A pioneer Midlander, Ada Phillips, used to tell a story about a Dr. Edwin Calloway, who first practiced in Midland and surrounding areas in 1897. Her story originally appeared in the book, "The Pioneer History of Midland County (1880-1926):
"Dr. Calloway went to a ranch in Dawson County where the patient was a 9-year-old boy -- the only child of middle-aged parents. When the doctor arrive, it was late at night.
"A small group of men had gathered in one corner of the yard, waiting to be needed. In the kitchen, the women had prepared a vessel of boiling water and a steaming coffee pot. They sat around a table whispering in the dim light provided by a kerosene lamp.
"The doctor walked into the sick room and saw the mother kneeling by the bed, weeping. The father, a giant of a man, watched soberly as the doctor examined his son.
"After the examination, Dr. Calloway closed his medical bag and walked outside, closely followed by the anxious father, who said, 'Doc, is my boy going to live? What can we do for him?'
Dr. Calloway replied solemnly, "All the boy needs is a good whippin'," and with that, got into his buggy and rode off into the darkness.
"Dr. Calloway went to a ranch in Dawson County where the patient was a 9-year-old boy -- the only child of middle-aged parents. When the doctor arrive, it was late at night.
"A small group of men had gathered in one corner of the yard, waiting to be needed. In the kitchen, the women had prepared a vessel of boiling water and a steaming coffee pot. They sat around a table whispering in the dim light provided by a kerosene lamp.
"The doctor walked into the sick room and saw the mother kneeling by the bed, weeping. The father, a giant of a man, watched soberly as the doctor examined his son.
"After the examination, Dr. Calloway closed his medical bag and walked outside, closely followed by the anxious father, who said, 'Doc, is my boy going to live? What can we do for him?'
Dr. Calloway replied solemnly, "All the boy needs is a good whippin'," and with that, got into his buggy and rode off into the darkness.
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