nted, left me in little
doubt as to the nature of the malady against which I had to contend.
Even while her mother talked, my patient fell away into the stupor from
which I had aroused her.

My treatment of the case coincided with the practice of men eminent in
the school of medicine to which I then belonged. I am not a disciple
of that school now, having found a system of exacter science, and one
compassing more certain results with smaller risk and less waste of
physical energy.

In order to remove the uneasiness of which my patient complained, I gave
an emetic. Its action was salutary, causing a determination towards the
skin, and opening the pores, as well as relieving the oppression from
which she suffered.

"How is your head now?" I asked, after she had been quiet for some
minutes.

"Better. I feel scarcely any pain."

"So far, all is right," said I, cheerfully.

The mother looked at me with an anxious face. I arose, and we retired
from the room together. Before leaving, I spoke encouragingly to my
patient, and promised to see her early in the morning.

"My daughter is very sick, Doctor. What is the disease?" The mother
spoke calmly and firmly. "I am not one towards whom any concealments
need be practised; and it is meet that I should know the worst, that I
may do the best."

"The disease, madam," I replied, "has not yet put on all of its
distinctive signs. A fever--we call it the fever of incubation--is the
forerunner of several very different ailments, and, at the beginning,
the most accurate eye may fail to see what is beyond. In the present
case, however, I think that typhoid fever is indicated."

I spoke as evenly as possible, and with as little apparent concern as
possible. But I saw the blood go instantly back from the mother's face.

"Typhoid fever!" she ejaculated, in a low voice, clasping her hands
together. I learned afterwards that she had cause to dread this
exhausting and often fatal disease. "Oh, Doctor! do for her as if she
were your own and only child."

She grasped my arm, like one catching at a fleeting hope.

"As if she were my own and only child!" I repeated her words in promise
and assurance, adding--

"The first result of the medicine which I gave is just what I desired.
I will leave something more to be taken at intervals of two hours, until
midnight. In the morning, I hope to find a very encouraging change."

"But, Doctor," she replied, "if this is a case of typhoid fever