“Permit me to see your tongue again, madam. Um—ah—h—h.” Then, after looking at the organ closely for some moments, he would ask, incredulously— “You never take spirits, madam?” “I said very seldom, doctor—never more than a teaspoonful of brandy in a little water the last thing at night. You know you told I might do that last time I was here.” “One teaspoonful, madam?” with another scrutiny of the tongue; “only _one_ teaspoonful of brandy?” “That is all, sir,” said the patient, bridling up and getting restive. Dr. Stanforth took off his glasses, folded them, and leaning back in his chair, asked in his blandest tones, “Pray, where do you procure your brandy? It must be very strong. I can get none so good!” The woman would bear no more roasting that day, and having taken her prescription, left the room, the assembled students heartily enjoying her discomfiture. The way to annoy him and put him on his mettle was for a lady patient to object to an examination in the presence of his very large class of students. “Can’t I see you privately, doctor?” “Why?” “Well, sir, I do not like to undergo all this before these young gentlemen.” “You are married, I believe?” “Yes, sir.” “Have you any boys?” “Two, doctor.” “Would you like your eldest to be a great physician when he grows up?” “Oh, yes, indeed I should, if he were clever enough!” “I thought so. Now all these young gentlemen’s mammas have the same desire, and have sent them to me for that purpose. If you don’t help them, they can’t learn to be doctors. Now, nurse, assist this lady to undress.” And, without sparing the poor creature a pang of shame, he would submit her to a degrading ordeal, so that every one of his boys might have the chance of learning that for which, as he said, “they have paid large sums of money.”