J'espere que Mons. Faura
la bonte de faire revision du memoire, et de m'en dire encore son
sentiment."
Considering the nature of the case, you see I could not treat him
more civilly. I desired the servant to ask when he should return
for an answer, and whether he expected another fee. He desired
him to come next morning, and, as the fellow assured me, gave him
to understand, that whatever monsieur might solicit, should be for
his (the servant's) advantage. In all probability he did not
expect another gratification, to which, indeed, he had no title.
Mons. F - was undoubtedly much mortified to find himself detected
in such flagrant instances of unjustifiable negligence, arid like
all other persons in the same ungracious dilemma, instead of
justifying himself by reason or argument, had recourse to
recrimination. In the paper which he sent me next day, he
insisted in general that he had carefully perused the case (which
you will perceive was a self-evident untruth); he said the theory
it contained was idle; that he was sure it could not be written
by a physician; that, with respect to the disorder, he was still
of the same opinion; and adhered to his former prescription; but
if I had any doubts I might come to his house, and he would
resolve them.
I wrapt up twelve livres in the following note, and sent it to
his house.
"C'est ne pas sans raison que monsieur F - jouit d'une si grande
reputation. Je n'ai plus de doutes, graces a Dieu et a monsieur
F - e. " "It is not without reason that monsieur Fizes enjoys such
a large share of reputation. I have no doubts remaining; thank
Heaven and monsieur Fizes."
To this I received for answer. "Monsieur n'a plus de doutes: j'en
suis charme. Receu douze livres. F - , &c." "Sir, you have no
doubts remaining; I am very glad of it. Received twelve livres.
Fizes, &c."
Instead of keeping his promise to the valet, he put the money in
his pocket; and the fellow returned in a rage, exclaiming that he
was un gros cheval de carosse, a great coach-horse.
I shall make no other comment upon the medicines, and the regimen
which this great Doctor prescribed; but that he certainly mistook
the case: that upon the supposition I actually laboured under a
purulent discharge from the lungs, his remedies savour strongly
of the old woman; and that there is a total blank with respect to
the article of exercise, which you know is so essential in all
pulmonary disorders. But after having perused my remarks upon his
first prescription, he could not possibly suppose that I had
tubercules, and was spitting up pus; therefore his persisting in
recommending the same medicines he had prescribed on that
supposition, was a flagrant absurdity.
