“My God, Doctor, it’s a wonder your patient is not dead. You are poisoning him to death. How long is it since you sterilized this syringe?” “Why, it was sterilized when I got it, wasn’t it?” replied the local M.D. innocently. “Yes,” answered the specialist, “and my instructions were that it should be cleansed with alcohol before and after every injection, and sterilized in boiling water at least once a week. This has not been done.” Then and there the visiting physician opened the eyes of his country brother as to the grave importance of utter and absolute cleanliness in all branches of practice, and especially in the administration of hypodermatic treatments. For nearly ten weeks this doctor had not cleansed the syringe. During all this time he had unconsciously been injecting into the system of his patient the most virulent of poison in the form of the decomposed lymph which remained in the syringe barrel, as well as such foreign substances as accumulated on the unprotected needle of the syringe. And yet this “doctor” was popular and successful in a way, (in mild cases), despite his failure to keep up with the progress of modern thought. He was one of the old-fashioned full-bearded type, ignorant of germs and germ-theory, and too self-opinionated and set in his way to keep 41himself posted as to what is going on in the world of medicine. I wish I were able to state honestly that, in the instance here referred to, the patient recovered, but he did not. The damage had been done, and it was too late, when the specialist was called in, to overcome it. This is a truthful narrative. It is being duplicated in many instances owing to the ignorance and incapacity of men who, while possessing diplomas, are really unfitted for the practice of medicine. It illustrates in a sad, but forceful way, the necessity of being “up to date,” and mixing common sense with the medical lore acquired in the schools. “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,” should be the rule. A physician should never dress flashily, but he should be garbed well. It creates a good impression. The time and money expended on improving the personal appearance is well invested. Patronize a competent tailor. A portly, well-conditioned man, well clothed, and of sunny, cheerful ways, will work wonders in the practice of medicine. Impressions are created largely by appearances. The man who looks affluent, who conducts himself in a good-natured, dignified manner, will succeed even though he be lacking in a thorough knowledge of his profession. The man who is slouchy and ill-kempt, and who takes no pains to be pleasant and obliging, will fail, no matter how well grounded he may be in the science of medicine. Why? Because he will repel people instead of attracting them. This same rule holds good in all lines of business, but it is specially applicable to the practice of medicine. 43 CHAPTER III   THE BUGBEAR OF ETHICS