Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/117

 DAVID T. PARKER, M. D.

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��ing a vision of health and a sound of life in his cheery tones ; or, if it must be a decision of doom, a word of sympathy and even a starting tear, since, like other men of choleric, im- petuous temperament, he no sooner sees a trouble than he longs to alleviate it, even though it be for the most bitter enemy, and a hasty word from him is oftener than not followed as hastily by a kindness.

The family doctor, as well as the minister, is often called upon for counsel in all sorts of matters outside his particular province, and probably no physician in the state has been asked more advice in extraneous things than has the subject of this paper.

Sympathetic in the extreme, and interested in the welfare of the body politic as well as corporal, many a farm has been bought and sold advan- tageously, many a choice bit of land has been improved, homes have been preserved, and bequests turned with a word of sensible advice into their legitimate channels, through the friendly influence of Dr. Parker.

With regard to his success as a prac- tising physician, it may be enough to say that families who employed him forty-five years ago employ him to-day ; but, while all detail of medical prac- tice is like the relation of lawyer and client, priest and penitent, it is proper to say that Dr. Farker is indebted not only to his solid attainments of knowl- edge, but also to his marvelously mag- netic and intuitive nature. It is to men of his temperament that we in- stinctively look for aid, and from whom we expect success.

There are one or two peculiarities in his experience which are interesting to the student of cause and effect, and which I hope he will allow me to mention, even though his dislike of any reference to them is well-known.

A few miles from Farmington there is a family certain members of which, on receiving any slight cut, bleed pro- fusely and dangerously ; it is only sons of daughters of this race who are thus troubled, which fact of itself

��is a puzzle for the psychological mind ; the hemorrhage always ceases as soon as the messenger sent reaches Dr. Parker with his intelligence. It is natural, in this state of affairs, that to the family in question his life is pre- cious. Another curiosity is that many a broken bone has forgotten to give pain to its unfortunate owner at the instant this out and out allopathic, humbug-hating old doctor has received news of the accident, and call for his aid. When questioned as to this strange power, he has very little to say farther than that he does not under- stand it, and that every time he does such a thing he thinks he will never do it again. Dr. Parker has contributed many additions to the Materia Medica, and has been sought from far and near as an expert in cases of small-pox, which horrible disease has never yet laid hold on him, but of which, by means of reme- dies prepared as a result of long experi- ence and of deep study, he has for the last ten years felt himself to be master, provided he sees the case in any sort of season. He is naturally inclined to keep the formula of this prepara- tion with jealous care.

He has been for many years a mem- ber of the American Medical Associa- tion, and belongs to several other socie- ties. In i860 he was chosen Presi- dent of the Strafford District Medical Society, and in 1872 was made Presi- dent of the New Hampshire Medical Society.

He has been an Odd Fellow ever since the institution of that order, and has received the succeeding official positions in the gift of his Lodge. He became a Free Mason in 1850, and after officiating in numerous positions as he passed upward, he rests content in the Council, and Commandery of Knights Templar. In politics Dr. Parker is strictly Republican, and in i864-'65, was chosen to represent his town by forty votes over the general ticket, which was largely Democratic. While serving as representative he was appointed by Hon. William E. Chandler, then Speaker of the House,

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