No Instant Remedy

Baldyanath was a well-known physician. He was highly popular because his diagnoses were accurate, and his medicines were effective. He often engaged young assistants who watched him treat patients and learned from his methods. Through these interactions, they gained valuable knowledge about medicine and care.

Jagdish was one such student. Eager to learn, he took meticulous notes of Baidyanath’s instructions and prescriptions. One day, Baidyanath remarked, “There are certain ailments for which there are no known medicines. For instance, hiccups. The only way to stop them is with a good slap on the cheek; the shock will make them cease.”

A day or two later, a horse-drawn cart pulled up outside the physician’s house, and a stout gentleman rushed in, exclaiming, “Hiccup! Non-stop! Do you have any medicine?” While Baidyanath was busy preparing a remedy, Jagdish, without waiting for his teacher’s guidance, struck the man on the cheek. “The hiccup will stop in no time,” he explained confidently.

“I don’t have hiccups! My brother in the cart does, and he needs help!” cried the man, rubbing his cheek. After Baidyanath attended to the real patient, he turned to Jagdish and advised, “No treatment should be done in a hurry. Always assess the situation before acting.”