Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders: Cogitations and Confessions of an Aged PhysicianAlcott, William A. (William Andrus)
Science
Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders: Cogitations and Confessions of an Aged Physician
Alcott, William A. (William Andrus)
Medicine -- Anecdotes
On the top of a considerable eminence, in the very midst of a mountain
range, one of the most delightful in all New England, only a few miles
from the place of my lodging, was a tower some sixty or seventy feet
high, which commanded a view of the surrounding country. I had often
wished to enjoy the prospect which this tower afforded. Was there, now
an opportunity? I had the leisure, had I the needful strength? Could I
possibly reach it? And by what means?
I rested for the remainder of the day and the night following, at the
foot of the eminence, in order to prepare myself for the excursion of
the following morning. It was as much as I could do, that night to take
care of my irritable and irritated lungs. At length, however, I slept,
and was refreshed. The only drawback upon my full renewal, was my usual
night--or rather as I ought to say morning--perspiration, which was
quite drenching and exhausting; though not much worse after all my fears
than usual.
God is good, I said to myself, when I saw from my chamber window the top
of the hills I wished to climb, and perceived that the first rays of the
morning sun were already falling upon them. By the middle of the
forenoon I was at the foot of the mountain, and prepared to ascend it.
After a little rest, I wound my way to the tower, and finally to its
top, when I took a survey of what seemed to me like a new world. Here I
renewed my declaration of independence with regard to those earthly
props on which I had so long been wont to lean, and of dependence on
God, and on his natural and moral enactments.
Here, too, I formed my programme for the day and for the week. Distant
from the point which I occupied not more than eight miles was a most
interesting educational institution I had long wished to see; and near
it was an old acquaintance, with, whom I might perhaps spend the
Sabbath, which was now approaching. Could I carry out my plan? Had I the
needful strength?
My resolution was at length made; and no sooner made than begun to be
executed. The public houses on the way were miserable things; but they
were better far than none.
They gave me a temporary home, such as it was. I reached the
institution, had a partial view of it, and, half worn out with my week's
labor, was glad to rest the seventh day, "according to the
commandment," in the house of an old acquaintance.
Monday morning came, and with the aid of the intervening Sabbath,
brought to my attenuated and almost sinking frame a new recruit of
strength. With a new object of interest some fifteen miles distant, I
was once more on the road. I could now walk several miles a day without
greatly increasing my cough, or ride in a stage coach many miles. Nor
was the nightly perspiration, nor even that which was induced by
exercise, any more distressing than it had been, if indeed it was as
much so.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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