Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

840

PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

knowledge of French, and to obtain it I must go to Paris. I was
too poor in pocket to take this advice seriously, however. Another story the doctor told about the Colonel. I had been living
in the Saginaw Valley, and the doctor was asking me about the
drinking water there. He remarked that he and the Colonel were
visiting Saginaw and the Colonel early in the morning took a
drink from the water pitcher instead of his pocket flask. The
doctor looked at him in astonishment and said, "Colonel, it is not
dangerous to drink that water full of germs of disease?" The
Colonel promptly replied that he could drink enough whiskey
before night to drown or kill all the germs. The doctor wanted
to impress on me the fact that alcohol was a great germicide, but I
have found that you must use it on germs outside the body to be
effectual.
Dr. Leasia was a Frenchman, the only son in a large family,
a graduate of Oberlin College, who came to Williamston after
graduation, married and built up a large practice in pioneer days.
He had the happy faculty of adapting himself and his language
to all classes of society. Ile was original in expressing himself and
possessed a satire characteristic of the French people. He hated
an inquisitive person and his replies to their questions were
original. A patient of his in Leroy Township was sick with pneumonia. On a visit he was questioned by the neighborhood gossip
and the following conversation took place: "Doctor, that man is
awful sick." "Yes," the doctor replied. "Do you think you
can pull him through?" "Hope so," the doctor answered.
'<Well, if you do it will be a feather in your cap." "Feather,
feather," the doctor repeated, then, looking the woman in the
eye, he said, "Madam, I want you to understand I am doctoring
this man for cash not feathers. Good night." He was a great
stickler for politeness, and none of his rough acquaintances dared
to take liberties with him, a fact of which I was witness on one
occasion. A slightly intoxicated person came by, locked arms
with the doctor, who was standing in front of his office, and said,
"Doctor, come with me to the hotel and have some supper."
The doctor gave him a stern look as he said, "I always eat my
supper at home. If I should be seen eating with you I would be
under obligations to ask you to dine with me, and that I will
never do."