"Put his feet into hot water instantly--get mustard plasters ready," commenced the old gentleman, in a mighty bustle, turning up his coat-sleeves, and getting out his lancets; while the young gentleman, with a very indignant air, still resolved to give the distinguished patient the advantage of the newest improvements in medical science, whipped out a stethoscope, and was screwing it together, when the old gentleman in a rage cried "Pish!" and knocked it out of his hand: whereupon the young gentleman seemed disposed to strike him! "Oh my God!" cried Gammon--and added, addressing the footman--"set off for Dr. Bailey instantly--these fools will let him die before their eyes!" Off sprang the man, and was out of sight in a twinkling. 'T was very _natural_ (though, I must own, somewhat inconvenient and unseemly) for these worthy rivals to behave in this way, seeing it was the first time in his life that either had been called in to a nobleman, and very probably it would be the last--at least it ought to have been; and each wished to cure or kill the distinguished patient in his own way. 'T was also the conflict between the old and the new systems of medical science; between old practice and young speculation--and between these two stools was his Lordship falling to the ground, with a witness. One felt the pulse, the other insisted on applying the stethoscope to his heart; one remarked on the coldness of the extremities--the other said the pupils were fixed and dilated. One was for bleeding at the arm, the other for opening the jugular vein: one for cupping at the nape of the neck--the other on the temple; one spoke of electricity--'t would stimulate the nervous system to throw off the blood from the brain;--the other said, "stimulate the whole surface---wrap him in a mustard blister from head to foot, and shave and blister the head." One verily believed his Lordship was dying; the other declared he was dead already, through _his_ mode of treatment not having been adopted. Each would have given twenty guineas to have been the only one called in. All this horrid foolery occupied far less time than is requisite to describe it--scarcely a minute indeed--and almost drove Gammon into frenzy. Rushing to the window, he called to a porter in the inn to start off for "any other medical man who could be found!"--which brought the two to their senses, such as they were. Suffice it to say, that the jugular vein was opened in a trice; mustard plasters and hot water applied as quickly as they could be procured; and a cupping-case having been sent for, blood was taken pretty freely from the nape of the neck--and these two blood-lettings saved Lord Dreddlington's life--whether to Gammon's delight or disappointment I shall not take upon me to decide. By the time that the great man--the experienced and skilful king's physician, Dr. Bailey--had arrived, the earl was beginning to exhibit slight symptoms of returning consciousness, and was recovering from an attack