Fifty years a country doctor / by William N. Macartney.

  • Macartney, William Napier, 1862-1940.
Date:
1938
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Fifty years a country doctor / by William N. Macartney. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/594
    r=saJ r^&jf r^&jf r=s^ r=a^e °4f. FOREWORD ^ /?• > v i it* - rs^( r^j£ r^f J^^je The prevailing opinion is that the day of the general practi¬ tioner is passing or past and that of the specialist has arrived: this despite the fact that from two-thirds to three-fourths of our population are still treated by their family physicians. The species is a long way from extinction; they are a hardy breed and will survive. There are an immense number of them in the cities, towns and rural villages, far more than the sum total of all the specialists. Many of them live in remote sections and are isolated to a great extent from their confreres, far removed from well- equipped hospitals, distant in point of time at least from the pathological laboratory. Such men are often unable to have serological and other tests early enough to verify a diagnosis. They must do the best they can for their patients under con¬ ditions which tax their knowledge, their judgment and re¬ sourcefulness to the limit. Their moral courage and stamina are subjected to tests as severe as can be found in any field of human endeavor. In their practice emergencies arise where there is little time for extensive reading of voluminous trea¬ tises or for the summoning of skilled assistants who will be delayed by long journeys over bad roads or by other handi¬ caps. Here the science of medicine must largely be subordin¬ ated to its art. Such courageous souls, battling more or less single-handed with pain, torment and suffering, fighting the grim reaper that spares not the head of the large family, the sole wage- earner, the mother with her manifold duties and responsi¬ bilities, or the only and beloved child, need no apologist. The general practitioner usually has the intestinal equipment to