ich amused the patient and his nurses was all
that was required to carry him through all common disorders.

The student soon learned the physiognomy of disease by going about with
his master; fevers, pleurisies, asthmas, dropsies, fluxes, small-pox,
sore-throats, measles, consumptions. He saw what was done for them. He
put up the medicines, gathered the herbs, and so learned something of
materia medico and botany. He learned these few things easily and well,
for he could give his whole attention to them. Chirurgery was a separate
specialty. Women in child-birth were cared for by midwives. There was
no chemistry deserving the name to require his study. He did not learn a
great deal, perhaps, but what he did learn was his business, namely, how
to take care of sick people.

Let me give you a picture of the old=fashioned way of instruction, by
carrying you with me in imagination in the company of worthy Master
Giles Firmin as he makes his round of visits among the good folk of
Ipswich, followed by his one student, who shall answer to the scriptural
name of Luke. It will not be for entertainment chiefly, but to
illustrate the one mode of teaching which can never be superseded,
and which, I venture to say, is more important than all the rest put
together. The student is a green hand, as you will perceive.

In the first dwelling they come to, a stout fellow is bellowing with
colic.

"He will die, Master, of a surety, methinks," says the timid youth in a
whisper.

"Nay, Luke," the Master answers, "'t is but a dry belly-ache. Didst
thou not mark that he stayed his roaring when I did press hard over the
lesser bowels? Note that he hath not the pulse of them with fevers, and
by what Dorcas telleth me there hath been no long shutting up of the
vice naturales. We will steep certain comforting herbs which I will shew
thee, and put them in a bag and lay them on his belly. Likewise he shall
have my cordial julep with a portion of this confection which we do call
Theriaca Andromachi, which hath juice of poppy in it, and is a great
stayer of anguish. This fellow is at his prayers to-day, but I warrant
thee he shall be swearing with the best of them to-morrow."

They jog along the bridle-path on their horses until they come to
another lowly dwelling. They sit a while with a delicate looking girl
in whom the ingenuous youth naturally takes a special interest. The good
physician talks cheerfully with her, asks her a few questions. The