Reflections of a Medical Examiner, Pro Tem

1947

Dr. Claire G. Cayward - Medical Examiner

Transcription

REFLECTIONS OF A MEDICAL EXAMINER - PRO TEM

When winter storms were blowing cold In fierce and rugged fashion 
Good Dr. Morse peered at the sky 
With deep and fervid passion.

I think, said he, I'll hurry fast 
And all my work perform 
Because it really looks to me 
As if we'd have a storm."

"My feet are sore, my back, it aches,
It surely is the season 
I must go from here but fast, 
To salvage any reason."

So, he at once began to pack 
And make ready for the trip 
Said he, "I'll pack a trunk and bag 
And leave my friends the grippe"

But ere he packed, he mused aloud, 
"A problem I've to boot 
I am the medical examiner 
And I need a substitute."

An angler born, he dangled the bait, With one thought alone pre-empting And when he called to ask me 
The lure was very tempting.

With calm and cool assurance 
As always was his habit 
He lead me on and midst my drools, 
He allowed me to grab it.

And now I was the medical examiner. The thought was not distracting 
For in two weeks not much could happen 
To force me into acting.

But as too often is the case, 
When one is given to boast 
I fell into deep complacence 
And reckoned without my host.

And before Doc Morse had left his home, 
A call from Deering came 
A man, depressed, had used his gun And now he was dead game.

I made the trip, it took all day,
'Twas on my book unslated 
It surely could not happen twice, 
I could not be so fated.

But very soon I had a call, 
The Chief of Hillsboro said,
 "A recluse from their wooded part,
 Was found cold dead in bed."

I dared not look around me, 
The phone had been so busy 
With calls here and calls there, 
It left me all quite dizzy.

But off I went and made the trip, 
Snowed under by work incompleted 
Returned with chains worn and temper flaring 
And stomach quite dépleted.

So, now I've pondered o'er it all 
And say to Morse and Gov. Dale 
"You may take the medical examiner's job And shove it up your tail."

With apologies to Edgar A. Guest

"After reading this the only comment made by my wife was an expression of regret that ex-governor Bass is not the present incumbent."

CAC 1947

James Roger diary entry

February 28, 1909 (Friday)

Hard frost – fine bright day wind north to west.  David at Mason with Dill Hudson for wood – home at 4 pm and Jim and him brought home a load of wood.  Shelled some corn in afternoon.  Grange Committee washing up in afternoon at Grange last night.  There was 40 present 9 strangers.  Discussion on Town Warrant during the evening.  Brown and Bros. took away the cow today.

February 29th 1909 (Saturday) - Leap Year

Hard frost (24 degrees) David at Mason for wood for Walker.  I cleaned Hall for Finn dance. And swept Church and vestibules also lit furnace.  Got letter from Alice also P,C, from Hamish.