This book contains my reflections upon my 26 years as an "old time" generalist family physician in rural America. It is merely a collection of stories that depict some of my many experiences over the years. The stories mirror those of many of my generalist colleagues who have experienced "the trenches" of rural primary care. My stories span the breadth and depth of the discipline of rural family medicine. Stories range from assisting mothers giving birth to caring for and comforting those at the end of life, from performing surgery to becoming involved in one's community, and from making house calls to providing emergency room care. Some are silly, some are sad, some are funny, and some may make you mad. JIMMIE ASHCRAFT, M.D. Doctor Ashcraft is a graduate of the University of Oregon Medical School. He was a member of the clinical staff of the University of Washington Medical School for 30 years. Doctor Ashcraft and his wife, Kay, live in Montana. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a country doctor in solo practice in the decade of the seventies-making house calls, delivering babies, comforting the dying, offering hope to the hopeless, meeting delightful and sometimes eccentric patients, and working sixty to eighty hours per week, often exhausted and in need of rest? If so, follow me as I work in a small town office and make hospital rounds in rural Indiana as a family physician. You're unlikely to forget the experiences or regret the sharing.

A sketch of Robert B. Pusey of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Follow the country doctor's advice to discover dozens of simple, down-home ways to prevent and treat everyday health problems. Save money by using salt water, herbs, and easy lifestyle adjustments, rather than unnatural chemicals, for common ailments. Find out why meat tenderizer is a must-have for your summer walks, why oatmeal isn't just for breakfast, and how tennis balls can help you sleep better. Short, easy-to-follow tips reveal the wisdom of the country.

Journal Of The American Medical Association, V85, August 22, 1925.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.