ThefirstthingtheInterviewerhadtodowastoaccountforhisvisitingapersonwhohadnotaskedtomakehisacquaintance，andwhowaslivingasarecluse。Hetookouthisbatteredcoppers，andshowedthemtoMaurice。
\"Iunderstoodthatyouwereveryskilfulinantiquities，andhadagoodmanyyourself。SoItookthelibertyofcallinguponyou，hopingthatyoucouldtellmesomethingaboutsomeancientcoinsI
havehadforagoodwhile。”Sosaying，hepointedtothecopperwiththenameofGallienus。
\"Isthisveryrareandvaluable？Ihaveheardthatgreatpriceshavebeenpaidforsomeoftheseancientcoins，——eversomanyguineas，sometimes。Isupposethisisasmuchasathousandyearsold。”
\"Morethanathousandyearsold，\"saidMaurice。
\"Andworthagreatdealofmoney？\"askedtheInterviewer。
\"No，notagreatdealofmoney，\"answeredMaurice。
\"Howmuch，shouldyousay？\"saidtheInterviewer。
Mauricesmiled。\"Alittlemorethanthevalueofitsweightincopper，——Iamafraidnotmuchmore。ThereareagoodmanyofthesecoinsofGallienusknockingabout。Thepeddlersandtheshopkeeperstakesuchpiecesoccasionally，andsellthem，sometimesforfiveortencents，toyoungcollectors。No，itisnotverypreciousinmoneyvalue，butasarelicanypieceofmoneythatwaspassedfromhandtohandathousandorfifteenhundredyearsagoisinteresting。Thevalueofsuchrelicsisagooddealamatterofimagination。”
\"Andwhatdoyousaytotheseothers？\"askedtheInterviewer。Pooroldworn-outthingstheywere，withaletterortwoonly，andsomefainttraceofafigureononeortwoofthem。
\"Veryinteresting，always，iftheycarryyourimaginationbacktothetimeswhenyoumaysupposetheywerecurrent。PerhapsHoracetossedoneofthemtoabeggar。PerhapsoneofthesewasthecointhatwasbroughtwhenOnesaidtothoseaboutHim，\'Bringmeapenny，thatI
mayseeit。\'Butthemarketpriceisadifferentmatter。Thatdependsonthebeautyandpreservation，andabovealltherarity，ofthespecimen。Hereisacoin，now，\"——heopenedasmallcabinet，andtookonefromit。\"HereisaSyracusandecadrachmwiththeheadofPersephone，whichisatoncerare，wellpreserved，andbeautiful。I
amafraidtotellwhatIpaidforit。”
TheInterviewerwasnotanexpertinnumismatics。Hecaredverylittlemoreforanoldcointhanhedidforanoldbutton，buthehadthoughthispurchaseatthetollman\'smightproveagoodspeculation。
Nomatteraboutthebatteredoldpieces:hehadfoundout，atanyrate，thatMauricemusthavemoneyandcouldbeextravagant，orwhathehimselfconsideredso；alsothathewasfamiliarwithancientcoins。Thatwoulddoforabeginning。
\"MayIaskwhereyoupickedupthecoinyouareshowingme？\"hesaid\"Thatisaquestionwhichprovokesanegativeanswer。Onedoesnot\'pickup\'first-classcoinsorpaintings，veryoften，inthesetimes。
IboughtthisofagreatdealerinRome。”
\"LivedinRomeonce？\"saidtheInterviewer。
\"Forsomeyears。Perhapsyouhavebeenthereyourself？\"
TheInterviewersaidhehadneverbeenthereyet，buthehopedheshouldgothere，oneoftheseyears。\"supposeyoustudiedartandantiquitieswhileyouwerethere？\"hecontinued。
\"EverybodywhogoestoRomemustlearnsomethingofartandantiquities。BeforeyougothereIadviseyoutoreviewRomanhistoryandtheclassicauthors。Youhadbettermakeastudyofancientandmodernart，andnothaveeverythingtolearnwhileyouaregoingaboutamongruins，andchurches，andgalleries。YouknowyourHoraceandVirgilwell，Itakeitforgranted？\"
TheInterviewerhesitated。Thenamessoundedasifhehadheardthem。\"NotsowellasImeantobeforegoingtoRome，\"heanswered。
\"MayIaskhowlongyoulivedinRome？\"
\"Longenoughtoknowsomethingofwhatistobeseeninit。Nooneshouldgotherewithoutcarefulpreparationbeforehand。YouarefamiliarwithVasari，ofcourse？\"
TheInterviewerfeltaslightmoistureonhisforehead。Hetookouthishandkerchief。\"Itisawarmday，\"hesaid。\"Ihavenothadtimetoreadall——theworksImeanto。Ihavehadtoomuchwritingtodo，myself，tofindallthetimeforreadingandstudyIcouldhavewished。”
\"Inwhatliteraryoccupationhaveyoubeenengaged，ifyouwillpardonmyinquiry？saidMaurice。
\"Iamconnectedwiththepress。Iunderstoodthatyouwereamanofletters，andIhopedImighthavetheprivilegeofhearingfromyourownlipssomeaccountofyourliteraryexperiences。”
\"Perhapsthatmightbeinteresting，butIthinkIshallreserveitformyautobiography。Yousaidyouwereconnectedwiththepress。
DoIunderstandthatyouareanauthor？\"
BythistimetheInterviewerhadcometotheconclusionthatitwasaverywarmday。Hedidnotseemtobegettingholdofhispitcherbytherighthandle，somehow。ButhecouldnothelpansweringMaurice\'sverysimplequestion。
\"Ifwritingforanewspapergivesonearighttobecalledanauthor，Imaycallmyselfone。Iwriteforthe\"People\'sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。\'\"
\"Areyoutheliterarycriticofthatwell-knownjournal，ordoyoumanagethepoliticalcolumn？\"
\"Iamacorrespondentfromdifferentplacesandonvariousmattersofinterest。”
\"Placesyouhavebeento，andpeopleyouhaveknown？\"
\"Well，yes，-generally，thatis。SometimesIhavetocompilemyarticles。”
\"DidyouwritetheletterfromRome，publishedafewweeksago？\"
TheInterviewerwasinwhathewouldcallatightplace。However，hehadfoundthathismanwastoomuchforhim，andsawthatthebestthinghecoulddowastosubmittobeinterviewedhimself。Hethoughtthatheshouldbeabletopickupsomethingorotherwhichhecouldworkintohisreportofhisvisit。
\"Well，I——preparedthatarticleforourcolumns。Youknowonedoesnothavetoseeeverythinghedescribes。Youfounditaccurate，I
hope，initsdescriptions？\"
