A COUGHING BABY, AN ANXIOUS MOTHER, AND THE TELEPHONE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3506, 20 March 1880, Page 1

A COUGHING BABY, AN ANXIOUS MOTHER, AND THE TELEPHONE.

Chicago has taken to the telephone with enthusiasm. On the loth October the ' Central Telephone Office in that * City numbered over 2000 regular subscribers to its elaborate system of communications, which are utilised by business and professional men at all hours of the day and night. Intercourse is freely carried on between physicians and their patients, -with respect to medical treat- , ment, symptoms, and so forth, and the Electrician narrates an incident of recent occurrence, aptly illustrating the practical advantages thnt may be derived from pressing the telephone into tho service of the sick room. A young lady, only the other night, telephoned to her mother-in-law, at a late hour, to the effect that , 'baby was coughing diphtheritically, and that she did not know what to do.' : The elder lady at once telephoned on to her family doctor, through the Central Office asking his advice, and received answer forthwith, requesting her to place hint in direct communication with the mother of the child by connecting the wires between his consulting room and her daughter's house. This done he telephoned to

the anxious mamma, 'When the next fit of coughing commences, let the child cough into the instrument.' His instructions having been punctually complied with, he transmitted the following reassuring message by electric word of mouth: • There is no need that I should come on to you at once. Your child is only attacked by ordinary catarrh, which has nothing whatever in common with diptheria.' The whole transaction was completed under the half-hour, and all parties concerned in it, except the baby, were enabled to pass a quiet night through the timely ministrations of the wonder-working fluid.