News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-02-26
A STRAIGHT DIAGNOSIS.
By ELEANOR KIRK.

On, Aunt Mary, Just as if one could
tell anything about malaria ! 1t is like
the wind. 1t cometh from no one knows
where, and bloweth where it listetk:"
and the invalid turned her pretty flushed
lace 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 that 1 have opinions"
"And 1 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 f&r as 1t 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 60"
Miss Harrington'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
of character
"Why, auntie, I should give up en-
tirely 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?"
eyes, auntie, and l hope you'll re-
member that obedience is not my strong
point"
'tBut have your promise, and that
will do" said the nurse, cheerfully; s'and
now we'll see. ="
Nineteen years DID, Miss Harring-
ton said to herself, "and confined to her
bed eight weeks with malaria? Bosh
A bad tongue, feverish, more emaciated |
than L 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 I wonder what the doctor did
before the word malaria came into use.
I must ask this physician his reason for
calling this malarial attack"
Miss Harrington was as good as her
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.
sis 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,
Iaria in this locality ?"
"Oh, yes; malaria is by no means
rare product in this neighborhood.
'tBut it is very high and dry, and con-
stantly swept by sea-breezes."
''Yes; very high and dry"
'And very gay?" Aunt Mary sug-
gested, demurely.
"Yes; exceptionally gay"
There was a comical twinkle in the
gentleman's eye that told of a quick ap-
''And late hours, and thin shoes, and
low necks, and salads, and soufh IS some
times induce malaria, 1 suppose?"
"Without doubt"
swell, why don't you say SO, thenP"
Aunt Mary had kept her claws sheathed
Just about as long as was possible.
ga physician cannot safely meddle
L T. e L.
cept in extreme eases, " was the unruf-
fed response. "If I were to take the
broad platform which you recommend"
the gentleman added, ST should not
only not do the least bit of good, but I
shouldn't have patient left. My repu-
tation would be simply that of an old
busy body and an old fool. But, madam,
this is an excellent field for you, and 1
am sure We can work together with the
utmost harmony"
"Perhaps you are right" said Miss
Harrington, thoughtfully, "but don't
exactly see it. OF course, if your pa
tients are all idiots. that settles it."
''You would scarcely call your niece
an IDIOT" said the doctor, "and sheis as
fair representative of the class as 1
could name"
After few days of Aunt Mary's
efficient nursing, her patient felt able to
sit up, and her maid was directed to get
together the necessary articles of ward
robe. Among the first things presented
were pair of black silk stockings and a
pair of kid slippers.
''What are these p 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 ?"
"Wny, of course, auntie."
'In the dead of winter as well as in
the dog-days ?"
The young lady laughed merrily at
her companions old fogyism.
Certainly. just see how pretty they
look with the silk stockings"
GLOW many corns have you,
Blanche ?"
"Oh, only two or three little bits OF
ones. I Isend for a chiropodist once in
a while, and then I'm all right for ever
so long"
ga girl of nineteen with her feet in a
chiropodist's hands p said auntie, with a
wry face.
''That isn't anything. Why, almost
all the girls -"
''Not the slightest doubt of it," the
lady interrupted. "You have nothing
else, suppose, to put on your feet but
these things?"
''No, auntie, and I wouldn't wear any
others if had"
81 have now accounted for your back
aches, Blanche, " said Miss Harrington,
".1nd we will proceed to eliminate the