s to preserve the patient's health and prevent disease, and if,
from any but accidental causes, any one fell ill, it would be a disgrace
to them. They were formerly called by a name answering to "Disease
Doctors," whilst they are now known by a term signifying "Health
Guardians."

Prior to seasons formerly unhealthy, the physicians make visitations
from house to house. With the aid of powerful microscopes, they examine
the minute particles of the perspiration issuing through the pores. The
perspiration, being the result of efforts made by the system to throw
off impurities, indicates whether the patient is in good health, or
whether there is a tendency to disease. The state of the perspiration,
though varying greatly, does not always show the exact nature of the
malady; for many diseases present the same appearances, and, in that
case, tests are applied, which do not fail to indicate to what malady
the impurities belong.

To give an instance: There is a disease of the lungs called Scrofiuska,
which impedes respiration, and is besides often attended with cough,
emaciation of the body, and other symptoms like those that accompany
consumption, for which indeed it was formerly mistaken. It is now well
known to be a different disease, requiring different treatment. In
scrofiuska the lungs swell inwardly, but tubercles are not generated,
and, unlike consumption, this disease can be cured even when at its
height. I recollect a bad case, early in my reign, where our physicians,
mistaking the complaint for confirmed consumption, declared that the
right lung was gone. A short time afterwards the real nature of the
disease was discovered, and the patient was completely restored to
health.

In both complaints, however, the perspiration, when viewed through our
microscopes, presents exactly the same appearance. In consumption, and
to a greater extent in scrofiuska, the lungs are covered with a web-like
moisture, portions of which are thrown off by the system with the
perspiration.

The ordinary appearance of perspiration in a healthy state is that of an
oleaginous liquid consistency resembling, say, a thin cream; but the
water exuded by the lungs has the appearance of dew, and is indeed
called by a term signifying "lung-dew." It does not amalgamate with the
oleaginous part of the perspiration.

Our doctors at first thought that they could detect incipient
consumption from the appearance of this dew, whilst they had only
ascer