FathersillnessItisprobableovertenyearsnowsincethisstoryofawell-knowndoctorwasthetalkofthetownins-:Hechargedonedollarfortyavisit,tendollarsforanemergencycall,doubletheamountforanightcall,anddoubleagainforatripoutsidethecity.Onenightthedaughterofafamilylivingoutsidethecityfelldangerouslyill.Theysenttoaskhimoutthereand,becausehehadmoremoneyatthetimethanheknewwhattodowith,herefusedtogoforlessthanahundreddollars.Theyhadtoagreetothis.Oncethere,hesimplegavethegirlaperfunctorylookingover.Itisntserious,hesaid.Thenhemadeoutprescription,tookhishundreddollars,andleft.Apparentlythepatientsfamilywasveryrich,forthenextdaytheyaskedhimoutthereagain.Themasterofthehousemethimatthedoorwithasmile.Yesterdayeveningwegaveheryourmedicine,Doctor,hesaid,andshesmuchbetter.Sowereaskedyoutohaveanotherlookather.Hetookhimasbeforeintothebedroom,andamaiddrewthepatientshandoutsidethebedcurtain.Thedoctorplacedhisfingersonthewristandfounditicycold,withoutanypulse.Hmm.Henodded.Iunderstandthisillness.Quitecalmlyhewalkedtothetable,tookoutaprescriptionfrom,andwroteonit:Paythebeareronehundredsilverdollars.Beneathhesignedhisnameandaffixedhisseal.Thisillnesslooksratherserious,Doctor,saidthemasterofthehouse,behindhim.Ithinkthemedicineshouldbealittlemorepotent.Verywell,saidthedoctor.Andhewroteanotherprescription:Paythebearertwohundredsilverdollars.Beneathhesignedhisnameandaffixedhissealagain.Thisdone,themasterofthehouseputawaytheprescriptionandsawhimpolitelyout.Ihaddealingswiththisfamousphysicianfortwowholeyears,becausehecameeveryotherdaytoattendmyfather.Althoughbythattimeverywellknown,hehadnotyetmoremoneythanheknewwhattodowith;still,hisfeewasalreadyonedollarfortyavisit.Inlargetownstodayaten-dollarfeeisnotconsideredexorbitant;butinthosedaysonedollarfortywasagreatsum,bynomeanseasytoraiseespeciallywhenitfelldueeveryotherday.Heprobablywasuniqueinsomerespects.Itwasgenerallyagreedthathisprescriptionswereunusual.Iknownothingaboutmedicine:whatstruckmewashowhardhisadjuvantsweretofind.Eachnewprescriptionkeptmebusyfor...
