Let what will be the condition of your patient, you are not to act as some few conscientious practitioners do, explaining what you conceive to be the nature of the case, original cause of complaint, or from what operation you expect expeditious relief; this may be the best practice with those unfashionable formal old fellows, who received their medical instructions near half a century since, and pique themselves upon what they call their _integrity_; but it will be perfectly _illiberal_ in you, who have received a more modern, and polished education. Ambiguity, and true medical mystery, will be your best guide upon every occasion; by not naming the case, or _cause of complaint_, you can never be accused of having _mistaken_ it; and by letting the property of the medicine you administer remain a matter of secrecy with all but yourself, you reserve the incontrovertible power of saying, “it has had the _very effect_ you _intended_,” whether it operates by _vomit_, _stool_, _urine_, _perspiration_, or _sleep_: these are precautions a _wise_ man always takes, a _fool_ never, and may be deemed something similar to the conduct of Bayes’s troops in the Rehearsal, who, the _warlike_ messenger said, “were stealing a march in _stilts_.” During the indisposition of your patient, ’tis your duty to think much more of the emolument that will arise from the _protraction_ of his case, than the _expedience_ of his cure. You must have it ever in mind, that he has paid you the the greatest compliment one man can possibly pay another on earth; he has placed an implicit confidence, and entrusted you with the care of his constitution and the key of his cash; in fact, he has put both his _life_ and _property_ into your hands; and the respect you owe to _self-preservation_ renders it necessary you make the most of _both_. Let your attachment to his health and interest be demonstrated by the frequency of your attendance; it will be impossible for you to give a greater proof of your _disinterested_ friendship, than by your large and constant supplies of different medicines; too great a quantity, too great a variety cannot be introduced; they all tend to a promotion of your emolument, and the sum total of your bill will be considered _a striking proof_ of your _merit_ and assiduity. If you find the family and friends not perfectly satisfied with your conduct, that there is the least coolness and discontent perceptible, or symptoms of present or approaching danger, strongly recommend the presence of a _better opinion_ in the form of a physician; this will prove an exertion of the soundest policy—double the quantity of medicines will be thrown into _his_ prescription for the promotion of _your_ interest, an act that the present danger will amply justify, and should the unhappy victim be doomed “To pass that bourne, From whence no traveller returns,”