I happened to be helping James to make a pancake when she came along, and I was therefore privileged to overhear the particulars of Mrs. Rafferty’s disorder. And if I record exactly the dialogue to which I listened, you will be able to judge as well as I or Mrs. Rafferty whether the Doctor’s sixpennyworth of diagnosis was value for money. Behold, the chronicles:— MRS. RAFFERTY: It’s my pore back I come to see you for, Doctor: that and a sort of dizziness what takes me in the leg. And me throat is sore. And I gits sich ’orrid nightmares, Doctor, and I was goin’ to arst you, Doctor, do you think it right for anyone to be always feeling thirsty? Because—— DR. BRINK: How long has this been going on? MRS. R.: I don’t say as the feelin’ thirsty is a unpleasant feelin’, mind you; but I wondered if it was nat’ral. That’s all I’m wonderin’ about, Doctor. You can’t ’elp noticin’ anythin’ like that, and anybody would fancy it’s a bit queer to be _always_ feelin’ thirsty. And then the ’eadaches, Doctor! They comes on all so sudden, Doctor—unexpected, like; and if it wasn’t—— DOCTOR: How long has this been going on? MRS. R.: You can see yerself ’ow pale I’m lookin’, Doctor. I ’ad a drop o’ stout for me breakfast ’smornin’—no more’n would fill a teacup, Doctor—and believe me or believe me not, it brought on the pains that fearful I was obliged to scream. What do you think is the matter with me, Doctor? DOCTOR: I shall be better able to tell you when you’ve answered a few questions. In the first place, how long has this sort of thing been going on? MRS. R.: It’s the pain more’n the longness of it, Doctor, which I look to. And if I close my eyes and touch anythink cold with me ’ands I kin see a lot of funny green things all in front—floatin’, if you understand me, Doctor. Me ’usband, when ’e was a sowjer abroad in Dublin, ’e got took with the same thing, along o’ eatin’ ’ysters in a onfit state. DOCTOR: How is your appetite, by the way? MRS. R.: I was wonderin’ if me lungs is affected, Doctor. If ever I drink a cup of very ’ot tea I kin feel a funny sensation right down me froat. What I reely want is change of hair. DOCTOR: Do you drink much tea? MRS. R.: It’s good tea what we ’ave. DOCTOR: Do you drink much tea? MRS. R.: And besides, Doctor, I don’t see as tea kin ’urt me, because me an’ my ’usband we’re rather partickler about the class of—— DOCTOR: Do you drink much tea? MRS. R.: And then again, Doctor, why should me ’air be fallin’ out? I’m not a old woman. Thirty-six is my age, and I ain’t ashamed to own it. It’s a pity me ’air is fallin’ out because they say as I’m a young-looking woman for my age. And—— DOCTOR: When did you first notice that your hair was falling? MRS. R.: I don’t think that the state of me ’air is anythink to be ashamed of, even now, mind you. But still it ain’t a very pleasant thing, especially at my age. Is it anythink to do with what I eat, do you think, Doctor? I often wonder.