Crabbe's Practice

Crabbe took his degree² a year before I did, and went down with his young degree, and a still younger wife, to a large port in England, which we will call Brisport. At that time I was acting as assistant to a medical man in Manchester, and heard little from my friend.

One day to my surprise I received a telegram from Mrs. Crabbe asking me to run down to Brisport to see her husband, as he was far from well.

I certainly found Crabbe changed very much for the worse, though he brightened up wonderfully at the sight of an old Friend.

After dinner the three of us sat down to talk things over. It seemed Tom had a lot to complain of. "If I could make myself known it would be all right. The place seems to be overcrowded with doctors. I wouldn't mind if ttiese other fellows were good men,³ but they are not. Yet they make a pound to my shilling."⁴

"Couldn't we get up⁶ some incident," said I, "which would make your name known to the public?"

"My dear Barton, that's exactly what I want. If I could manage to get my name into the Brisport Chronicle it might be the making of me. Wait a bit till I think."

Tom seemed lost in thought. "Can you swim?" he asked.

"Fairly⁶ well."

"Then come out," said Tom.

I couldn't get a word out of him as to his intentions, so I just walked along beside him, wondering what he was going to do.

Our first stoppage was at a small dock which is crossed by an iron bridge. He hailed the boatman and inquired about the terms of boat hire. Then, to the boatman's disappointment, we set off in the. opposite direction.

Our next stoppage was at the Jolly Mariner's Arms.⁷ Did they keep beds? Yes, they kept beds. We then went to the chemist's. Did he keep a galvanic battery? Once again the answer was in the affirmative and with a satisfied smile Tom Crabbe headed for home, leaving some very angry people behind him.

That evening, over tea, he told us his plan — and the council of three accepted it, with the immediate result that I at once moved to the Brisport Hotel.

It was nearly nine o'clock when I woke up next day. I jumped out of bed and started to dress hurriedly. "Well," I said to myself, "If old Tom Crabbe doesn't get his name in the papers today, it isn't my fault. I wonder if any friend would do as much for me!" I swallowed a cup of coffee and. set out.

Brisport seemed unusually lively this morning. As I reached the lit­tle dock with the iron bridge I caught sight of a man. There was no mis­taking the hat and spectacles of Thomas Crabbe.

I passed him without sign of recognition and went straight to the boathouse.

"Could I hire a boat for an hour?" I asked the boatman.

"One minute, sir," he said. "Would you want me to row you, sir?"

"Yes, you'd better."

"Aye, aye,⁸ sir," said he and away we went. At the end of the hour we turned back and pulled up to the quay.

"Give me the oars," said I. "I want a bit of exercise — let us change places," and I stood up.

"Take care!" cried the boatman, but it was too late. With a sharp, melodramatic cry I fell overboard.

I hardly realised what I was going to do until I had done. It was not a pleasant feeling to have the water closing over one's head. I struck the bottom with my feet, and shot up again to the surface. The boat­man came to my rescue at once. He hit me a painful blow on the head with something and I went down again. When I came up next time the boatman seized me by the hair of my head as if he would tear my scalp off and got me to land.

There I lay on the hard stones of the quay. "He's gone,⁹ poor fellow!" said someone. "Quite dead." "Turn him upside down." "Nothing will cure him." "Feel his pulse."

"Stop," said a firm voice — "stop! What has occurred? Can I be of any help? I am a physician."

"A man drowned," cried several voices.

"My name is Doctor Crabbe. Dear me, poor young gentleman. Take him up to the tavern."

We got to the Mariner's Arms. At Crabbe's request I was stripped and laid in the best bed. The news of the accident seemed to have spread, for there was a crowd in the street. Tom insisted that everybody except a dozen of the more respectable of the townspeople should leave the room.

"Shall I bring brandy?" said the landlady.

"Yes, and towels — but the brandy first."

"Why, he's drinking it," said the landlady, as she put the glass to my lips.

"A reflex, automatic action," said Tom. "My good woman, any corpse will drink brandy if you give it some. Stand aside and we will try Marshall Hill's treatment."

After a quick examination Tom started pushing me about in a very rough manner.

"It's hopeless," he said at last, stopping and covering my head with the bedclothes. "Send for the police!" and he walked towards the door. There he hesitated. A thought seemed to strike him, and he turned back. "There is yet a possible hope," he said, "we have not tried electricity. I am doubtful, though, that the treatment should help." He sent a boy to the nearest chemist's to fetch a galvanic battery.

"Now, gentlemen," said Tom, "I believe I may say that I am the first practitioner¹⁰ in Great Britain who has used electricity for this purpose. I warn you that I have seen it produce surprising effect: it may again in this case."

It certainly did. Tom always said that it was an accident, but, as it was, he sent the strongest current through my body adding greatly to my suffering. I gave one loud cry and jumped out of bed right into the middle of the room.

