Ep 12. Is There a Doctor in the Valley?

The episode titled "Is There a Doctor in the Valley?" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Petticoat Junction. The show, which aired from 1963 to 1970, follows the lives of the Bradley family who operate the Shady Rest Hotel in a rural community called Hooterville.

In this episode, the town of Hooterville is facing a medical crisis. Dr. Janet Craig, the only doctor in town, has to leave for a medical conference in San Francisco. Her substitute, Dr. Stuart Wellman, is unable to come due to a scheduling conflict. This leaves the town without a doctor, and the situation becomes complicated when Uncle Joe (one of the main characters) becomes sick and needs medical attention.

Kate Bradley, the owner of the Shady Rest Hotel, takes it upon herself to find a replacement doctor for the town. She reaches out to the medical society, but they are unable to provide a replacement for Dr. Craig. Determined to find a solution, Kate contacts Dr. Craig directly and tells her the situation in Hooterville. Dr. Craig recommends a young doctor named Ted McKeever.

Dr. McKeever arrives in Hooterville and is greeted with a warm welcome from the community. However, he soon realizes that practicing medicine in a small town is very different from working in a big city hospital. The patients in Hooterville have a range of unusual medical conditions, from a nanny goat with a cold to a young boy who swallowed a harmonica.

Dr. McKeever's biggest challenge is Uncle Joe. He is initially dismissive of Dr. McKeever’s inexperience and pushes him to use old-fashioned remedies. However, Dr. McKeever proves to be a competent doctor and earns Uncle Joe’s respect when he diagnoses him with pneumonia. Uncle Joe makes a quick recovery under Dr. McKeever's care.

As the days go by, Dr. McKeever becomes more comfortable in his role as the town doctor. He starts to see the appeal of practicing medicine in a small town where everyone knows each other, and he gets to make a real difference in people's lives. When Dr. Craig returns to Hooterville, Dr. McKeever tells her he would like to stay on as the town's full-time doctor.

Overall, "Is There a Doctor in the Valley?" is a heartwarming episode that showcases the tight-knit community of Hooterville. It highlights the importance of having access to medical care, even in remote areas. The episode also touches on the challenges faced by doctors working in rural areas and the rewards of being a small-town doctor.