Country Doctor

by Ora Moss Morgan

 

My father, Dr. R.I. Bromley, was a typical country doctor. When he came to Sonora in 1887 the big gold boom was over. Thee was still a lot of mining but most of it was done by companies and it was deep mining requiring lots of money.

The Country wasn't lawless, yet my dad carried a small pistol on his lap when he went on out-of-town calls. One time he was on a late call near Chinese Camp. He was going along a creek where on each side of the road there were thick willows. Hamlet, his horse, was going slowly and my dad was relaxed almost drowsy. Suddenly  man stepped out of the bushes. Instantly my dad became alert and reached for his pistol. When the man saw the pistol, I guess he thought it best to waylay an unarmed person so he went back into the bushes.

We had one of the first telephones in town. It seemed to be ringing day and night. Dad very rarely would have Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner with us.

Up until I was about 8 years old dad relied on Hamlet to get him places in the buggy. Hamlet was a big stallion. He was kept in Pickles stables about a block away. Pickles Stables was on the side of the creek where Coffills Park is now. The horses were kept in stalls on the lower level. There was an inclined ramp going to the upper story where the buggies, carriages, and tack were kept. Someone would drive the buggies up to the big granite stepping stone by the sidewalk in front of our home and dad would get in and be on his way.

Sometimes when I was with my Dad in the buggy on some of his calls, comfortably seated beside him, he would begin to sing and I would join him. We were accompanied by the clump, clump of Hamlet's hooves.

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true

I'm half crazy over the love of you

It won't be a stylish marriage

For I can't afford a carriage

But you'll look sweet upon the seat

Of a bicycle built for two."

Neither of us could sing very well. Mother said Dad couldn't carry a tune. She had a nice alto voice. But we enjoyed ourselves and I think Hamlet did too. 

If it was a very cold Winter night mother would put a firebrick in the kitchen stove. When it was red hot she would put it in a little tin drawer that fit into an oblong box that was covered with carpet. Dad put this under his feet and then a big lap robe over his knees. He was ready for the long ride to Tuolumne of wherever he had to go. Sometimes when it had been raining the streams were swollen. Lots of the creeks had no bridges. Hamlet, if the water was high, would swim across. Dad had to put his feet up on the dashboard when the water came into he buggy.

When a women was having a baby, especially out in the country, he would stay by her as long as it took. If the birth was in the hospital the mother usually stayed 10 days. The price was $50.00 including prenatal care.

Office visits in those days were $2.00 and a house call $5.00. Bemis, my friend, had an appendicitis operation and stayed in the hospital then days for $5.00 a day.

Dr. Bromley was no businessman. He seldom kept books. Those who were honest paid him in one way or another.