"You idiot!" I shouted shaking my fist in Tom's face.

Tom's usual presence of mind saved the situation. "A miracle!" he cried, "send for a cab. Poor fellow," Tom continued, "he's alive, but he has developed some dangerous symptoms. Now help me lead him to the cab. If any of you have any information to give which might throw light on this case my address is 81 George Street. Remember, Doctor Crabbe, 81 George Street."

I could not stay in Brisport long for I got a telegram from my prin­cipal demanding that I should return immediately. I waited long enough to get an early copy of the Brisport Chronicle. A column and a half was about Dr. Crabbe and the extraordinary effects of electricity upon a drowned man.

As to the financial success of our little experiment I can only judge from the following letter from Tom Crabbe:

Dear Jack,

You want to know how all goes in Brisport, I suppose. Well, I'll tell you. I've never had a day since our little joke without half a dozen new names on the list. Just let me know when you are going to set up, and I'll manage to run down, old man, and give you a good start in business.

Good-bye. Love from Missus.¹¹

Ever yours,

Thomas Waterhouse Crabbe,

M.B.¹² Edin.¹³

81 George Street,

Brisport.

NOTES

1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859—1930, British physician, novel­ist, and detective story-writer, born in Edinburgh. Best known for his detective stories about the fictional character of Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street, London, and his friend Dr. Watson, as The Sign of the Four (1889), Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1891), The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), Return of Sherlock Holmes (1904).

2. degree: in a university it is a title to one who has finished a course of studies and passed an examination.

3. good men: good doctors

4. Yet they make a pound to my shilling: while I make a shilling, they make a pound each.

5. get up: organise, arrange

6. fairly: it is mainly used with 'favourable' adjectives and ad­verbs (e.g. good, nice, bravely, well, etc.) while rather is used in this sense either before 'unfavourable' adjectives or adverbs (e.g. bad, sil­ly, ugly, poor, etc.) or before 'neutral' ones to which it will add a nega­tive meaning. E.g. 1. You seem to have done fairly well in your exam, but your friend did rather badly. 2. It was rather warm in the room (meaning "too" warm for one's comfort).

7. Jolly Mariner's Arms: the name of a tavern which was also an inn

8. aye int. yes

9. he's gone: he's dead

10. practitioner: a general practitioner, a doctor; амбулаторный врач

11. Missus: a familiar way of speaking of one's wife

12. M.B.: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor being the first univer­sity degree

13. Edin.: Edinburgh, here — University of Edinburgh.

VOCABULARY

practice n 1. практика, действие, применение You must have more practice if you want to speak a foreign language well. They wanted to see the machine in practice. Phr. put smth (a plan, a new method, etc.) into practice применить на практике, осуществить (план, новый метод и т.п.); be out of practice не иметь практики, потерять навык „2. клиентура (врача, юриста) Dr. Brown had a large practice, practise vtlui 1. тренироваться; применять You should practise a lot to be a good figure-skater,, to practise a new method in one's work, etc. 2. зани­маться медициной (правом и т.п.) to practise medicine (law, etc.)

act vt 1. действовать; поступать, вести себя We must act at once. He acted like a hero. Phr. act as работать в качестве (кого-л) Не acted as (a) guide during the trip. 2. играть (на сцене) Who acted the main part in the play? action n действие, поступок The time for action came. We should judge a man by his actions not by his talk. Phr. take ac-tion(s) принимать меры

sight n 1. зрение; взгляд; поле зрения Не has good (poor, bad, etc.) sight. Phr. at first sight с первого взгляда; at the sight of при виде (кого-л, чего-л); catch sight of увидеть; заметить; lose sight of потерять из виду; short-sighted а близорукий; long-sighted а дальнозор­кий 2. вид, зрелище a beautiful (poor, ugly, etc.) sight; sights n до­стопримечательности Phr. go sightseeing осматривать достопримеча­тельности

complain vt/vi выражать недовольство; жаловаться to complain of a headache, (pains in the stomach, etc.); to complain to smb about/of difficulties (hard work, late delivery of the goods, etc.); The work was hard but he never complained, complaint n недовольство; жалоба Phr. make a complaint against smb подать на кого-л жалобу

intend vt намереваться What do you intend to do about it? inten­tion n намерение Не had no intention(s) of changing his plans.

inquire (enquire) vt спрашивать, узнавать; осведомляться, запрашивать to inquire the way (smb's name, smb's address, etc.) of smb; He inquired what our intentions were. to inquire after (about) smb (smb's health, etc.); to inquire for information (facts, details, etc.) Phr. inquire into (the matter, etc.) исследовать, выяснять, разобрать­ся; inquiry n запрос; наведение справок; расследование Phr. make inquiries (about smb/smth from smb) наводить справки (о ком-л/чем-л у кого-л)

terms n 1. условия What are the terms of the contract? The firm was prepared to buy the goods on the terms offered by the sellers. Phr. make terms ставить условия 2. личные отношения to be on good' (friendly, speaking, etc.) terms with smb

hire vt нанимать; снимать; брать напрокат to hire a car (a hall, a boat, a servant, etc.); hire n наем, прокат The garage has cars for hire.

