A consultation was held in the family, and her nephew was sent to explain matters to the physician, in the hope of his being able to cure her hypochondria. When she reached town, the street in which the physician lived was blocked with the carriages of patients. After waiting hours, her turn at last came. The physician examined her, asked a few questions, then enquired if she had any friends in town, as he would rather call to see her when under their roof, and there tell her what he had got to say. She protested that she was quite prepared to hear the worst--that she had for long years looked death in the face--that the notices of her death were lying in her desk, all written out and addressed, only requiring the date to be filled in, etc. The physician said he was busy--more than twenty patients were still waiting in the street--he was averse to scenes, and would much prefer to see her at her friend's house. She still persisted, and begged of him to tell her all, there and then, on which he said:--"Madam, it is my melancholy duty to inform you--that there is nothing whatever the matter with you!" This interview fortunately effected her cure, to the great delight of her friends, who paid the physician a handsome fee. Sir Astley Cooper one year received in fees L21,000. This sum was exceptional, but for many years his income was over L15,000. His great success was achieved very gradually. "His earnings for the first nine years of his professional career progressed thus:--In the first year he netted five guineas; in the second, twenty-six pounds; in the third, sixty-four pounds; in the fourth, ninety-six pounds; in the fifth, a hundred pounds; in the sixth, two hundred pounds; in the seventh, four hundred pounds; in the eighth, six hundred and ten pounds; and in the ninth--the year in which he secured his hospital appointment--eleven hundred pounds." On one occasion when he had performed a perilous surgical operation on a rich West Indian merchant, the two physicians who were present were paid three hundred guineas each; but the patient, addressing Sir Astley, said:--"But you, sir, shall have something better. There, sir, take _that_," upon which he flung his nightcap at the skilful operator. "Sir," replied Sir Astley, picking up the cap, "I'll pocket the affront." On reaching home, he found in the cap a draft for a thousand guineas from the grateful but eccentric old man. A cynical lawyer once advised a young doctor to collect his fees as he went along, quoting the following verse to back his recommendation:-- "God and the doctor we alike adore, But only when in danger, not before; The danger o'er, both are alike requited-- God is forgotten, and the doctor slighted."