Page 48 - 1926 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 211

happened not to be much of a vacation after all. M y week at
home was divided between nursing a dog with distemper and
studying anatomy. The reason for the dog was that he belonged
to our apartment and had been i l l f o r several weeks, so it was
decided best to send him with me where the veterinarians at the '
Agricultural College could see him. Sick dogs are almost as
troublesome as sick humans, I've discovered, though they are
uncomplaining patients. The reason f o r the anatomy was that
I was preparing to take the Bellevue Hospital examinations which
came last week. Luckily I won an appointment there f o r a year,
which means that I ' l l have a complete M.D., for the internship
is almost a necessity these days.

This year we actually have patients of our own, whom we ex-
amine, diagnose and console. We're not permitted to treat them,
of course, but we are responsible f o r knowing the type of treat-
ment they receive, and how well they respond. Some of mine
have been interesting both medically and personally. One old
woman from the mountains thought she had been 'conjured' and
described just how the 'conjure man' did his work, with scorpion
tails, frog skins, and all the nefarious things that the witches in
Macbeth found effective. I don't know just what species of sorcery
she expected us to use to undo the conjuror's work. I had one
old mountaineer who thought it most immodest to be examined
by a woman, and,protested vigorously until he decided that help-
ing me to learn might be a great aid to humanity (he was very
religious) after which he submitted with a blushing face and a
martyred air. Whenever I stuck his finger for blood, he told me
he thought of the L o r d to keep it from hurting so much. I con-
fess that I found his attitude upsetting f o r such a trivial operation.

I have loved having colored patients this year, for they are
all so cooperative, so grateful, and so trusting. The new born
colored babies are the cunningest things I have ever seen, and
the mothers are a l l so proud of them. A t night the patients
in the colored wards sing beautiful old negro spirituals that
are more touching than ever in such a setting.

I am spending my spare time working on a problem i n blood
formation under Dr. H . E . Jordan. It's rather a gamble, for it
may lead to much or nothing. I ' m enjoying it though, and it is
good training in technique and the association with him is an
unusual privilege."

ELIZABETH HEYWOOD W Y M A N .