opposite а противоположный, обратный the opposite side (point of view, direction, etc.); He went in the opposite direction, opposite adv/prep напротив, против Не took a seat opposite (to) me.

direct vt руководить, управлять; направлять to direct business (work, people, etc.); to direct one's efforts (attention, steps, remark, etc.) to; Can you direct me to the station? The ship was directed to another port. direction n направление Phr. in the direction of по на­правлению к (чему-л)

sign n 1. знак; признак, примета Не gave'them a sign to leave. A dark cloud is a sign of rain. 2. вывеска (на магазине, гостинице и т.п.) What does the sign read?

pain n боль Не felt (a) sharp pain in the arm. painful а причиняю­щий боль, мучительный, болезненный, трудный a painful operation (moment, sight, etc.); painless а безболезненный

cure vt вылечивать, исцелять to cure smb of a disease (a bad habit, etc.); cure n 1. излечение The treatment guarantees an effective cure of the disease. 2. средство, лекарство What is the best cure for a cold? (in)curable а (не)излечимый

request n просьба to do smth at smb's request; Phr. meet smb's request удовлетворить чыо-л просьбу; request vt просить to request smb to do smth

spread (spread) vt/vi распространяться); разносить(ся) to spread knowledge (information, ideas, disease, panic, etc.) The news of his arrival spread quickly over the place.

insist vi настаивать, утверждать Don't agree unless he insists. She insisted that she was right. He insisted that the work should be done immediately, to insist on smth (doing smth); insistence (insistency) n настойчивость; insistent а настойчивый an insistent demand (request, etc.)

respect n уважение; почтение to have (show) respect for smb; He was treated with respect, respect vt уважать to respect a person (one­self, the law,-smb's wishes, smb's interests, etc.); respectable а респектабельный, почтенный, представительйый.а -respectable person (name, district, etc.); respectability n респектабельность, почтенность

treat vt лечить Do you know how to treat a cold? to treat smb for an illness (a disease) with medicine (pills, etc.); treatment n лечение Phr. take a course of treatment (for smth) пройти курс лечения

rough a 1. грубый, жесткий, грубоватый a rough towel (road, voice, manner, reply, etc.) 2. бурный, резкий a rough sea (wind, etc.) 3. чер­новой (вариант) a rough copy (translation, etc.)

hesitate vi колебаться, медлить, быть в нерешительности to hesi­tate with one's answer (about one's choice, etc.) He did not hesitate to tell the truth. They hesitated whether to go there or not. hesitation n колебание, нерешительность She stopped in hesitation. He answered without hesitation.

purpose n намерение, цель What was the purpose of his visit? They came here with a definite purpose. A special commission was set up for the purpose of inquiring into the matter. Phr. on purpose нарочно, намеренно Не said it on purpose.

case n 1. случай, обстоятельство In what case would you say "How do you do"? Phr. in any case во всяком (любом) случае in no case ни в коем случае 2. случай в практике (медицинской, судебной и т.п.)

suffer vi і страдать to suffer from headaches (rheumatism, etc.) She suffered greatly. Phr. suffer losses понести потери, убытки; suffering n страдание

develop vt развивать to develop science (industry, trade; an idea, etc.); to develop symptoms (a cough, etc.) развиваться (о симптомах и т.п.), начаться (о кашле и т.п.); development n развитие, событие the development of industry (events, etc.); an unexpected (unforeseen, new, etc.) development

demand vt требовать to demand an answer (an explanation, etc.) He demanded to be told the truth. They demanded that immediate ac­tion should be taken, demand n требование; спрос These goods are in great demand. There is a great demand for these goods. Phr. meet (satisfy) demand(s) удовлетворять спрос, требования

success n успех, удача His success was the result of hard work. Phr. be a success иметь успех, пользоваться успехом The play was a great success. He is a great success as an actor, (un)successful а (не)успешный, (не)удачный; (не)преуспевающий; succeed vi достигать цели; иметь успех, преуспевать If you try hard you will succeed, to succeed in one's work (attempts, etc.) He finally succeeded in getting what he was after.

judge vt судить, давать оценку; полагать It was difficult to judge which of them was right. You should not judge a person by his appear­ance. He is too young to judge about such things, judge n ценитель, знаток; судья (также юр.) Не is a good judge of painting (flowers, horses, etc.) Phr. judging from (by) (smb's words, smb's behaviour, etc.) судя (по словам, поведению и т.п.); judgement n оценка, реше­ние, суждение Не was wrong in his judgement.

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