The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes Part 17

But Art's brief memory fails the hand at last; Then SCIENCE lifts the flambeau of the past.

When both their equal impotence deplore, When Learning sighs, and Skill can do no more, The tear of FRIENDSHIP pours its heavenly balm, And soothes the pang no anodyne may calm May 1, 1855.

RIP VAN WINKLE, M. D.

AN AFTER-DINNER PRESCRIPTION TAKEN BY THE Ma.s.sACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY, AT THEIR MEETING HELD MAY 25, 1870

CANTO FIRST

OLD Rip Van Winkle had a grandson, Rip, Of the paternal block a genuine chip,-- A lazy, sleepy, curious kind of chap; He, like his grandsire, took a mighty nap, Whereof the story I propose to tell In two brief cantos, if you listen well.

The times were hard when Rip to manhood grew; They always will be when there's work to do.

He tried at farming,--found it rather slow,-- And then at teaching--what he did n't know; Then took to hanging round the tavern bars, To frequent toddies and long-nine cigars, Till Dame Van Winkle, out of patience, vexed With preaching homilies, having for their text A mop, a broomstick, aught that might avail To point a moral or adorn a tale, Exclaimed, "I have it! Now, then, Mr. V.

He's good for something,--make him an M. D.!"

The die was cast; the youngster was content; They packed his shirts and stockings, and he went.

How hard he studied it were vain to tell; He drowsed through Wistar, nodded over Bell, Slept sound with Cooper, snored aloud on Good; Heard heaps of lectures,--doubtless understood,-- A constant listener, for he did not fail To carve his name on every bench and rail.

Months grew to years; at last he counted three, And Rip Van Winkle found himself M. D.

Ill.u.s.trious t.i.tle! in a gilded frame He set the sheepskin with his Latin name, RIPUM VAN WINKLUM, QUEM we--SCIMUS--know IDONEUM ESSE--to do so and so.

He hired an office; soon its walls displayed His new diploma and his stock in trade, A mighty a.r.s.enal to subdue disease, Of various names, whereof I mention these Lancets and bougies, great and little squirt, Rhubarb and Senna, Snakeroot, Thoroughwort, Ant. Tart., Vin. Colch., Pil. Cochiae, and Black Drop, Tinctures of Opium, Gentian, Henbane, Hop, Pulv. Ipecacuanhae, which for lack Of breath to utter men call Ipecac, Camphor and Kino, Turpentine, Tolu, Cubebs, "Copeevy," Vitriol,--white and blue,-- Fennel and Flaxseed, Slippery Elm and Squill, And roots of Sa.s.safras, and "Sa.s.saf'rill,"

Brandy,--for colics,--Pinkroot, death on worms,-- Valerian, calmer of hysteric squirms, Musk, a.s.safoetida, the resinous gum Named from its odor,--well, it does smell some,-- Jalap, that works not wisely, but too well, Ten pounds of Bark and six of Calomel.

For outward griefs he had an ample store, Some twenty jars and gallipots, or more: _Ceratum simplex_--housewives oft compile The same at home, and call it "wax and ile;"

_Unguentum resinosum_--change its name, The "drawing salve" of many an ancient dame; _Argenti Nitras_, also Spanish flies, Whose virtue makes the water-bladders rise-- (Some say that spread upon a toper's skin They draw no water, only rum or gin); Leeches, sweet vermin! don't they charm the sick?

And Sticking-plaster--how it hates to stick _Emplastrum Ferri_--ditto _Picis_, Pitch; Washes and Powders, Brimstone for the--which, _Scabies_ or _Psora_, is thy chosen name Since Hahnemann's goose-quill scratched thee into fame, Proved thee the source of every nameless ill, Whose sole specific is a moonshine pill, Till saucy Science, with a quiet grin, Held up the Acarus, crawling on a pin?

--Mountains have labored and have brought forth mice The Dutchman's theory hatched a brood of--twice I've well-nigh said them--words unfitting quite For these fair precincts and for ears polite.

