Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

unable to obtain any employment, and having no wealthy relatives nor friends, and sick with disease and discour- agement, he had finally taken to his bed. " Gaze at Soother's wonderful note book! " remarked Paulus Androcydes, looking over the doctor's shoulder as he spoke. " Behold the memorandum ! ' Case 1086. Bronchitis simulating phthisis. Direct cause, exposure and bad nutrition.' Did you ever hear such a stupid opinion? I now perceive that Doctor Soother is an ignoramus and can not detect consumption from bron- chitis. I repeat what I said before that the patient is in the last stages of—" " Starvation ! " cried Athothis, finishing the sentence. " This Doctor Soother is perfectly correct in his diagnosis, while you are entirely wrong. Cast your spiritual vision and closely scan the condition of the sick man's respira- tory organs. You will at once perceive the extent of the difficulty, and know that the affection is perfectly amen- able to treatment. I have the greatest curiosity to see what the clear-headed Soother will prescribe." " Well! well! can it be possible that a man of my vast clinical experience is again mistaken ?" groaned Paulus Androcydes, in an abashed and mortified voice; then added, with a sigh: " Now is the time to give syrup of senega and carbonate of ammonia in order to promote expectoration." But, even as he muttered these words, Doctor Soother drew from his pocket a ragged old wallet, tied around with a piece of dirty tape, and taking there- from a small wad of greasy-looking bank notes delib- erately counted out ten one dollar bills and tendered the money to the patient's wife, who, drawing back with an air of wounded dignity, declined the generous proffer. At this refusal to accept money, Doctor Soother seemed