\"Yes，Murrayisgenerallyaccurate。Sometimeshemakesmistakes，butIcan\'tsayhowfaryouhavecopiedthem。YougotthePonteMolle——
theoldMilvianbridge——agooddealtoofardownthestream，ifI
remember。Ihappenedtonoticethat，butIdidnotreadthearticlecarefully。MayIaskwhetheryouproposetodomethehonorofreportingthisvisitandtheconversationwehavehad，forthecolumnsofthenewspaperwithwhichyouareconnected？\"
TheInterviewerthoughthesawanopening。\"Ifyouhavenoobjections，\"hesaid，\"Ishouldlikeverymuchtoaskafewquestions。”Hewasrecoveringhisprofessionalaudacity。
\"Youcanaskasmanyquestionsasyouconsiderproperanddiscreet，——
afteryouhaveansweredoneortwoofmine:Whocommissionedyoutosubmitmetoexamination？\"
\"Thecuriosityofthepublicwishestobegratified，andIamthehumbleagentofitsinvestigations。”
\"Whathasthepublictodowithmyprivateaffairs？\"
\"Isupposeitisaquestionofmajorityandminority。Thatsettleseverythinginthiscountry。Youareaminorityofoneopposedtoalargenumberofcuriouspeoplethatformamajorityagainstyou。
ThatisthewayI\'veheardthechiefputit。”
MauricecouldnothelpsmilingatthequietassumptionoftheAmericancitizen。TheInterviewersmiled，too，andthoughthehadhisman，sure，atlast。Mauricecalmlyanswered，\"Thereisnothingleftforminorities，then，buttherightofrebellion。Idon\'tcareaboutbeingmadethesubjectofanarticleforyourpaper。Iamhereformypleasure，mindingmyownbusiness，andcontentwiththatoccupation。Irebelagainstyoursystemofforcedpublicity。
WheneverIamreadyIshalltellthepublicallithasanyrighttoknowaboutme。InthemeantimeIshallrequesttobesparedreadingmybiographywhileIamliving。Iwishyouagood-morning。”
TheInterviewerhadnottakenouthisnote-bookandpencil。InhisnextcommunicationfromArrowheadVillagehecontentedhimselfwithabriefmentionofthedistinguishedandaccomplishedgentlemannowvisitingtheplace，whoselibraryandcabinetofcoinshehadhadtheprivilegeofexamining，andwhosecourtesywasequalledonlybythemodestythatshunnedthepublicnotorietywhichtheorgansofpopularintelligencewouldotherwiseconferuponhim。
TheInterviewerhadattemptedtheriddleoftheSphinx，andhadfailedtogetthefirsthintofitssolution。
Themanytonguesofthevillageanditsvisitorscouldnotremainidle。Thewholesubjectofantipathieshadbeentalkedover，andthevariouscasesrecordedhadbecomemoreorlessfamiliartotheconversationalcircleswhichmeteveryeveninginthedifferentcentresofsociallife。TheprevalenthypothesisforthemomentwasthatMauricehadacongenitalaversiontosomecolor，theeffectsofwhichuponhimweresopainfulordisagreeablethathehabituallyavoidedexposuretoit。Itwasknown，andithasalreadybeenmentioned，thatsuchcaseswereonrecord。Therehadbeenagreatdealofdiscussion，oflate，withreferencetoafactlongknowntoafewindividuals，butonlyrecentlymadeamatterofcarefulscientificobservationandbroughttothenoticeofthepublic。Thiswasthenowwell-knownphenomenonofcolor-blindness。Itdidnotseemverystrangethatifonepersonineveryscoreortwocouldnottellredfromgreentheremightbeothercuriousindividualpeculiaritiesrelatingtocolor。Acasehasalreadybeenreferredtowherethesubjectofobservationfaintedatthesightofanyredobject。WhatifthiswerethetroublewithMauriceKirkwood？Itwillbeseenatoncehowsuchacongenitalantipathywouldtendtoisolatethepersonwhowasitsunfortunatevictim。Itwasanhypothesisnotdifficulttotest，butitwasaratherdelicatebusinesstobeexperimentingonaninoffensivestranger。MissVincentwasthinkingitover，butsaidnothing，eventoEuthymia，ofanyprojectsshemightentertain。
XII
MISSVINCENTASAMEDICALSTUDENT。
TheyoungladywhomwehaveknownasTheTerror，asLurida，asMissVincent，SecretaryofthePansophianSociety，hadbeenreadingvariousworksselectedforherbyDr。Butts，——workschieflyrelatingtothenervoussystemanditsdifferentaffections。Shethoughtitwasabouttimetotalkoverthegeneralsubjectofthemedicalprofessionwithhernewteacher，——ifsuchaself-directingpersonasLuridacouldbesaidtorecognizeanybodyasteacher。
Shebeganatthebeginning。\"Whatisthefirstbookyouwouldputinastudent\'shands，doctor？\"shesaidtohimoneday。Theywereinhisstudy，andLuridahadjustbroughtbackathickvolumeonInsanity，oneofBucknillandPuke\'s，whichshehaddevouredasifithadbeenapamphlet。
\"Notthatbook，certainly，\"hesaid。\"Iamafraiditwillputallsortsofnotionsintoyourhead。Whoorwhatsetyoutoreadingthat，Ishouldliketoknow？\"
\"Ifounditononeofyourshelves，andasIthoughtImightperhapsbecrazysometimeorother，IfeltasifIshouldliketoknowwhatkindofaconditioninsanityis。Idon\'tbelievetheywereeververybright，thoseinsanepeople，mostofthem。IhopeIamnotstupidenoughevertolosemywits。”
\"Thereisnotelling，mydear，whatmayhappenifyouoverworkthatbusybrainofyours。Butdidn\'titmakeyounervous，readingaboutsomanypeoplepossessedwithsuchstrangenotions？\"
\"Nervous？Notabit。Icouldn\'thelpthinking，though，howmanypeopleIhadknownthathadalittletouchofcrazinessaboutthem。
TakethatpoorwomanthatsayssheisHerMajesty\'sPerson，——notHerMajesty，butHerMajesty\'sPerson，——averyimportantdistinction，accordingtoher:howshedoesremindmeofmorethanonegirlIhaveknown!Shewouldletherskirtsdownsoastomakeakindoftrain，andpilethingsonherheadlikeasortofcrown，foldherarmsandthrowherheadback，andfeelasgrandasaqueen。Ihaveseenmorethanonegirlactverymuchinthatway。Arenotmostofusalittlecrazy，doctor，——justalittle？Ithinkso。ItseemstomeIneversawbutonegirlwhowasfreefromeveryhintofcraziness。”
