orborygmata," cried the physician; "what
has been done?" To this question, he replied, that venesection had been
three times performed; that a vesicatory had been applied inter scapulas;
that the patient had taken occasionally of a cathartic apozem, and
between whiles, alexipharmic boluses and neutral draughts.--"Neutral,
indeed," said the doctor; "so neutral, that I'll be crucified if ever
they declare either for the patient or the disease." So saying, he
brushed into Crabshaw's chamber, followed by our adventurer, who was
almost suffocated at his first entrance. The day was close; the
window-shutters were fastened; a huge fire blazed in the chimney; thick
harateen curtains were close drawn round the bed, where the wretched
squire lay extended under an enormous load of blankets. The nurse, who
had all the exteriors of a bawd given to drink, sat stewing in this
apartment like a damned soul in some infernal bagnio; but rising when
the company entered, made her curtsies with great decorum.--"Well," said
the doctor, "how does your patient, nurse?"--"Blessed be God for it, I
hope in a fair way. To be sure his apozem has had a blessed effect--
five-and-twenty stools since three o'clock in the morning. But then,
a'would not suffer the blisters to be put upon his thighs. Good lack!
a'has been mortally obstropolous, and out of his senses all this blessed
day."--"You lie," cried the squire, "I an't out of my seven senses, thof
I'm half mad with vexation."

The doctor having withdrawn the curtain, the hapless squire appeared very
pale and ghastly; and having surveyed his master with a rueful aspect,
addressed him in these words: "Sir Knight, I beg a boon. Be pleased to
tie a stone about the neck of the apothecary, and a halter about the neck
of the nurse, and throw the one into the next river, and the other over
the next tree, and in so doing you will do a charitable deed to your
fellow-creatures; for he and she do the devil's work in partnership, and
have sent many a score of their betters home to him before their time."
--"Oh, he begins to talk sensibly."--"Have a good heart," said the
physician. "What is your disorder?"--"Physic."--"What do you chiefly
complain of?"--"The doctor."--"Does your head ache?"--"Yea, with
impertinence." "Have you a pain in your back?"--"Yes, where the blister
lies."--"Are you sick at stomach?"--"Yes, with hunger."--"Do you feel any
shiverings?"--"Always at sight of the apothecary."--"Do you