An elderly doctor took a young partner into his practice
and said,: "I would like you to accompany me on my visit
tomorrow so that you can observe my procedure, which
you may care to adopt." So the next day they set off.
The first visit was to a rather plump lady, the old doctor,
after introducing his new young partner, then took her
temperature, but dropped the thermometer which
he retrieved from under the bed where it had fallen.
As they prepared to depart, he said : "You know, Mrs.
Goodbody, you would recover much quicker if you didn't
eat so many chocolates." The patient blushed and they left.
When they were outside the house, the young doctor asked :
"How did you know about her eating chocolates ?"
"Well," replied the other, " you saw me stoop down to pick up
the thermometer? Under the bed were all the chocolate
wrappers.
At the next house a very elegant lady was sitting up in bed
in readiness for their visit. So the old doctor said : "I've
brought along my new partner who will attend to you this
morning Mrs. Loveday. Whereupon the young doctor proceeded
to take the patient's temperature and he also dropped the
thermometer which fell to the floor.
As they were leaving he said, "Mrs. Loveday, you ought not
to be taking quite so much interest in church affairs."
When they had left the house, the old doctor asked,
"Why on earth did you say that about the church ?"
"Well," replied the doctor, "I did what you did and
dropped the thermometer and when I reached under
the bed to pick it up, there was the vicar !!"