Physicians Two by Ambrose Bierce
Physicians Two by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that follows the journey of two doctors who are tasked with treating a patient who has been poisoned. The story explores themes of medical ethics, morality, and the limits of scientific knowledge. Here is a brief summary of the story: Dr. Brand and Dr. Death are two physicians who are called to treat a patient who has been poisoned with arsenic. Despite their best efforts, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorates, and they soon realize that the poison has reached a critical stage. As they work to save the patient's life, they are faced with difficult ethical decisions and must confront the limits of their medical knowledge. In the end, the doctors are unable to save the patient, and the story raises questions about the nature of medical practice and the role of doctors in society. Through its exploration of these themes, Physicians Two provides a thought-provoking and timely commentary on the challenges of modern medicine.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1876 · Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Stories · 193 words
First lines
A Wicked Old Man finding himself ill sent for a Physician, who prescribed for him and went away. Then the Wicked Old Man sent for another
Physician, saying nothing of the first, and an entirely different treatment was ordered. This continued for some weeks, the physicians visiting him on alternate days and treating him for two different disorders, with constantly enlarging doses of medicine and more and more rigorous nursing. But one day they accidently met at his bedside while he slept, and the truth coming out a violent quarrel ensued.
What this Textopian page supports
Physicians Two is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1876 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, War & Military
- Length: 193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Physicians Two by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Physicians Two?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- To One Across The Way by Ambrose Bierce
- At The Eleventh Hour by Ambrose Bierce
- The Life Saver by Ambrose Bierce
- A Bad Night by Ambrose Bierce
- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
- Johndonkey by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — Ambrose Bierce was known for his fiction work, making this the most likely genre.
- Historical Fiction — Based on the time period of Bierce's life and the general content of his works, this book could contain elements of historical fiction.
- Short Stories — Bierce is known for writing short stories, suggesting this book could be a collection of these.
- War & Military — Given Bierce's experiences in the American Civil War, his works often touch on themes of war and military life.
Tags
horror · gothic · supernatural · medical · thriller · mystery · fiction · short stories · classic · american literature · 19th century literature · literary fiction