Uncanny Diagnosis

When a young doctor moved to a small community to replace an older doctor who was retiring, the older doctor suggested that the young doctor 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 her house, the younger doctor said, “You didn't even examine that woman. How'd you come to the diagnosis so quickly?” The older doctor smiled knowingly and said, “Well, 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 probably was making her sick.” The younger doctor said, “Huh! That was pretty clever. I think I'll try that at the next house.”

And when they arrived at the next house, they spent several minutes talking with a younger woman who complained, “I just don’t have the amount of energy that I once had. I'm feeling terribly run down lately.” Quickly and enthusiastically, the younger doctor told her, “You've probably been doing too much work for the Church. Perhaps you should cut back a bit and see if that helps.” As they left, the older doctor said, “I know that woman well. Your diagnosis is almost certainly correct, but how did you arrive at it?” And the younger doctor replied, “Well, I did what you did at the last house. I dropped my stethoscope and when I bent down to retrieve it, I noticed the deacon under the bed.”