The surest foot may chance at last to slip, And so at length it proved with Doctor Rip.

One full-sized bottle stood upon the shelf, Which held the medicine that he took himself; Whate'er the reason, it must be confessed He filled that bottle oftener than the rest; What drug it held I don't presume to know-- The gilded label said "Elixir Pro."

One day the Doctor found the bottle full, And, being thirsty, took a vigorous pull, Put back the "Elixir" where 't was always found, And had old Dobbin saddled and brought round.

--You know those old-time rhubarb-colored nags That carried Doctors and their saddle-bags; Sagacious beasts! they stopped at every place Where blinds were shut--knew every patient's case-- Looked up and thought--The baby's in a fit-- That won't last long--he'll soon be through with it; But shook their heads before the knockered door Where some old lady told the story o'er Whose endless stream of tribulation flows For gastric griefs and peristaltic woes.

What jack-o'-lantern led him from his way, And where it led him, it were hard to say; Enough that wandering many a weary mile Through paths the mountain sheep trod single file, O'ercome by feelings such as patients know Who dose too freely with "Elixir Pro.,"

He tumbl--dismounted, slightly in a heap, And lay, promiscuous, lapped in balmy sleep.

Night followed night, and day succeeded day, But snoring still the slumbering Doctor lay.

Poor Dobbin, starving, thought upon his stall, And straggled homeward, saddle-bags and all.

The village people hunted all around, But Rip was missing,--never could be found.

"Drownded," they guessed;--for more than half a year The pouts and eels did taste uncommon queer; Some said of apple-brandy--other some Found a strong flavor of New England rum.

Why can't a fellow hear the fine things said About a fellow when a fellow's dead?

The best of doctors--so the press declared-- A public blessing while his life was spared, True to his country, bounteous to the poor, In all things temperate, sober, just, and pure; The best of husbands! echoed Mrs. Van, And set her cap to catch another man.

So ends this Canto--if it's quantum suff., We'll just stop here and say we've had enough, And leave poor Rip to sleep for thirty years; I grind the organ--if you lend your ears To hear my second Canto, after that We 'll send around the monkey with the hat.

CANTO SECOND

So thirty years had pa.s.sed--but not a word In all that time of Rip was ever heard; The world wagged on--it never does go back-- The widow Van was now the widow Mac---- France was an Empire--Andrew J. was dead, And Abraham L. was reigning in his stead.

Four murderous years had pa.s.sed in savage strife, Yet still the rebel held his b.l.o.o.d.y knife.

--At last one morning--who forgets the day When the black cloud of war dissolved away The joyous tidings spread o'er land and sea, Rebellion done for! Grant has captured Lee!

Up every flagstaff sprang the Stars and Stripes-- Out rushed the Extras wild with mammoth types-- Down went the laborer's hod, the school-boy's book-- "Hooraw!" he cried, "the rebel army's took!"

Ah! what a time! the folks all mad with joy Each fond, pale mother thinking of her boy; Old gray-haired fathers meeting--"Have--you--heard?"

And then a choke--and not another word; Sisters all smiling--maidens, not less dear, In trembling poise between a smile and tear; Poor Bridget thinking how she 'll stuff the plums In that big cake for Johnny when he comes; Cripples afoot; rheumatics on the jump; Old girls so loving they could hug the pump; Guns going bang! from every fort and ship; They banged so loud at last they wakened Rip.

I spare the picture, how a man appears Who's been asleep a score or two of years; You all have seen it to perfection done By Joe Van Wink--I mean Rip Jefferson.

Well, so it was; old Rip at last came back, Claimed his old wife--the present widow Mac---- Had his old sign regilded, and began To practise physic on the same old plan.

Some weeks went by--it was not long to wait-- And "please to call" grew frequent on the slate.

