Misfortunate Monkey

A president never fully realizes the paralyzing effect of political intrigue until he enters office. Neither does a man, previously healthy, know the devastating power of disease until he finds himself more or less hopelessly gripped in its horrible clutches. Then, and only then, does he turn philosopher and show a willingness to study himself.

Like Heine’s ape, which sits by the fireplace and cooks its own tail on the principle that the true science of cookery consists not only of objective cooking, but also of being subjectively conscious of being cooked; he cooks his former pride of splendid bodily health and digests its remains, thereby growing richer in wisdom although partly dismembered.

The reader will find the pathological description not overdone. Scientific facts still have been made readable or understandable for the common sufferer. Still, the man who feels well will deny that he harbors a liver. But who knows how soon some twinge will make a philosopher of him. Would to God that the liver had 1/100th the sensitivity of one little tooth!

Explanation:

Learning comes not from just knowing something intellectually, but from first-hand experience. (“Experience is the best teacher”) All of Bieler’s patients had to learn about disease and how to get well the hard way…like the monkey who cooked its tail.