\"Andwhowasthat，pray？\"
\"Why，Euthymia，——nobodyelse，ofcourse。Sheneverlosesherhead，——
Idon\'tbelieveshewouldinanearthquake。WheneverwewereatworkwithourmicroscopesattheInstituteIalwaystoldherthathermindwastheonlyachromaticoneIeverlookedinto，——Ididn\'tsaylookedthrough——ButIdidn\'tcometotalkaboutthat。IreadinoneofyourbooksthatwhenSydenhamwasaskedbyastudentwhatbooksheshouldread，thegreatphysiciansaid，\'Read\"DonQuixote。”\'Iwantyoutoexplainthattome；andthenIwantyoutotellmewhatisthefirstbook，accordingtoyouridea，thatastudentoughttoread。”
\"WhatdoyousaytomytakingyourquestionasthesubjectofapapertobereadbeforetheSociety？Ithinktheremaybeotheryoungladiesatthemeeting，besidesyourself，whoarethinkingofpursuingthestudyofmedicine。Atanyrate，thereareagoodmanywhoareinterestedinthesubject；infact，mostpeoplelistenreadilytoanythingdoctorstellthemabouttheircalling。”
\"Iwishyouwould，doctor。IwantEuthymiatohearit，andIdon\'tdoubttherewillbeotherswhowillbegladtoheareverythingyouhavetosayaboutit。Butoh，doctor，ifyoucouldonlypersuadeEutbymiatobecomeaphysician!Whatadoctorshewouldmake!Sostrong，socalm，sofullofwisdom!Ibelieveshecouldtakethewheelofasteamboatinastorm，orthehoseofafire-engineinaconflagration，andhandleitaswellasthecaptainoftheboatorofthefire-company。”
\"Haveyouevertalkedwithheraboutstudyingmedicine？\"
\"IndeedIhave。Oh，ifshewouldonlybeginwithme!Whatgoodtimeswewouldhavestudyingtogether!\"
\"Idon\'tdoubtit。Medicineisaverypleasantstudy。Buthowdoyouthinkpracticewouldbe？Howwouldyoulikebeingcalleduptoridetenmilesinamidnightsnow-storm，justwhenoneofyourragingheadacheswasrackingyou？\"
\"Oh，butwecouldgointopartnership，andEuthymiaisn\'tafraidofstormsoranythingelse。Ifshewouldonlystudymedicinewithme!\"
\"Well，whatdoesshesaytoit？\"
\"Shedoesn\'tlikethethoughtofit。Shedoesn\'tbelieveinwomendoctors。Shethinksthatnowandthenawomanmaybefittedforitbynature，butshedoesn\'tthinktherearemanywhoare。Shegivesmeagoodmanyreasonsagainsttheirpractisingmedicine，youknowwhatmostofthemare，doctor，——andendsbysayingthatthesamewomanwhowouldbeapoorsortofdoctorwouldmakeafirst-ratenurse；andthat，shethinks，isawoman\'sbusiness，ifherinstinctcarrieshertothehospitalorsick-chamber。Ican\'targueherideasoutofher。”
\"NeithercanIargueyououtofyourfeelingaboutthematter；butI
amdisposedtoagreewithyourfriend，thatyouwilloftenspoilagoodnursetomakeapoordoctor。Doctorsandside-saddlesdon\'tseemtometogotogether。Ridinghabitswouldbeawkwardthingsforpractitioners。Butcome，wewon\'thaveacontroversyjustnow。Iamforgivingwomeneverychanceforagoodeducation，andiftheythinkmedicineisoneoftheirpropercallingsletthemtryit。Ithinktheywillfindthattheyhadbetteratleastlimitthemselvestocertainspecialties，andalwayshaveanexpertoftheothersextofallbackupon。Thetroubleisthattheyaresoimpressibleandimaginativethattheyareatthemercyofallsortsoffancysystems。
Youhaveonlytoseewhatkindsofinstructiontheyverycommonlyflocktoinordertoguesswhethertheywouldbelikelytoprovesensiblepractitioners。Charlatanismalwayshobblesontwocrutches，thetattleofwomen，andthecertificatesofclergymen，andIamafraidthathalfthewomendoctorswillbetoomuchunderboththoseinfluences。”
LuridabelievedinDr。Butts，who，tousethecommonlanguageofthevillage，had\"carriedherthrough\"afever，broughtonbyover-
excitementandexhaustingstudy。Shetooknooffenceathisreferencetonurserygossip，whichshehadlearnedtoholdcheap。
Nobodysodespisestheweaknessesofwomenasthechampionofwoman\'srights。Sheacceptedthedoctor\'sconcessionofafairfieldandopentrialofthefitnessofhersexformedicalpractice，anddidnottroubleherselfabouthissuggestedlimitations。Astotheimaginativetendenciesofwomen，sheknewtoowellthetruthofthedoctor\'sremarkrelatingtothemtowishtocontradictit。
\"Besureyouletmehaveyourpaperinseasonforthenextmeeting，doctor，\"shesaid；andindueseasonitcame，andwasofcourseapprovedforreading。
XIII
DR。BUTTSREADSAPAPER。
\"Nexttotheinterestwetakeinallthatrelatestoourimmortalsoulsisthatwhichwefeelforourmortalbodies。Iamafraidmyveryfirststatementmaybeopentocriticism。Thecareofthebodyisthefirstthoughtwithagreatmany，——infact，withthelargerpartoftheworld。Theysendforthephysicianfirst，andnotuntilhegivesthemupdotheycommonlycallintheclergyman。Eventheministerhimselfisnotsoverydifferentfromotherpeople。Wemustnotblamehimifheisnotalwaysimpatienttoexchangeaworldofmultipliedinterestsandever-changingsourcesofexcitementforthatwhichtraditionhasdeliveredtousasoneeminentlydeficientinthestimulusofvariety。Besides，thesebodilyframes，evenwhenwornanddisfiguredbylongyearsofservice，hangaboutourconsciousnesslikeoldgarments。Theyareusedtous，andweareusedtothem。
Andalltheaccidentsofourlives，——thehousewedwellin，thelivingpeopleroundus，thelandscapewelookover，all，uptotheskythatcoversuslikeabellglass，——allthesearebutlooseroutsidegarmentswhichwehavewornuntiltheyseemapartofus，andwedonotlikethethoughtofchangingthemforanewsuitwhichwehaveneveryettriedon。HowwellIrememberthatdearancientlady，wholivedwellintothelastdecadeofhercentury，assherepeatedtheversewhich，ifIhadbutonetochoose，Iwouldselectfromthatstringofpearls，Gray\'s\'Elegy\'!
