House Calls

"House Calls"

A young doctor moved out to a small community to
replace the aging doctor there. The older doctor
suggested that the younger doctor accompany him as
he made his house calls so that the people of the
community could become accustomed to him.

At the first house they visited, the younger doctor
listened intently as the older doctor and an older lady
discussed the weather, their grandchildren and the
latest church bulletin. After some time, the older
doctor asked his patient how she had been feeling.

"I've been a little sick to my stomach," she replied.

"Well," said the older physician, "you've probably been
over doing it a bit with the fresh fruit. Why don't you
cut back on the amount of fresh fruit you eat and see
if that helps."

As they left the house, the younger doctor asked how
the older doctor had reached his diagnosis so quickly.

"You didn't even examine that woman," the younger
doctor stated.

"I didn't have to," the elder physician explain. "You
noticed that I dropped my stethoscope on the floor in
there. Well when I bent over to pick it up, I looked
around and noticed a half dozen banana peels in the
trash can. That is probably what has been making her
ill."

"That's pretty sneaky," commented the younger doctor.
"Do you mind if I try it at the next house?"

"I don't suppose it could hurt anything," the elder
physician replied.

At the next house, the two doctors visited with an
elderly widow. They spent several minutes discussing
the weather and grandchildren and the latest church
bulletin. After several minutes, the younger doctor
asked the widow how she had been feeling lately.

"I've felt terribly run down lately," the widow replied.
"I just don't have as much energy as I used to."

"You've probably been doing too much work for the
church," the younger doctor suggested without even
examining his patient. "Perhaps you should ease up a
bit and see if that helps."

As they left, the elder physician said, "Your diagnosis
is probably right, but do you mind telling me how you
came to that conclusion?"

"Sure," replied the younger doctor. "Just like you, I
dropped my stethoscope on the floor. When I bent
down to pick it up, I looked around and there was the
preacher hiding under the bed!"
Received on Tue Sep 28 13:13:12 2004