Summary of Stephen Leacock’s How T Be A Doctor

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.