\'ForwhotodumbforgetfulnessapreyThispleasing，anxiousbeinge\'erresigned，Leftthewarmprecinctsofthecheerfulday，Norcastonelonging，lingeringlookbehind？\'
Plotinuswasashamedofhisbody，wearetold。Betterso，itmaybe，thantolivesolelyforit，assomanydo。ButitmaybewelldoubtedifthereisanydiscipleofPlotinusinthisSociety。Onthecontrary，therearemanywhothinkagreatdealoftheirbodies，manywhohavecomeheretoregainthehealththeyhavelostinthewearandtearofcitylife，andveryfewwhohavenotatsometimeorotheroftheirliveshadoccasiontocallintheservicesofaphysician。
\"Thereis，therefore，noimproprietyinmyofferingtothememberssomeremarksuponthepeculiardifficultieswhichbesetthemedicalpractitionerinthedischargeofhislaboriousandimportantduties。
\"Ayoungfriendofmine，whohastakenaninterestinmedicalstudies，happenedtomeetwithaveryfamiliarstoryaboutoneofthegreatestandmostcelebratedofallEnglishphysicians，ThomasSydenham。Thestoryisthat，whenastudentaskedhimwhatbooksheshouldread，thegreatdoctortoldhimtoread\'DonQuixote。\'
\"Thispieceofadvicehasbeenusedtothrowcontemptuponthestudyofbooks，andfurnishesaconvenientshieldforignorantpretenders。
ButSydenhamleftmanywritingsinwhichhehasrecordedhismedicalexperience，andhesurelywouldnothavepublishedthemifhehadnotthoughttheywouldbebetterreadingforthemedicalstudentthanthestoryofCervantes。Hisownworksareesteemedtothisday，andhecertainlycouldnothavesupposedthattheycontainedallthewisdomofallthepast。Noremedyisgood，itwassaidofold，unlessappliedattherighttimeintherightway。Sowemaysayofallanecdotes，likethiswhichIhavetoldyouaboutSydenhamandtheyoungman。Itisverylikelythathecarriedhimtothebedsideofsomepatients，andtalkedtohimaboutthecasesheshowedhim，insteadofputtingaLatinvolumeinhishand。Iwouldassoonbegininthatwayasanyother，withastudentwhohadalreadymasteredthepreliminarybranches，——whoknewenoughaboutthestructureandfunctionsofthebodyinhealth。
\"ButifyouaskmewhatreadingIwouldcommendtothemedicalstudentofaphilosophicalhabitofmind，youmaybesurprisedtohearmesayitwouldbecertainpassagesin\'Rasselas。\'TheyaretheoneswheretheastronomergivesanaccounttoImlacofhismanagementoftheelements，thecontrolofwhich，ashehadpersuadedhimself，hadbeencommittedtohim。Letmereadyouafewsentencesfromthisstory，whichiscommonlyboundupwiththe\'VicarofWakefield，\'likeawoollenliningtoasilkenmantle，butisfullofstatelywisdominprocessionsofparagraphswhichsoundasiftheyoughttohaveagrammaticaldrum-majortomarchbeforetheirtrampingplatoons。
\"TheastronomerhastakenImlacintohisconfidence，andrevealstohimthesecretofhiswonderfulpowers:——
\"\'Hear，Imlac，whatthouwiltnotwithoutdifficultycredit。Ihavepossessedforfiveyearstheregulationoftheweatherandthedistributionoftheseasonsthesunhaslistenedtomydictates，andpassedfromtropictotropicbymydirection；theclouds，atmycall，havepouredtheirwaters，andtheNilehasoverflowedatmycommand；
Ihaverestrainedtherageofthedog-star，andmitigatedthefervorsofthecrab。Thewindsalone，ofalltheelementalpowers，havehithertoeludedmyauthority，andmultitudeshaveperishedbyequinoctialtempests，whichIfoundmyselfunabletoprohibitorrestrain。\'
\"Thereadernaturallywishestoknowhowtheastronomer，asincere，devoted，andmostbenevolentman，forfortyyearsastudentoftheheavens，cametothestrangebeliefthathepossessedthesemiraculouspowers。Thisishisaccount:
\"\'Oneday，asIwaslookingonthefieldswitheringwithheat，IfeltinmymindasuddenwishthatIcouldsendrainonthesouthernmountains，andraisetheNiletoaninundation。InthehurryofmyimaginationIcommandedraintofall，andbycomparingthetimeofmycommandwiththatoftheinundationIfoundthatthecloudshadlistenedtomylips。\'
\"\'Mightnotsomeothercause，\'saidI，\'producethisconcurrence？
TheNiledoesnotalwaysriseonthesameday。\'
\"\'Donotbelieve，\'saidhe，withimpatience，Ithatsuchobjectionscouldescapeme:Ireasonedlongagainstmyownconviction，andlaboredagainsttruthwiththeutmostobstinacy。Isometimessuspectedmyselfofmadness，andshouldnothavedaredtoimpartthissecretbuttoamanlikeyou，capableofdistinguishingthewonderfulfromtheimpossibleandtheincrediblefromthefalse。\'
\"ThegoodoldastronomergiveshispartingdirectionstoImlac，whomhehasadoptedashissuccessorinthegovernmentoftheelementsandtheseasons，intheseimpressivewords:
\"Donot，intheadministrationoftheyear，indulgethypridebyinnovation；donotpleasethyselfwiththinkingthatthoucanstmakethyselfrenownedtoallfutureagesbydisorderingtheseasons。Thememoryofmischiefisnodesirablefame。Muchlesswillitbecometheetoletkindnessorinterestprevail。Neverrobothercountriesofraintopouritonthineown。ForustheNileissufficient。\'
\"Doyouwonder，myfriends，whyIhavechosenthesepassages，inwhichthedelusionsofaninsaneastronomerarerelatedwithallthepompoftheJohnsonianvocabulary，asthefirstlessonfortheyoungpersonabouttoenteronthestudyofthescienceandartofhealing？
ListentomewhileIshowyoutheparallelofthestoryoftheastronomerinthehistoryofmedicine。
