The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, September, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, September, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
The Doctor paused majestically, and, not remarking on Leonard's face
the consternation he had anticipated, he repeated peevishly--"I am
going abroad, sir, but I will make a synopsis of your case, and leave
it to my successor. Hum! Hair chestnut; eyes--what color? Look this
way--blue,--dark blue. Hem! Constitution nervous. What are the
symptoms?"
"Sir," began Leonard, "a little girl--"
_Dr. Morgan_, (impatiently)--"Little girl! Never mind the history of
your sufferings; stick to the symptoms--stick to the symptoms."
_Leonard._--"You mistake me, Doctor; I have nothing the matter with
me. A little girl--"
_Dr. Morgan._--"Girl again! I understand it! it is she who is ill.
Shall I go to her? she must describe her own symptoms--I can't judge
from your talk. You'll be telling me she has consumption, or
dyspepsia, or some such disease that don't exist: mere allopathic
inventions--symptoms, sir, symptoms."
_Leonard_, (forcing his way)--"You attended her poor father, Captain
Digby, when he was taken ill in the coach with you. He is dead, and
his child is an orphan."
_Dr. Morgan_, (fumbling in his medical pocket-book.)--"Orphan!
nothing for orphans, especially if inconsolable, like _aconite_ and
_chamomilla_."[12]
With some difficulty Leonard succeeded in bringing Helen to the
recollection of the homoeopathist, stating how he came in charge of
her, and why he sought Dr. Morgan.
The Doctor was much moved.
"But really," said he after a pause, "I don't see how I can help the
poor child. I know nothing of her relations. This Lord Les--whatever
his name is--I know of no lords in London. I knew lords, and physicked
them too, when I was a blundering allopathist. There was the Earl of
Lansmere--has had many a blue pill from me, sinner that I was. His son
was wiser; never would take physic. Very clever boy was Lord
L'Estrange--I don't know if he was as good as he was clever--"
"Lord L'Estrange!--that name begins with Les--"
"Stuff! He's always abroad--shows his sense. I'm going abroad too. No
development for science in this horrid city; full of prejudices, sir,
and given up to the most barbarous allopathical and phlebotomical
propensities. I am going to the land of Hahnemann, sir--sold my
good-will, lease, and furniture, and have bought in on the Rhine.
Natural life there, sir--homoeopathy needs nature; dine at one
o'clock, get up at four--tea little known, and science appreciated.
But I forget. Cott! what can I do for the orphan?"
"Well, sir," said Leonard rising, "Heaven will give me strength to
support her."
The doctor looked at the young man attentively. "And yet," said he in
a gentler voice, "you, young man, are, by your account, a perfect
stranger to her, or were so when you undertook to bring her to London.
You have a good heart--always keep it. Very healthy thing, sir, a good
heart--that is, when not carried to excess. But you have friends of
your own in town?"
_Leonard._--"Not yet, sir; I hope to make them."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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