hem the instant they entered the room, according to the instructions of
our host, they bowed and smiled, and offered to introduce us to whatever
disease we pleased.

We set out several ways, as we were all to pay our respects to different
ladies. I directed my porter to show me to the Fever on the Spirits,
being the disease which had delivered me from the flesh. My guide and I
traversed many streets, and knocked at several doors, but to no purpose.
At one, we were told, lived the Consumption; at another, the Maladie
Alamode, a French lady; at the third, the Dropsy; at the fourth, the
Rheumatism; at the fifth, Intemperance; at the sixth, Misfortune. I was
tired, and had exhausted my patience, and almost my purse; for I gave my
porter a new fee at every blunder he made: when my guide, with a solemn
countenance, told me he could do no more; and marched off without any
farther ceremony.

He was no sooner gone than I met another gentleman with a ticket, i. e.,
an amber-headed cane in his hand. I first fee'd him, and then acquainted
him with the name of the disease. He cast himself for two or three
minutes into a thoughtful posture, then pulled a piece of paper out
of his pocket, on which he wrote something in one of the Oriental
languages, I believe, for I could not read a syllable: he bade me carry
it to such a particular shop, and, telling me it would do my business,
he took his leave.

Secure, as I now thought myself, of my direction, I went to the shop,
which very much resembled an apothecary's. The person who officiated,
having read the paper, took down about twenty different jars, and,
pouring something out of every one of them, made a mixture, which he
delivered to me in a bottle, having first tied a paper round the neck
of it, on which were written three or four words, the last containing
eleven syllables. I mentioned the name of the disease I wanted to
find out, but received no other answer than that he had done as he was
ordered, and the drugs were excellent. I began now to be enraged, and,
quitting the shop with some anger in my countenance, I intended to find
out my inn, but, meeting in the way a porter whose countenance had in it
something more pleasing than ordinary, I resolved to try once more, and
clapped a fee into his hand. As soon as I mentioned the disease to him
he laughed heartily, and told me I had been imposed on, for in reality
no such disease was to be found in that city. He then inquired into the