\"Thishistoryisluminouswithintelligence，radiantwithbenevolence，butallitswisdomandallitsvirtuehavehadtostrugglewiththeever-risingmistsofdelusion。Theagencieswhichwasteanddestroytheraceofmankindarevastandresistlessastheelementalforcesofnature；nay，theyarethemselveselementalforces。Theymaybetosomeextentavoided，tosomeextentdivertedfromtheiraim，tosomeextentresisted。Somaythechangesoftheseasons，fromcoldthatfreezestoheatsthatstrikewithsuddendeath，beguardedagainst。Somaythetidesbeinsomesmallmeasurerestrainedintheirinroads。Somaythestormsbebreastedbywallstheycannotshakefromtheirfoundations。Buttheseasonsandthetidesandthetempestsworktheirwillonthegreatscaleuponwhateverstandsintheirway；theyfeedorstarvethetillersofthesoil；theyspareordrownthedwellersbytheshore；theywafttheseamantohisharbororburyhimintheangrybillows。
\"Theartofthephysiciancandomuchtoremoveitssubjectsfromdeadlyanddangerousinfluences，andsomethingtocontrolorarresttheeffectsoftheseinfluences。Butlookattherecordsofthelife-insuranceoffices，andseehowuniformistheactionofnature\'sdestroyingagencies。Lookattheannualreportsofthedeathsinanyofourgreatcities，andseehowtheirregularityapproachestheuniformityofthetides，andtheirvariationskeeppacewiththoseoftheseasons。TheinundationsoftheNilearenotmorecertainlytobepredictedthanthevastwaveofinfantilediseasewhichflowsinuponallourgreatcitieswiththegrowingheatsofJuly，——thanthefeversanddysenterieswhichvisitourruraldistrictsinthemonthsofthefallingleaf。
\"Thephysicianwatchesthesechangesastheastronomerwatchedtheriseofthegreatriver。Helongstorescueindividuals，toprotectcommunitiesfromtheinroadsofthesedestroyingagencies。Heusesallthemeanswhichexperiencehasapproved，trieseveryrationalmethodwhichingenuitycansuggest。Somefortunaterecoveryleadshimtobelievehehashituponapreventiveoracureforamaladywhichhadresistedallknownremedies。Hisrescuedpatientsoundshispraises，andawidecircleofhispatient\'sfriendsjoinsinachorusofeulogies。Self-loveapplaudshimforhissagacity。Self-
interestcongratulateshimonhishavingfoundtheroadtofortune；
thesenseofhavingprovedabenefactorofhisracesmoothsthepillowonwhichhelayshisheadtodreamofthebrilliantfutureopeningbeforehim。Ifasinglecoincidencemayleadapersonofsanguinedispositiontobelievethathehasmasteredadiseasewhichhadbaffledallwhowerebeforehistime，andonwhichhiscontemporarieslookedinhopelessimpotence，whatmustbetheeffectofaseriesofsuchcoincidencesevenonamindofcalmertemper!
Suchseriesofcoincidenceswillhappen，andtheymaywelldeceivetheveryelect。ThinkofDr。Rush，——youknowwhatafamousmanhewas，theveryheadandfrontofAmericanmedicalscienceinhisday，——andrememberhowhespokeaboutyellowfever，whichhethoughthehadmastered!
\"Thusthephysicianisentangledinthemeshesofawideconspiracy，inwhichheandhispatientandtheirfriends，and-Natureherself，areinvolved。WhatwonderthatthehistoryofMedicineshouldbetosogreatanextentarecordofself-delusion!
\"Ifthisseemsadangerousconcessiontotheenemiesofthetruescienceandartofhealing，IwillremindyouthatitisallimpliedinthefirstaphorismofHippocrates，theFatherofMedicine。Donotdrawawronginferencefromthefrankstatementofthedifficultieswhichbesetthemedicalpractitioner。Thinkrather，iftruthissohardofattainment，howpreciousaretheresultswhichtheconsentofthewisestandmostexperiencedamongthehealersofmenagreesinaccepting。Thinkwhatfollyitistocastthemasideinfavorofpalpableimpositionsstolenfromtherecordsofforgottencharlatanism，oroffantasticspeculationsspunfromthesquintingbrainsoftheoristsaswildastheEgyptianastronomer。
\"Beginyourmedicalstudies，then，byreadingthefortiethandthefollowingfourchaptersof\'Rasselas。\'Yourfirstlessonwillteachyoumodestyandcautioninthepursuitofthemostdeceptiveofallpracticalbranchesofknowledge。Faithwillcomelater，whenyoulearnhowmuchmedicalscienceandarthaveactuallyachievedforthereliefofmankind，andhowgreatarethepromisesitholdsoutofstilllargertriumphsovertheenemiesofhumanhealthandhappiness。”
Afterthereadingofthispapertherewasalivelydiscussion，whichwehavenoroomtoreporthere，andtheSocietyadjourned。
XIV
MISSVINCENT\'SSTARTLINGDISCOVERY。
Thesober-minded，sensible，well-instructedDr。Buttswasnotalittleexercisedinmindbythedemandsmadeuponhisknowledgebyhisyoungfriend，andforthetimebeinghispupil，MissLuridaVincent。
\"Idon\'twondertheycalledherTheTerror，\"hesaidtohimself。
\"Sheisenoughtofrightenanybody。ShehastakendownoldbooksfrommyshelvesthatIhadalmostforgottenthebacksof，andastothemedicaljournals，Ibelievethegirlcouldindexthemfrommemory。Sheisinpursuitofsomespecialpointofknowledge，Ifeelsure，andIcannotdoubtwhatdirectionsheisworkingin，butherwonderfulwayofdealingwithbooksamazesme。”
Whatmarvelsthose\"firstscholars\"intheclassesofourgreatuniversitiesandcollegesare，tobesure!Theyarenot，asarule，themostdistinguishedoftheirclassinthelongstruggleoflife。
