Introduction
Stephen Leacock
is a Canadian essayist and short story writer.
All his writings are humorous in
nature. He is a satirist, who makes fun
of human nature. In this essay he makes
fun of educated doctors and science. He compares
and contrasts modern science with old age wisdom. He questions about the pathetic condition of
patients.
Progress of Science
Stephen Leacock
is proud while discussing the progress of science. He feels as if he invented electricity and vacuum
cleaner. He says that the progress in
the field of medicine makes our heart expand with pride. Hundred years ago, there were no diseases
like bacilli, ptomaine poisoning, diphtheria, appendicitis, rabies, psoriasis
and parotits. Today, they all have
become common household names. Leacock satirically
thanks the advancements in the field of medicine for this.
Harmful Diseases and
Substances Before Many Years
Before 100 years,
fever was cured by letting of the blood.
Before 70 years, sedative drugs were given for fever. Before 30 years, low diet and application of
ice was given for fever. Today, no such
simple medication is followed to eradicate fever. During olden days, people carried potatoes in
their pockets to kill rheumatism. Now no
such thing happens. Advancement in
medical science has led to complications.
Epilepsy was also cured easily during olden days.
Modern Doctors
Leacock discusses
about the time taken by a person to become a qualified practioner. During olden days, it takes two winters to
complete a medical course. During summer,
the learners would do some other work. However,
in modern days a learner takes more than eight years to be a practioner. It makes the person lazy.
Doctors Handling the
Patients
Modern doctor’s
business could be acquired in two weeks, says Leacock. When a patient consults the doctor, the
doctor hits him at his back and sends a hook under the heart of the patient to
know whether if pains or not. The doctor
gives a blow on his stomach, which makes the patient fall. The doctor would read the morning newspaper
and ask the patient to be quiet and go to bed.
The patient will get well quietly, if not he will die quietly. They never question the doctor.
Advice On Diet
A doctor’s
advice on diet to his patient, varies according to his mood. It the doctor is hungry, he will ask the
patient to eat anything he likes. If the
doctor has eaten well, then he would suggest his patient not to eat anything. The same is the case with the intake of
drinks. The patients are pathetic in the
hands of the doctors.
Conclusion
Even after
knowing all these hardships, all of us, including Leacock, would like to rush
to a hospital to save our lives.
