The Strand Magazine: Vol. 07, Issue 37, January, 1894.: An Illustrated MonthlyVarious
General
The Strand Magazine: Vol. 07, Issue 37, January, 1894.: An Illustrated Monthly
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
Literary people and brain-workers particularly interested him, and they
found in the kind doctor a friend who understood them. He would advise
all writing that involved thought to be done in the morning before
luncheon. The evening might be spent in "taking in" or reading up the
subject of a book or paper, but there must be no giving out. For
brain-workers who were not strong, he insisted on meat in the middle of
the day; he declared that for this class it was "physiologically wicked"
even to have luncheon without.
To one who spoke of fatigue after a comparatively short walk, he
replied: "Walk little, then. Many who work their brain are not up to
much exercise. I hardly ever walk a mile myself; but that need not
prevent men having plenty of fresh air."
[Illustration: THE LONDON HOSPITAL
_From a Photo. by Mavor & Meredith._]
Some people laugh at his rules for diet, etc., forgetting that these
simple directions are based on deep knowledge of the human frame. Let
them laugh. Many who have tried them know they have been different
people in consequence. His incisive words--"My friend, you eat too
much!" "My friend, you drink too much!" would not he appreciated by
all; but Sir Andrew thought nearly all diseases were the outcome of the
constant and apparently unimportant violation of the laws of health.
Those who were hopelessly ill would always hear the truth from him, but
he would leave no stone unturned to lessen their suffering. Many an
incurable patient has he sent to a home from the London Hospital, and
visited them afterwards. Only the other day I heard of patients he had
sent to St. Elizabeth's, Great Ormond Street, where incurable patients
are nursed and cared for until they die, and never left the hospital
without leaving a guinea with one of the nuns. Sir Andrew had no
stereotyped plan. It was not merely the disease, but the individual he
treated. A friend told me he saved her aunt's life. She could not sleep,
and Sir Andrew ordered them to give her breakfast at five, "for after
tossing about all night she might sleep after having some food," and so
it proved.
[Illustration: THE HARRISON WARD--LONDON HOSPITAL.
_From a Photo. by Mavor & Meredith._]
To others who might get well, he would say: "Fight for your life."
Twelve years ago a lady (whom I met lately) had hemorrhage of the lungs
three times. She was told by seven doctors in the country that she "had
not a week to live." She had young children, and determined to make a
great effort to see Sir Andrew Clark. He prophesied she would get well,
providing she at once left the damp climate where she was then living
and made her permanent home at Malvern. A week after she had taken his
remedies she walked up the Wrekin. From that day she saw Sir Andrew once
every year, and looks upon herself as a monument of his skill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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