Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Isatforawhile,frozenwithhorror;andthen,inthelistlessnessofdespair,Iagainturnedoverthepages. Icametotyphoidfever—readthesymptoms—discoveredthatIhadtyphoidfever,musthavehaditformonthswithoutknowingit—wonderedwhatelseIhadgot; turnedupSt.Vitus’sDance—found,asIexpected,thatIhadthattoo,—begantogetinterestedinmycase,anddeterminedtosiftittothebottom,andsostartedalphabetically—readupague,andlearntthatIwassickeningforit,andthattheacutestagewouldcommenceinaboutanotherfortnight. Bright’sdisease,Iwasrelievedtofind,Ihadonlyinamodifiedform,and,sofarasthatwasconcerned,Imightliveforyears. CholeraIhad,withseverecomplications;anddiphtheriaIseemedtohavebeenbornwith. Iploddedconscientiouslythroughthetwenty-sixletters,andtheonlymaladyIcouldconcludeIhadnotgotwashousemaid’sknee. 

           Ifeltratherhurtaboutthisatfirst; itseemedsomehowtobeasortofslight. Whyhadn’tIgothousemaid’sknee? Whythisinvidiousreservation? Afterawhile,however,lessgraspingfeelingsprevailed. IreflectedthatIhadeveryotherknownmaladyinthepharmacology,andIgrewlessselfish,anddeterminedtodowithouthousemaid’sknee. Gout,initsmostmalignantstage,itwouldappear,hadseizedmewithoutmybeingawareofit;andzymosisIhadevidentlybeensufferingwithfromboyhood. Therewerenomorediseasesafterzymosis,soIconcludedtherewasnothingelsethematterwithme. 

           Isatandpondered. IthoughtwhataninterestingcaseImustbefromamedicalpointofview,whatanacquisitionIshouldbetoaclass! Studentswouldhavenoneedto"walkthehospitals,"iftheyhadme. Iwasahospitalinmyself. Alltheyneeddowouldbetowalkroundme,and,afterthat,taketheirdiploma.