as he persuades himself； comes under his medical jurisdiction。
The specialist has but one fang with which to seize and bold his
prey； but that fang is a fearfully long and sharp canine。 Being
confined to a narrow field of observation and practice； he is apt to
give much of his time to curious study； which may be magnifique； but
is not exactly la guerre against the patient's malady。 He divides
and subdivides； and gets many varieties of diseases； in most respects
similar。 These he equips with new names； and thus we have those
terrific nomenclatures which are enough to frighten the medical
student； to say nothing of the sufferers staggering under this long
catalogue of local infirmities。 The 'old…fogy' doctor； who knows the
family tendencies of his patient； who 'understands his constitution；'
will often treat him better than the famous specialist； who sees him
for the first time； and has to guess at many things 'the old doctor'
knows from his previous experience with the same patient and the
family to which he belongs。
〃It is a great luxury to practise as a specialist in almost any class
of diseases。 The special practitioner has his own hours； hardly
needs a night…bell； can have his residence out of the town in which
he exercises his calling； in short； lives like a gentleman； while the
hard…worked general practitioner submits to a servitude more exacting
than that of the man who is employed in his stable or in his kitchen。
That is the kind of life I have made up my mind to。〃
The teaspoons tinkled all round the table。 This was the usual sign
of approbation； instead of the clapping of hands。
The young Doctor paused； and looked round among The Teacups。 〃I beg
your pardon；〃 he said； 〃for taking up so much of your time with
medicine。 It is a subject that a good many persons； especially
ladies； take an interest in and have a curiosity about； but I have no
right to turn this tea…table into a lecture platform。〃
〃We should like to hear you talk longer about it；〃 said the English
Annex。 〃One of us has thought of devoting herself to the practice of
medicine。 Would you lecture to us； if you were a professor in one of
the great medical schools？〃
〃Lecture to students of your sex？ Why not； I should like to know？ I
don't think it is the calling for which the average woman is
especially adapted； but my teacher got a part of his medical
education from a lady； Madame Lachapelle； and I don't see why； if one
can learn from a woman； he may not teach a woman； if he knows
enough。〃
〃We all like a little medical talk now and then；〃 said Number Five；
〃and we are much obliged to you for your discourse。 You are
specialist enough to take care of a sprained ankle； I suppose； are
you not？〃
〃I hope I should be equal to that emergency；〃 answered the young
Doctor； 〃but I trust you are not suffering from any such accident？〃
〃No；〃 said Number Five； 〃but there is no telling what may happen。 I
might slip； and get a sprain or break a sinew； or something； and I
should like to know that there is a practitioner at hand to take care
of my injury。 I think I would risk myself in your bands； although
you are not a specialist。 Would you venture to take charge of the
case？〃
〃Ah； my dear lady；〃 he answered gallantly； 〃the risk would be in the
other direction。 I am afraid it would be safer for your doctor if he
were an older man than I am。〃
This is the first clearly； indisputably sentimental outbreak which
has happened in conversation at our table。 I tremble to think what
will come of it； for we have several inflammable elements in our
circle； and a spark like this is liable to light on any one or two of
them。
I was not sorry that this medical episode came in to vary the usual
course of talk at our table。 I like to have oneof an intelligent
company； who knows anything thoroughly； hold the floor for a time；
and discourse upon the subject which chiefly engages his daily
thoughts and furnishes his habitual occupation。 It is a privilege to
meet such a person now and then； and let him have his full swing。
But because there are 〃professionals〃 to whom we are willing to
listen as oracles； I do not want to see everybody who is not a
〃professional〃 silenced or snubbed； if he ventures into any field of
knowledge which he has not made especially his own。 I like to read
Montaigne's remarks about doctors； though he never took a medical
degree。 I can even enjoy the truth in the sharp satire of Voltaire
on the medical profession。 I frequently prefer the remarks I hear
from the pew after the sermon to those I have just been hearing from
the pulpit。 There are a great many things which I never expect to
comprehend； but which I desire very much to apprehend。 Suppose that
our circle of Teacups were made up of specialists；experts in
various departments。 I should be very willing that each one should
have his innings at the proper time； when the company were ready for
him。 But the time is coming when everybody will know something about
every thing。 How can one have the illustrated magazines； the
〃Popular Science Monthly；〃 the Psychological journals； the
theological periodicals； books on all subjects； forced on his
attention； in their own persons； so to speak； or in the reviews which
analyze and pass judgment upon them； without getting some ideas which
belong to many provinces of human intelligence？ The air we breathe
is made up of four elements； at least： oxygen； nitrogen； carbonic
acid gas； and knowledge。 There is something quite delightful to
witness in the absorption and devotion of a genuine specialist。
There is a certain sublimity in that picture of the dying scholar in
Browning's 〃A Grammarian's Funeral：〃
〃So with the throttling hands of death at strife；
Ground he at grammar；
Still； through the rattle； parts of speech were rife；
While he could stammer
He settled Hoti's businesslet it be
Properly based Oun
Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic De；
Dead from the waist down。〃
A genuine enthusiasm； which will never be satisfied until it has
pumped the well dry at the bottom of which truth is lying； always
excites our interest； if not our admiration。
One of the pleasantest of our American writers； whom we all remember
as Ik Marvel； and greet in his more recent appearance as Donald Grant
Mitchell； speaks of the awkwardness which he feels in offering to the
public a 〃panoramic view of British writers in these days of
specialists