Dr. Dorian

Dr. Dorian is the Arables' family doctor.   Mrs. Arable consults Dr. Dorian about Fern Arable spending a lot of time in the Zuckerman barnyard because she does not think it is normal.  Mrs. Arable is worried about Fern thinking the animals can talk. 

 

Here is the Doctors assessment 

 

'I have never heard one say anything,' he replied.  'But that proves nothing.  It is quite possible that an animal has spoken civilly to me and that I didn't catch the remark because I wasn’t paying attention.  Children pay better attention than grownups.  If Fern says that the animals in Zuckerman's barn talk, I'm quite ready to believe her. Perhaps if people talked less, animals would talk more.  People are incessant talkers-I can give you my word on that (White, 1952, p.110).

 

He also gives her his opinion about her spending time in the barnyard. 

'...Well, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Let Fern associate with her friends in the barn if she wants to.  I would say, offhand, that spiders and pigs were fully as interesting as Henry Fussy. Yet I predict that the day will come when even Henry will drop some chance remark that catches Fern's attention.  It's amazing how children change from year to year...' White, 1952, p. 111).