tient took the finer parts
with the infusion. This was one of Dr. Foshay's staple remedies.
Another was a pill of which the principal active ingredient was
aloes. The art of making these pills seemed yet more scientific
than the other, and I was much pleased to find how soon I could
master it. Beside these a number of minor remedies were kept in
the medicine room. Among them were tinctures of lobelia, myrrh,
and capsicum. There was also a pill box containing a substance
which, from its narcotic odor, I correctly inferred to be opium.
This drug being prohibited by the Botanic School I could not but
feel that Dr. Foshay's orthodoxy was painfully open to question.

Determined to fathom the mystery in which the doctor's plans for my
improvement were involved, I announced my readiness to commence the
study of the botanic system. He disappeared in the direction of
his bedroom, and soon returned with--could my eyes believe it?--a
big book. It was one which, at the time of its publication, some
thirty or forty years before, was well known to the profession,--Miner
and Tully on the "Fevers of the Connecticut Valley." He explained
bringing me this book.

"Before beginning the regular study of the botanic system, you must
understand something of the old system. You can do so by reading
this book."

A duller book I never read. There was every sort of detail about
different forms of fever, which needed different treatment; yet
calomel and, I think, opium were its main prescriptions. In due
time I got through it and reported to my preceptor.

"Well, what do you think of the book?"

"It praises calomel and opium too much. But I infer from reading
it that there are so many kinds of fever and other diseases that
an immense amount of study will be required to distinguish and
treat them."

"Oh, you will find that all these minute distinctions are not
necessary when we treat the sick on the botanic system."

"What is the next thing for me? Can I not now go on with the study
of the botanic system?"

"You are not quite ready for it yet. You must first understand
something about phrenology. One great difference between us and
doctors of the old school is that they take no account of difference
of temperament, but treat the lymphatic and bilious in the same way.
But we treat according to the temperament of the patient and must
therefore be expert in distinguishing temperaments."

"But I studied phrenology long ago a