Crabbes’s Practice
Sir Arthur Conan Dole ( 1859-1930), born and educated in Edinburgh,
became a medical practitioner in 1885. But then he turned to writing and
became famous as author of crime and detective stories.
Tom Crabbe had just finished medical college. A brilliant career seemed
to be ahead of him , as he had a deep knowledge of medicine. Crabbe went
down with his young degree and a still younger wife to Brisport to start
practice there.
One day to my surprise I received a telegramme from Mrs. Crabbe
requesting me to come to Brisport urgently. When I arrived there I learned
about their difficulties: The expenses were heavy , and patients were few.
Tom wanted my advice. He said: “ If I could make myself known it would be
all right , but no one seems to need my help; they all go to other doctors
they know. I wouldn’t mind if these other doctors were good men, but they
are not. They are at last half a cenfury behind the day.”
“You should get your name know, ” I advised.
“That’s exactly what I want , if I could only get my name into the
Brisport Chronicle it would help me a lot.”
We had been talking over the matter for a while when an idea came to
Tom. We drew up a plan of our actions which we revised, modified and at
last accepted. Our discussion resulted that night in my moving into the
Brisport Hotel.
Next day the weather was fine. The streets of Brisport were crowded
with people , I went straight to the river and on my way there saw Tom
Crabbe standing on the bridge. There was a boat –house near the river.
“Could I have a boat for an hour?” I asked a man there.
“Of course,” he said. “Would you want me take you down the river?”
“Yes , you’d better ,” I replied. At the end of an hour I said I wanted
a bit of exercise – “Let us change places,” I said and stood up.
“Take care , sir,” cried the man, “ Look out.” But I had already fallen
over into the water.
Some time later I was “ saved” by the boat-man.
“ He is dead, poor fellow,” said someone.
“Send for the doctor.”
“Feel his pulse.”
“Stop,” said an authoritative voice .”can I be of any assistance?” I am
a medical man. What has happened?”
“A man drowned,” cried several voices.
‘ Stand back, make room for the doctor.”
“My name is doctor Crabbe. Take him to the hotel.”
We got to the hotel and I was undressed and put on the best bed. It
seemed that news of the accident had travelled fast as there was a crowd in
the street. Tom admitted only a few townspeople into the room , but issued
bulletins out of the window every five minutes to the crowd below.
“ Quite dead,” I heard him shout. “ no pulse- but we still do our best
; we are obliged to try every thing.”
(
After A. Conan Doyle)
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