selves to act the part of _moral_ as well as
_physical_ agents. For myself, I think it would be well if medical men
were so far constituted missionaries, as to make it a duty to point a
moral whenever it would be likely to be well received. I am aware that
attempts of this sort with many persons would be vain or injudicious, and
sometimes nauseate perhaps, like the accompanying drugs; but eventually it
might prove salutary to the soul; and although cursed for good advice, is
it not in the end a blessing? But to my story: I was called a short time
since to a youth about twenty years of age: he had been only a few months
in the city, and I had occasionally seen him, but had little acquaintance
with him, being much his senior. When I entered, one of his fits of
raving, occasioned by fever, was just coming on. I approached and took his
hand: 'What do you want?' said he; 'you look so mild and yet so
penetrating. I have not got any.' 'Any _what_?' said I. 'Any money,' he
replied; 'the drawer was locked, and I could not get any without being
seen; so go away!' 'I came to cure you, not to take your money,' I
replied. 'Ah!' said he, 'did I not take some from you? Look! look! There
they come! sixpences, shillings! See! see! how they tumble from the wall!
Look! there is a piece of gold! See! look! there they keep coming! I
never took all this!--at first I only took enough to get a cigar with, now
and then. See! the room is filling! I shall suffocate!' 'What does this
mean, young man?' said I; 'be calm.' 'Did they not tell you to _come and
feel my pulse and see if there was not a sixpence in it_?' 'No, no; I came
to make you better.' 'Better? _better_? BETTER? Here, hide these; don't
let my friends know of them; they were stolen! I cannot look at them now.
Ha! ha! ha!--I cannot!' I was induced to remain until the frenzy of the
fever had passed off, and found the young man had intervals of reason. He
was now in deep despondency. I inquired his name. He had dropped it, he
said; he could not debase it. 'Debase it?' said I. 'Yes!' he answered,
with a groan like a howl. The next day the young man sent for me again. He
appeared much altered; said that he did not wish to live; that he had '_a
gnawing at his soul_.' I remarked that he was very young to be tired of
life; that if he had been guilty of any crime he should desire to live to
expiate it. 'No,' he replied, 'the stain will always last!' I told him,
not so; that if he heartily rep