condition of a patient to enable him
to treat the case successfully; but a large experience in this practice
has proved the contrary to be true, for some of the most remarkable
cures have been effected through the medium of correspondence. In most
long-continued cases, the patient has thought over his symptoms hundreds
of times. The location of every pain, whether acute or mild, constant or
occasional, and the circumstances under which it occurs, have been
carefully noted. He has observed whether he had a rush of blood to the
head, was feverish or chilly, whether troubled with cold hands and feet,
whether full of blood, or pale and bloodless; and he states these
matters with accuracy and common sense when writing to us, for he has a
very good, if not a professional, knowledge of the relative importance
of these symptoms. So in regard to digestion, he states what kinds of
food agree with him, or whether he is troubled with excessive acidity or
a flatulent condition of the stomach. He also informs us whether his
tongue is coated and bilious, or clean and healthy, and gives many other
particulars too various to enumerate, by which we are enabled to gain a
perfect understanding of the case. If his description be not
sufficiently complete to enable us to obtain a definite understanding of
the case, he is requested to answer a list of important questions which
are sent him. The people are far more intelligent in these matters than
physicians are generally willing to admit. A patient is often confused
while being personally examined by a physician, and gives imperfect or
incorrect answers. After he has left the presence of the physician, he
finds that he has failed to enumerate many of the most important
symptoms. In consulting by letter, the patient is not embarrassed, he
states the exact symptoms, and carefully reads over the letter to see if
it is a complete and accurate description of his sufferings. In this way
he conveys a much better idea of the case than if present in person, and
subjected to the most thorough questioning and cross-examination. The
timid lady and nervous young man write just as they feel; and one
important reason why we have had such superior success in treating
intricate and delicate diseases, is because we have obtained such true
and natural statements of the cases from these letters, many of which
are perfect pen-pictures of disease. As bank-tellers and cashiers, who
daily handle large quantities of c