The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-05-03

then a fever will succeed, after which it
will fall upon his nerves, and in a short
time it will carry him off.
Thus, sir, be pleased to remember"
continued he, addressing himself to the
apothecary, " that have told you the
different stages and changes Of your new
disorder, and seek the best advice and
assistance you may, you will find all have
advanced to be exactly true"
Here the people were all amazed at
this strange prognostication Of the for
eign mountebank upon their own town
doctor, and were impatient for Its issue.
The learned orator, having finished all he
had intended to say upoX the subject, i'm
uediatcly proceeded IN his haraugue on
other matters.
The poor apothecary could think OF
nothing nut what the stranger had proph-
csied concerning his approaching illness.
He wen5 home directly, and related to
his vile all he had heard. And some
little time after, the good woman, per-
ceiving her husband pausng, melancholy,
and apparently concerned at it, could not
help sympathizing Il little with him, say
luS:
My dear, | am sorry to see you so
crave. but hope you do not feel the dis
ease coming ON you already, | should
think you are the best judge whether the
doctor could perceive amy symptoms Of
illness in you; but if might advise you,
you should for prevention and security,
take something, which you may think
serviccubc directly.
" Ay," replied the husband, "but he
also told me that nobody but himself
could tell what to give me that would do
any good; aud therefore ii find myself
attacked according to his prediction, it
will be in vain for me to attempt any
remedy, from my own prescription or
from any person but himself.
From this moment he began to be very
uneasy in mind, and consequently his
disorder commenced, and, about seven or
eight clock was the time the doctor had
fixed for his lownoss OF spirits to begin,
he was very impatient to see what altera-
tion would appear at that time and very
socn after he was SO extremel ly i'll that he
could not sit up any longer, 50 that to
bed he went; and his distemper increas-
ing the next day, as DR.. de Rotourgnac
had foretold, his appetite was wholly lost,
and the news Of his illness spread over
the whole town, to the credit and honor
Of the mountebank baron; and, although
Mr.. Stevens was very unwilling to send
for him, fearing that it might tend to
lesson his own reputation in future, yet
he was persuaded that all the medicine
in the world without his assistance, would
be unavailing.
. So that on the next day, fever ensu-
ing, (Which was inevitable with man of
such notions,) by the advice Of his wife
and some friends, he at last sent for Dr.
de Retourgnac, who being come, took no
notice Of ever having seen his patient
before, felt his pulse, asked such ques-
.tions as he thought proper, told that his
disease was Of Il very dangerous nature
that he had not found any physician in
England who knew how to manage it
properly, but still had hopes Of being
able to recover him in few days, as he
had been called in time; that, if he cured
him, he would have forty guineas for his
medicine and attendance; and that, if he
did not succeed he was willing to forfeit
a thousand,
TO these terms the apothecary gladly
consented, and the doctor went home tC
prepare something to relieve him. We
may suppose any simple thing would do
for the cure was to be effected, not by
the medicine, but by the physician,
From this moment he began to amend
apace, so that, the cure was effected, in
four or five days, and the doctor not only
received his stipulated reward, but was
extollod in an extraordinary manner.
After Mr.. Stevens was quite well again
he was very anxious to know by what
rule or method an approaching distempel
could be found out, and how cure was
to be worked. He thought, if he coult
by any means obtain this secret, he eshoulc
be happy, and then be able to vie witt
} any of his competitioners in England
J So, after he had made a proposal to tho
doctor for the purchase of the secret, anC