Thechancesarethat\"thefield\"willbeat\"thefavorite\"overthelongrace-course。Otherswilldevelopalongerstrideandmorestayingpower。Butwhatfinegiftsthose\"firstscholars\"havereceivedfromnature!Howdullwewriters，famousorobscure，areintheacquisitionofknowledgeascomparedwiththem!Toleadtheirclassmatestheymusthavequickapprehension，finememories，thoroughcontroloftheirmentalfaculties，strongwill，powerofconcentration，facilityofexpression，——awonderfulequipmentofmentalfaculties。Ialwayswanttotakemyhatofftothefirstscholarofhisyear。
Dr。ButtsfeltsomewhatinthesamewayashecontemplatedTheTerror。Shesurprisedhimsooftenwithherknowledgethathewasreadytoreceiveherwithoutastonishmentwhensheburstinuponhimoneallaywithacryoftriumph，\"Eureka!Eureka!\"
\"Andwhathaveyoufound，mydear？\"saidthedoctor。
Luridawasflushedandpantingwiththeexcitementofhernewdiscovery。
\"IdobelievethatIhavefoundthesecretofourstrangevisitor\'sdreadofallhumanintercourse!\"
Theseasonedpractitionerwasnoteasilythrownoffhisbalance。
\"Waitaminuteandgetyourbreath，\"saidthedoctor。\"Areyounotalittleoverstatinghispeculiarity？Itisnotquitesobadasthat。
Hekeepsamantoservehim，hewascivilwiththepeopleattheOldTavern，hewasaffableenough，Iunderstand，withtheyoungfellowhepulledoutofthewater，orrescuedsomehow，——Idon\'tbelievebeavoidsthewholehumanrace。Hedoesnotlookasifhehatedthem，sofarasIhaveremarkedhisexpression。Ipassedafewwordswithhimwhenhismanwasailing，andfoundhimpoliteenough。No，I
don\'tbelieveitismuchmorethananextremecaseofshyness，connected，perhaps，withsomecongenitalorotherpersonalrepugnancetowhichhasbeengiventhenameofanantipathy。”
Luridacouldhardlykeepstillwhilethedoctorwasspeaking。Whenhefinished，shebegantheaccountofherdiscovery:
\"IdocertainlybelieveIhavefoundanaccountofhiscaseinanItalianmedicaljournalofaboutfourteenyearsago。ImetwithareferencewhichledmetolookoverafileoftheGiornaledegliOspitalilyingamongtheoldpamphletsinthemedicalsectionoftheLibrary。Ihavemadeatranslationofit，whichyoumustreadandthentellmeifyoudonotagreewithmeinmyconclusion。”
\"Tellmewhatyourconclusionis，andIwillreadyourpaperandseeformyselfwhetherIthinktheevidencejustifiestheconvictionyouseemtohavereached。”
Lurida\'slargeeyesshowedtheirwholeroundslikethetwohalvesofamapoftheworld，asshesaid，\"IbelievethatMauriceKirkwoodissufferingfromtheeffectsofthebiteofaTARANTULA!\"
Thedoctordrewalongbreath。HerememberedinavaguesortofwaythestorieswhichusedtobetoldoftheterribleApulianspider，buthehadconsignedthemtothelimboofmedicalfablewheresomanyfictionshaveclothedthemselveswithalocalhabitationandaname。
Helookedintotheroundeyesandwidepupilsalittleanxiously，asifhefearedthatshewasinastateofundueexcitement，but，truetohisprofessionaltraining，hewaitedforanothersymptom，ifindeedhermindwasinanymeasureoffitsbalance。
\"Iknowwhatyouarethinking，\"Luridasaid，\"butitisnotso。\'I
amnotmad，mostnobleFestus。\'Youshallseetheevidenceandjudgeforyourself。Readthewholecase，——youcanreadmyhandalmostasifitwereprint，andtellmeifyoudonotagreewithmethatthisyoungmanisinallprobabilitythesamepersonastheboydescribedintheItalianjournal，Onethingyoumightsayisagainstthesupposition。TheyoungpatientisspokenofasSignorinoM……Ch……ButyoumustrememberthatchispronouncedhardinItalian，likek，whichletteriswantingintheItalianalphabet；anditisnaturalenoughthattheinitialofthesecondnameshouldhavegotchangedintherecordtoitsItalianequivalent。”
Beforeinvitingthereadertofollowthedetailsofthisextraordinarycaseasfoundinamedicaljournal，thenarratorwishestobeindulgedinafewwordsofexplanation，inorderthathemaynothavetoapologizeforallowingtheintroductionofasubjectwhichmaybethoughttobelongtotheprofessionalstudentratherthantothereadersofthisrecord。Thereisagreatdealinmedicalbookswhichitisveryunbecomingtobringbeforethegeneralpublic，——agreatdealtorepel，todisgust，toalarm，toexciteunwholesomecuriosity。Itisnotthemenwhosedutieshavemadethemfamiliarwiththisclassofsubjectswhoaremostlikelytooffendbyscenesanddescriptionswhichbelongtothephysician\'sprivatelibrary，andnottotheshelvesdevotedtopoliteliterature。
GoldsmithandevenSmollett，bothhavingstudiedandpractisedmedicine，couldnotbyanypossibilityhaveoutragedallthenaturalfeelingsofdelicacyanddecencyasSwiftandZolahaveoutragedthem。Butwithouthandlingdoubtfulsubjects，therearemanycuriousmedicalexperienceswhichhaveinterestforeveryoneasextremeillustrationsofordinaryconditionswithwhichallareacquainted。
Noonecanstudythenowfamiliarhistoryofclairvoyanceprofitablywhohasnotlearnedsomethingofthevagariesofhysteria。NoonecanreadunderstandinglythelifeofCowperandthatofCarlylewithouthavingsomeideaoftheinfluenceofhypochondriasisandofdyspepsiauponthedispositionandintellectofthesubjectsofthesemaladies。Ineednotapologize，therefore，forgivingpublicitytothatpartofthisnarrativewhichdealswithoneofthemostsingularmaladiestobefoundintherecordsofbodilyandmentalinfirmities。
ThefollowingistheaccountofthecaseastranslatedbyMissVincent。Forobviousreasonsthewholenamewasnotgivenintheoriginalpaper，andforsimilarreasonsthedateoftheeventandthebirthplaceofthepatientarenotpreciselyindicatedhere。
