It seems like we could all use a laugh during these stressful times. I ran across this local story when I was doing some research. It was something I had to share — the story of a problem patient in Spring Hope.
Note: I don’t know how long Dr. Lewis practiced, but he definitely worked in the 1880s.
“Dr. George W. Lewis of Spring Hope had a lady patient who took to her bed and said she could not walk. Dr. Lewis could find no medical reason for her not being able to walk.
Later, her husband went to Dr. Lewis and told him he was desperate. He needed his wife to help him with his crops, cook the meals, and clean the house. Dr. Lewis told him there was one more thing he could try.
He went to the home and instructed the lady to stand up, which she said she couldn’t do.
With that, he took off his coat and vest and started pulling off his suspenders. The lady asked him what he was going to do, and he replied, “If you will not get up, there is not but one thing for me to do. Get in bed with you!”
The lady jumped up and ran out into the field to tell her husband what Dr. Lewis had done. He told her that he would take care of Dr. Lewis.
He went into Spring Hope and asked Dr. Lewis, “Doc, how much do I owe you?”
Source: The Connector, Vol 1, #4, Fall 1997
AsI hope you noticed, this is an ancestor of mine who lived on the Lewis property on Ridge Road. My full name is George William ( Bill) Lewis, Jr. and my Father was named after him. This story has passed down through our family, but we take no credit for his ‘remedies’.
That makes this story even better. Explains a lot, actually! Thanks for letting me know.
Wonderful. Thanks for the chuckle, Michael!
Thanks, Charles. There are so many jewels in the Rocky Mount library’s genealogy room that need to see the light of day.