The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-04-09
A STRAIGHT DIAGNOsus
BY ELEANOR KIRK.

"Oh, Aunt Mary, just as if one comic
tell anything about malaria! 1t is like
the wind. Is cometh from no one know.
where, and bloweth where it listeth >
and the invalid turned her pretty flushed
face on the pillow with a movement OF
unmistakable irritation.
" Blanche, dear, have the kindness to
look at me a minute" said Miss Mary
harrington, firmly but kindly. "We
don't want to make any mistakes to start
with. You know am very blunt, and
you know have opinions-''
And | know there is nobody in all
the world like you when one is ill., the
young lady interrupted and that is
why | begged and prayed mamma to
send for YOU
" That is-very pleasant and encourag-
ing as far as it goes" said the lady, "but
| can remain, Blanche, as your nurse,
only on the condition that you obey me.
am ready to unpack and stay, or put on
my hat and co.
Miss Harrngton's gray eyes were ten
der and smiling, and her whole face was
aglow with active benevolence but the
broad brow and the firm mouth had also
much to say of careful study and strength
and character.
why, aunte, | should give up en-
tlrely if you disappointed me now," the
Invalid replied, with quivering lips 81
have just lived on the thought of your
coming"
Well, will you obey me ~
les, auntie, and | hope you'll re-
member that obedience is not nv strong
point"
!" But have your promise, and that
Will do, said the nurse, cheerfully "and
now we'll see"
Nineteen years DID," Miss IIarring-
ton said to herself, "and confined to her
bed eight weeks with malaria Bosh
"A bad tongue, teverish, more emaciated
than had expected to find her, pain in
her side, intermitting pulse, constant
| oppression OF the chest, backache, acute
headaches, cold extremities, and no ap-
| petite. And this is malaria Bosh
again | wonder what the doctor did
before the word malaria came in use.
l must ask this physician his reason for
calling this malaral attack"
Miss Harrington was as good as hel
word, and forcing her opinions and her
doubts quite into the background,
started on her tour Of investigation with
an appearance of implicit faith in the
ability of the medical man to answer her
questions
Is there anything the matter with the
plumbing?" the lady inquired.
There isn't sanitary precaution that
your brother has not taken," the doctor
answered
Do you know of other cases of ma
laria in this locality 2"
"Oh, yes; malaria is by no means a
rare product in this neighborhood."
But is very high and dry, and con-
stantly swept by seabreezes.''
Yes; very high and dry"
land very gay:' Aunt Mary sugges-
ted demurely.
" Yes; exceptionally gay"
There was comical twinkle in the
| gentleman's eye that told of quick APP
| probation Of his companions remark
And late hours, and thin shoes, and
low necks, aud salads, and soutfles some
times induce malaria, | suppose?
" Without doubt"
"Well, why don't you say so, then %
Aunt Mary had kept her claws sheathed
| JNHO "DNNe e'' iO"S5 40 w 90 POSolUiC'
"A physician cannot safely meddle
with the private life of his patients ex-
cept in extreme cases." was the unruf-
fled response. eff | were to take the
broad platform which you recommend"
the gentleman added, 81 should not
only not do the least bit of good, but l
shouldn't have patient left. My repu-
tation would be simply that of an old
busy ybody and an old fool. But, madam,
this is an excellent field for you, and |
am sure we can work together with the
utmost harmony"
"Perhaps you are right" said Miss
Harrington thoughtfully, "but l don't
exactly see it. OF course, if your patients
are all idiots, that settles it.''
You would scarcely call your niece
an IDIOT" said the doctor, "and she is as
fair representative of the class as
could name"
After few days of Aunt Mary's eff
cient nursing, her patient felt able to sit
up, and her maid was directed to get to-
gether the necessary articles of ward
robe Among the first things presented
were a pair of black silk stockings and a
pair of kid slippers.
| w nat are Cncse MISS harrington
asked.
"Why, they are the newest style of
slippers, auntie," said her niece.
"Paper soles, and three-inch heels
tapered down to cherry pit in the mid
die of the foot. | presume you wear
these all the time you are in the house %
"Why, of course, auntie."
"In the dead of winter as we'll as in the
dog ?"
The young lady laughed merrily at her
companions old fogyism.
"Certainly. Just see how pretty they
look with the silk stockings"
"How many corns have you,
Blanche ?"
"Oh, only two or three little bits of
ones. | send for a chiropodist once in a
while, and then Pm all right for ever so
long"
"a girl of nineteen with her feet in a
chiropodist'a hands !" said auntie, with a
wry face. ~,
all the girls"
"Not the slightest doubt of It," the
lady interrupted. "You have nothing
l.o suDnose tn nut on your feet but