[GiornaledegliOspitali，Luglio21，18。1
REMARKABLECASEOFTARANTISM。
\"Thegreatinterestattachingtotheverysingularandexceptionalinstanceofthisrareaffectioninducesustogiveafullaccountoftheextraordinaryexampleofitsoccurrenceinapatientwhowasthesubjectofarecentmedicalconsultationinthiscity。
\"SignorinoM……Ch……istheonlysonofagentlemantravellinginItalyatthistime。Heiselevenyearsofage，ofsanguine-nervoustemperament，lighthair，blueeyes，intelligentcountenance，wellgrown，butratherslightinform，toallappearanceingoodhealth，butsubjecttocertainpeculiarandanomalousnervoussymptoms，ofwhichhisfathergivesthishistory。
\"Nineyearsago，thefatherinformsus，hewastravellinginItalywithhiswife，thischild，andanurse。TheywerepassingafewdaysinacountryvillagenearthecityofBari，capitaloftheprovinceofthesamenameinthedivisioncompartamentoofApulia。Thechildwasinperfecthealthandhadneverbeenaffectedbyanyseriousillness。Onthe10thofJulyhewasplayingoutinthefieldnearthehousewherethefamilywasstayingwhenhewasheardtoscreamsuddenlyandviolently。Thenurserushingtohimfoundhimingreatpain，sayingthatsomethinghadbittenhiminoneofhisfeet。
Alaborer，oneTommaso，ranupatthemomentandperceivedinthegrass，nearwheretheboywasstanding，anenormousspider，whichheatoncerecognizedasatarantula。Hemanagedtocatchthecreatureinalargeleaf，fromwhichhewasafterwardstransferredtoawide-
mouthedbottle，wherehelivedwithoutanyfoodforamonthormore。
Thecreaturewascoveredwithshorthairs，andhadapairofnipper-
likejaws，withwhichhecouldinflictanuglywound。Hisbodymeasuredaboutaninchinlength，andfromtheextremityofoneofthelongestlimbstotheotherwasbetweentwoandthreeinches。
Suchwastheaccountgivenbythephysiciantowhomthepeasantcarriedthegreatspider。
\"Theboywhohadbeenbittencontinuedscreamingviolentlywhilehisstockingwasbeingremovedandthefootexamined。Theplaceofthebitewaseasilyfoundandthetwomarksoftheclaw-likejawsalreadyshowedtheeffectsofthepoison，asmalllividcircleextendingaroundthem，withsomepuffyswelling。ThedistinguishedDr。Amadeiwasimmediatelysentfor，andappliedcupsoverthewoundsinthehopeofdrawingforththepoison。Invainallhisskillandefforts!
Soon，ataxicirregularnervoussymptomsdeclaredthemselves，anditbecameplainthatthesystemhadbeeninfectedbythepoison。
Thesymptomswereverymuchlikethoseofmalignantfever，suchasdistressabouttheregionoftheheart，difficultyofbreathing，collapseofallthevitalpowers，threateningimmediatedeath。Fromthesefirstsymptomsthechildrallied，buthisentireorganismhadbeenprofoundlyaffectedbythevenomcirculatingthroughit。Hisconstitutionhasneverthrownoffthemaladyresultingfromthistoxicpoisonousagent。ThephenomenawhichhavebeenobservedinthisyoungpatientcorrespondsonearlywiththoseenumeratedintheelaborateessayofthecelebratedBaglivithatonemightthinktheyhadbeentranscribedfromhispages。
\"Heisveryfondofsolitude，——ofwanderingaboutinchurchyardsandotherlonelyplaces。Hewasoncefoundhidinginanemptytomb，whichhadbeenleftopen。Hisaversiontocertaincolorsisremarkable。Generallyspeaking，heprefersbrighttintstodarkerones，buthislikesanddislikesarecapricious，andwithregardtosomecolorshisantipathyamountstopositivehorror。Someshadeshavesuchaneffectuponhimthathecannotremainintheroomwiththem，andifhemeetsanyonewhosedresshasanyofthatparticularcolorhewillturnawayorretreatsoastoavoidpassingthatperson。Amongthese，purpleanddarkgreenaretheleastendurable。
Hecannotexplainthesensationswhichtheseobnoxiouscolorsproduceexceptbysayingthatitislikethedeadlyfeelingfromablowontheepigastriumpitofthestomach。
\"Aboutthesameseasonoftheyearatwhichthetarantularpoisoningtookplaceheisliabletocertainnervousseizures，notexactlylikefaintingorepilepsy，butremindingthephysicianofthoseaffections。Alltheothersymptomsareaggravatedatthistime。
\"Inotherrespectsthanthosementionedtheboyisingoodhealth。
Heisfondofriding，andhasaponyonwhichhetakesagreatdealofexercise，whichseemstodohimmoregoodthananyotherremedy。
\"Theinfluenceofmusic，towhichsomuchhasbeenattributedbypopularbeliefandevenbythedistinguishedProfessortowhomweshallagainrefer，hasnotasyetfurnishedanysatisfactoryresults。
Ifthegraversymptomsrecurwhilethepatientisunderourobservation，weproposetomakeuseofanagencydiscreditedbymodernskepticism，butdeservingofafairtrialasanexceptionalremedyforanexceptionaldisease。
\"ThefollowingextractsfromtheworkofthecelebratedItalianphysicianofthelastcenturyaregivenbythewriterofthepaperintheGiornaleintheoriginalLatin，withatranslationintoItalian，subjoined。Herearetheextracts，orratherhereisaselectionfromthem，withatranslationofthemintoEnglish。
\"AftermentioningthesingularaversiontocertaincolorsshownbythesubjectofTarantism，Bagliviwritesasfollows:
\"\'Etsiastantesincedantvestibuseocoloredifusis，quiTarantatisingratesest，necesseestutabillorumaspecturecedant；namadintuitummolesticolorisangorecordis，etsymptomatumrecrudescantiastatingcorripiuntur。\'G。Baglivi，Op。Omnia，page614。Lugduni，1745。
