Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-02-02 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

INVALID'S NOTSS.  - Min% feel up to the mark! Didn't know exactly what was the matter with me, but had a strong disinclination t get up in the in truing, and an overpowering desire to go to sleep in the afternoon. Was generally depressed, and suffered from forebodings of immediate evil which were never fulfilled, lied an idea that the world was against use in general, and that no one would mourn over my approaching death, but would dismiss the subject summarily, not to say with a light heart. Consulted my Doctor. lie sounded me, and said there was a harshness of breathing and there was something not quite right at the bottom of my left lung. I thought so. I had felt it coming on for a long time. I have always known that my life would be shortened by lung-disease, and I proceeded to relate several anecdotes of bronchial affections In our family, to which truth compels me to state my Doctor did not even pay that attention which Common politeness demands. He said there was no ground for uneasiness. Of course, not for him ; but if he was suffering from my complaint he wouldn't take such a cheery view of the case. He advised me to lay up for a bit, to keep warm, and avoid night-air. It is very easy be.a Doctor.  Laid up for a week, kept warm, and avoided night-air. Didn't feel any better. Grew more depressed. Found myself spending hours before the looking-glass, gazing at my tongue. Couldn't sleep execpt at wrong times, such as between breakfast and lunch, and was seized with a wild passion to go to bed at five in the afternoon. This Insomnia leads to madness, and I told my doctor of several cases of raving insanity which adorn our family history, lie has probably never hail any lunatics, except himself, in Ma family, as he poohpooned the notion, and said that want of sleep arose solely from biliousness. A coarse, common train of thought. The drop from incipient insanity, abont whieh there is something heroic, something connected with old red-brick mansions and wainscotted parlours and clanking of chaiug, to biliousness, which is nothing more or less than over-eating and drinking, is as from murder to petty larceny. Probably if convicted of both- I should ',refer to be sentenced for the latter; but I had hueged my insanity—use picture of an over-wrought brain--to my bre:l4, and I was sorry to part with him. The doctor kept on declaring that there was really nothing ths matter with me, but that I was low, and required much nursing ; and it's a wonder he .didn't add petting. He gave me tonics, which, for complete removal of appetite, were, I should think, unequalled. Making no progress one way or the other. Got tired of laying up and keeping warm and avoiding night-air. Went out for the first time to Theatre. Smoked cigarettes, which I sin strictly forbidden to do, in draughty passages, which I am expressly ordered to avoid, and drank brandies and sodas, which I am commanded to shun liko poison, between the Acts. Pouring wet night, and no cabs to be got. Walked from Theatre to Chi) in thin clothes and shoes. Got aoake•si. Drank more B. and S.'s, and smoked more cigarettes, at Club, and came home, wringing wet, in a very slow, stray hansom. Felt chilled to the bone. Did this with variations for a week, then sent for my Doctor again. Ha said I was a little below par, but that my lungs were all sound and well. Laid up for a month. Put myself on a strict diet. Kept in a room with a constant temperature. iTonieked myself vigorously. My isppetite returned. I felt wonderfully well. Sent for toy Doctor. Said there was no absolute danger, but both my lungs were congested. I felt delighted that I had really got something tangible the matter with me at last.