He had, in fact, an ancient, mildewed air, A long gray beard, a plenteous lack of hair,-- The musty look that always recommends Your good old Doctor to his ailing friends.

--Talk of your science! after all is said There's nothing like a bare and shiny head; Age lends the graces that are sure to please; Folks want their Doctors mouldy, like their cheese.

So Rip began to look at people's tongues And thump their briskets (called it "sound their lungs"), Brushed up his knowledge smartly as he could, Read in old Cullen and in Doctor Good.

The town was healthy; for a month or two He gave the s.e.xton little work to do.

About the time when dog-day heats begin, The summer's usual maladies set in; With autumn evenings dysentery came, And dusky typhoid lit his smouldering flame; The blacksmith ailed, the carpenter was down, And half the children sickened in the town.

The s.e.xton's face grew shorter than before-- The s.e.xton's wife a brand-new bonnet wore-- Things looked quite serious--Death had got a grip On old and young, in spite of Doctor Rip.

And now the Squire was taken with a chill-- Wife gave "hot-drops"--at night an Indian pill; Next morning, feverish--bedtime, getting worse-- Out of his head--began to rave and curse; The Doctor sent for--double quick he came _Ant. Tart. gran. duo_, and repeat the same If no et cetera. Third day--nothing new; Percussed his thorax till 't was black and blue-- Lung-fever threatening--something of the sort-- Out with the lancet--let him bleed--a quart-- Ten leeches next--then blisters to his side; Ten grains of calomel; just then he died.

The Deacon next required the Doctor's care-- Took cold by sitting in a draught of air-- Pains in the back, but what the matter is Not quite so clear,--wife calls it "rheumatiz."

Rubs back with flannel--gives him something hot-- "Ah!" says the Deacon, "that goes nigh the spot."

Next day a rigor--"Run, my little man, And say the Deacon sends for Doctor Van."

The Doctor came--percussion as before, Thumping and banging till his ribs were sore-- "Right side the flattest"--then more vigorous raps-- "Fever--that's certain--pleurisy, perhaps.

A quart of blood will ease the pain, no doubt, Ten leeches next will help to suck it out, Then clap a blister on the painful part-- But first two grains of _Antimonium Tart_.

Last with a dose of cleansing calomel Unload the portal system--(that sounds well!)"

But when the selfsame remedies were tried, As all the village knew, the Squire had died;

The neighbors hinted. "This will never do; He's killed the Squire--he'll kill the Deacon too."

Now when a doctor's patients are perplexed, A consultation comes in order next-- You know what that is? In a certain place Meet certain doctors to discuss a case And other matters, such as weather, crops, Potatoes, pumpkins, lager-beer, and hops.

For what's the use?--there 's little to be said, Nine times in ten your man's as good as dead; At best a talk (the secret to disclose) Where three men guess and sometimes one man knows.

The counsel summoned came without delay-- Young Doctor Green and shrewd old Doctor Gray-- They heard the story--"Bleed!" says Doctor Green, "That's downright murder! cut his throat, you mean Leeches! the reptiles! Why, for pity's sake, Not try an adder or a rattlesnake?

Blisters! Why bless you, they 're against the law-- It's rank a.s.sault and battery if they draw Tartrate of Antimony! shade of Luke, Stomachs turn pale at thought of such rebuke!

The portal system! What's the man about?

Unload your nonsense! Calomel's played out!

You've been asleep--you'd better sleep away Till some one calls you."

"Stop!" says Doctor Gray-- "The story is you slept for thirty years; With brother Green, I own that it appears You must have slumbered most amazing sound; But sleep once more till thirty years come round, You'll find the lancet in its honored place, Leeches and blisters rescued from disgrace, Your drugs redeemed from fashion's pa.s.sing scorn, And counted safe to give to babes unborn."

Poor sleepy Rip, M. M. S. S., M. D., A puzzled, serious, saddened man was he; Home from the Deacon's house he plodded slow And filled one b.u.mper of "Elixir Pro."