The New Doctor

A young doctor had moved out to a small community to replace a doctor

who was retiring. The older gent suggested the young one accompany him

on his rounds so the community could become used to a new doctor.

At the first house a woman complained, "I've been a little sick to my

stomach." The older doctor said, "Well, you've probably been overdoing

the fresh fruit. Why not cut back on the amount you've been eating and

see if that does the trick?"

As they left the younger man said, "You didn't even examine that woman.

How'd you come to your diagnosis so quickly?"

"I didn't have to. You noticed I dropped my stethoscope on the floor in

there? When I bent over to pick it up, I noticed a half dozen banana

peels in the trash. That was what was probably making her sick."

"Huh," the younger doctor said, "Pretty sneaky. I think I'll try that at

the next house."

Arriving at the next house, they spent several minutes talking with an

elderly woman. She complained that she just didn't have the energy she

once did. "I'm feeling terribly run down lately."

"You've probably been doing too much work for the church," the younger

doctor told her. "Perhaps you should cut back a bit and see if that

helps."

As they left, the elder doc said, "Your diagnosis is almost certainly

correct, but how did you arrive at it?"

"Well, just like you at the last house, I dropped my stethoscope. When I

bent down to retrieve it, I noticed the preacher under the bed."