ard to
medicine, entered into combination and proposed to place me at the head
of a hospital, in which I should have an opportunity, as they supposed,
to test the superiority of my favorite practice.

The buildings needful for the purpose, were to be furnished by one of
the company, gratuitously. For the rest, a subscription was to have been
started. The salary was to have been $1,000 a year. Matters were, in
fine, carried so far that nothing remained but my own acceptance or
non-acceptance, of the proposal, as there was no doubt that the
subscription would readily succeed.

But I saw, at the moment, so many difficulties, that after a careful
consideration of the subject I was compelled to decline. Situated as I
then was, and with very little self-confidence, perhaps the decision was
right. And yet I have at times, ever since, regretted it. I was not then
so fully aware as I now am, of the stern necessity of such institutions.

Still later than this, I made an effort to establish a Hospital, on my
own responsibility, and on my own plan. This was, simply, to receive
patients at my house, and teach them, both by precept and example, _how
to live._ In other words, I was to teach the art of preventing disease
by obeying the physical and moral laws. Even disease itself was to be
cured by obedience to these laws,--those of hygiene.

At this time, I was residing in the country. Had I been in the crowded
city, I might, perhaps, have succeeded. As it was, I found many
difficulties. Just now, too, among other difficulties, my pecuniary
condition became embarrassed, and I was anxious to be freed from debt
before I begun a work which, at best, required a good deal of capital.
Not to be able to labor wholly gratuitously would, as I thought, defeat
my whole plan.

In these circumstances, and after considerable delay, the whole thing
was indefinitely postponed; and soon after, I removed to a region still
less promising. I shall not, at present, if ever, repeat my attempts, at
least on the plan of doing my work gratuitously. What costs little is,
usually, little valued.

And yet, such institutions are needed; and the time must come when they
will succeed. Some eminent medical man who already possesses wealth,
will perhaps make the trial. For myself, I prefer a more radical work. I
prefer to throw my own make-weight, while I live, into the scale of
early and correct physical education.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

DESTRUCTION BY SC