\"Thatis，\'ifthepersonsaboutthepatientweardressesofthecolorwhichisoffensivetohim，hemustgetawayfromthesightofthem，foronseeingtheobnoxiouscolorheisatonceseizedwithdistressintheregionoftheheart，andarenewalofhissymptoms。\'
\"Astotherecurrenceofthemalady，Baglivisays:
\"\'Damcalorsolisardentiusexurereincipat，quodcontingitcircainitiaJuliietAugusti，Tarantatilentevenientemrecrudescentiamvenenipercipiunt。\'Ibid。，page619。
\"WhichIrender，\'Whentheheatofthesunbeginstoburnmorefiercely，whichhappensaboutthebeginningofJulyandAugust，thesubjectsofTarantismperceivethegraduallyapproachingrecrudescencereturningsymptomsofthepoisoning。Amongtheremediesmostvaluedbythisillustriousphysicianisthatmentionedinthefollowingsentence:
\"\'Laudomagnopereequitationesinaererusticanofactassingulisdiebus，hordpotissimummatutina，quibusequitationibusmorboschronicospeneincurabilesprotanuseliminavi。\'
\"Orintranslation，\"\'Icommendespeciallyridingonhorsebackincountryair，everyday，bypreferenceinthemorninghours，bytheaidofwhichhorsebackridingIhavedrivenoffchronicdiseaseswhichwerealmostincurable。\'\"
MissVincentreadthispaperaloudtoDr。Butts，andhandedittohimtoexamineandconsider。Helistenedwithagravecountenanceanddevoutattention。
Asshefinishedreadingheraccount，sheexclaimedinthepassionatetonesofthedeepestconviction，\"There，doctor!Haven\'tIfoundthetruestoryofthisstrangevisitor？Haven\'tIsolvedtheriddleoftheSphinx？Whocanthismanbebuttheboyofthatstory？Lookatthedateofthejournalwhenhewaselevenyearsold，itwouldmakehimtwenty-fivenow，andthatisjustabouttheagethepeopleherethinkhemustbeof。WhatcouldaccountsoentirelyforhiswaysandactionsasthatstrangepoisoningwhichproducesthestatetheycallTarantism？IamjustassureitmustbethatasIamthatIamalive。Oh，doctor，doctor，I
mustberight，——thisSignprinoM……Ch……wastheboyMauriceKirkwood，andthestoryaccountsforeverything，——hissolitaryhabits，hisdreadofpeople，——itmustbebecausetheywearthecolorshecan\'tbear。Hismorningridesonhorseback，hiscomingherejustastheseasonwasapproachingwhichwouldaggravateallhissymptoms，doesn\'tallthisprovethatImustberightinmyconjecture，——no，myconviction？\"
Thedoctorknewtoomuchtointerrupttheyoungenthusiast，andsoheletherrunonuntilsherandown。Hewasmoreusedtotherulesofevidencethanshewas，andcouldnotacceptherpositiveconclusionsoreadilyasshewouldhavelikedtohavehim。Heknewthatbeginnersareveryapttomakewhattheythinkarediscoveries。Buthehadbeenananglerandknewthemeaningofayieldingrodandaneasy-runningreel。Hesaidquietly，\"Youareamostsagaciousyounglady，andaveryprettyprimafaciecaseitisthatyoumakeout。IcanseenoproofthatMr。KirkwoodisnotthesamepersonastheM……Ch……ofthemedicaljournal，——thatis，ifIacceptyourexplanationofthedifferenceintheinitialsofthesetwonames。Eveniftherewereadifference，thatwouldnotdisprovetheiridentity，fortheinitialsofpatientswhosecasesarereportedbytheirphysiciansareoftenalteredforthepurposeofconcealment。Idonotknow，however，thatMr。
Kirkwoodhasshownanyspecialaversiontoanyparticularcolor。Itmightbeinterestingtoinquirewhetheritisso，butitisadelicatematter。Idon\'texactlyseewhosebusinessitistoinvestigateMr。MauriceKirkwood\'sidiosyncrasiesandconstitutionalhistory。Ifheshouldhaveoccasiontosendformeatanytime，hemighttellmeallabouthimself，inconfidence，youknow。TheseoldaccountsfromBagliviarecuriousandinteresting，butIamcautiousaboutreceivinganystoriesahundredyearsold，iftheyinvolveanimprobability，ashisstoriesaboutthecureofthetarantulabitebymusiccertainlydo。Iamdisposedtowaitforfuturedevelopments，bearinginmind，ofcourse，theverysingularcaseyouhaveunearthed。Itwouldn\'tbeverystrangeifouryounggentlemanhadtosendformebeforetheseasonisover。Heisoutagooddealbeforethedewisoffthegrass，whichisratherriskyinthisneighborhoodasautumncomeson。Iamsomewhatcurious，Iconfess，abouttheyoungman，butIdonotmeddlewhereIamnotaskedfororwanted，andIhavefoundthateggshatchjustaswellifyouletthemaloneinthenestasifyoutakethemoutandshakethemeveryday。Thisisawonderfullyinterestingsuppositionofyours，andmayprovetobestrictlyinaccordancewiththefacts。ButIdonotthinkwehaveallthefactsinthisyoungman\'scase。Ifitwereprovedthathehadanaversiontoanycolor，itwouldgreatlystrengthenyourcase。
His\'antipatia，\'ashismancalledit，mustbeonewhichcoversawideground，toaccountforhisself-isolation，——andthecolorhypothesisseemsasplausibleasany。But，mydearMissVincent，Ithinkyouhadbetterleaveyoursingularandstrikinghypothesisinmykeepingforawhile，ratherthanletitgetabroadinacommunitylikethis，wheresomanytonguesareinactiveexercise。Iwillcarefullystudythispaper，ifyouwillleaveitwithme，andwewilltalkthewholematterover。Itisafairsubjectforspeculation，onlywemustkeepquietaboutit。”
ThislongspeechgaveLurida\'sperfervidbraintimetocooloffalittle。Sheleftthepaperwiththedoctor，tellinghimshewouldcomeforitthenextday，andwentofftotelltheresultofthisvisittoherbosomfriend，MissEuthymiaTower。
XV
DR。BUTTSCALLSONEUTHYMIA。