Doctor Jones' Picnic

by S. E. Chapman

  CHAPTER XVI.

  The Count Steps Over the Line.

  The Silver Cloud's crew, if we may so term it, had busied themselves invarious ways, according to their several dispositions and bents of mind.Dr. Jones was occupied more or less of the time with the invalids, whocame to him from far and wide. The most inveterate cases of chronicdiseases constituted the bulk of his practice, and the cures that hemade were truly marvelous. The patience and interest of the Count neverflagged a moment. He continued at his post and interpreted for theDoctor with surprising fidelity. Dr. Jones was so pleased with him thathe explained to his noble student every case for which he proscribed,told him the name of the drug and precisely why he gave it. Surely herewas a model teacher and an ideal student.

  Let it not be inferred that our Doctor was infallible, nor that healways cured.

  "There are many cases that are incurable, Sir Count, and we must learnto know them almost by intuition. The causes of failure are numerous,but you will notice that they are always to be found in the physician orpatient; never in the law of cure. If I be not able to apprehend andduly estimate the symptoms of a given case, I must, of necessity, failto cure. Or if the patient be unruly, stupid, or willful, he must paythe penalty. Frequently, the case has been rendered incurable by massivedosage or surgery. My system cures all that is curable whenintelligently applied. And you will notice that in some instances thereis an absolute dearth of symptoms. You also observe that I give them adose and tell them to return in a week or ten days. When they returnthey often exhibit a splendid crop of symptoms, and I experience notrouble then in finding the remedy. These cases usually have a historyof suppressed eruption. At some time in their lives the itch, or eczema,or some other skin trouble has been driven into their system byexternal medicaments in the form of ointments, washes, etc. Lifelongailments, over which the old school have no control, are the result. Alarge percentage of chronic diseases are due to this cause alone."

  And so, during their leisure hours, sitting in the Count's office, orperipatetically as they walked together in the park, the enthusiasticDoctor taught his willing and attentive pupil.

  "Just see those two inseparables!" cried Feodora to Mrs. Jones andMattie, as they sat by the front reception-room window, looking out uponthe park. The Doctor and Count were promenading before the greatbuilding, the former with head erect, hands extended before him,lecturing upon his favorite theme. The towering figure of the Countstrode along beside him, hands clasped behind and head bent wellforward, listening attentively to every word.

  "I do believe that my father will be so enthusiastic a convert to theDoctor's system, that he will get books and medicines and practice uponour poor people when you are gone," said Feodora.

  "And he could not do a better thing," answered Mrs. Jones. "I have knownlaymen who made very fine prescribers. The Count could do a vast amountof good with a set of books and medicines."

  "Then you can rest assured that he will do so," returned Feodora. "Myfather is a very benevolent man naturally, but was fast becoming amisanthrope when you came among us. I shall never cease thanking God forthe northern gale that blew you here."

  "Nor shall I, dear Feodora," said Mrs. Jones, kissing her with greataffection. "And I really dread the time when we must leave you. But youare improving so rapidly that we must go before many weeks."

  "I am glad to get well, but I do feel sorry to think of your going. ButI do not give up ever seeing you again. You will go to the North Pole ina short time, and then return home. You will write me from there, bothyou and Mattie, and then my father and I will visit you and bring youhome with us. You must spend a winter with us in our capital city. It isthe most beautiful and gayest city in Europe in its season."

  "And you shall spend a winter in Washington," returned Mrs. Jones.

  "I have never seen anything so beautiful as Washington," said Mattie.

  And so the friends chatted and cemented their acquaintance andfriendship day by day, planning for future enjoyment of each other'ssociety.

  The Count and Feodora were greatly interested in their account of theirvisit with the Barton family in Labrador.

  "By the way," said Mattie, "let's go up to Will's studio and see hispainting of Jennie Barton."

  Feodora readily assented. "I have been longing for some time to see theinterior of your beautiful cabin," she said.

  They slowly walked to the cage and mounted to the cabin, a distance ofbut fifty feet. They found Will at work upon a local landscape. He wasdelighted to receive the ladies, especially Feodora. "This augurs wellfor our sailing soon, Miss Feodora. And I cannot tell you how glad weall are to see you recovering so rapidly."

  "I told Feodora that you had made a fine painting of Jennie Barton. Wehave told her all about our visit in Labrador, and she wishes to seeyour painting of Jennie," said Mattie.

  "I am only too proud to show it her," answered Will, and he removed acloth from the painting that rested upon an easel.

  "What a sweet, lovely face!" exclaimed Feodora. "I have never seenanything sweeter in my life."

  Will hastened to assure her, though he flushed with pride, that itlacked very much of doing the fair Jennie justice.

  "There is something so good and pure in that face, that it rests one tolook at it," said the fair Russian.

  "Would you accept it from me as a present?" asked Will.

  "O Mr. Marsh! would you really part with it?"

  "I shall feel greatly honored if you will accept it from me. I intendpainting another immediately. Whether I shall ever reach my ideal, I donot know."

  "I fear that you never will until you return to Constance House," saidMattie slyly.

  "Now Mattie, that is very unkind of you," cried Will with a well-assumedseverity.

  Feodora thanked Will sincerely for his present, and declared that itshould be hung in her room where she might see it the first thing in themorning and the last thing at night. "Surely nothing could be sweeterand more interesting than the romance connected with this lovelypainting," said she.

  Professor Gray, meantime, had not been idle all these weeks. He andDenison had developed an affinity for each other, and spent many hourstogether, the former teaching the latter much of the geology, botany,etc., of the country round about. And with rod and gun they kept theCount's table well supplied with game. They also did much riding, andfor many miles they became familiar objects to the inhabitants. TheProfessor made copious notes of all he saw of interest, intending it assubject matter for a future scientific work.

  And Fred busied himself with his music. He had discovered among thevisitors at the castle a young Russian who spoke English tolerably well,and who was more than an ordinary violinist. They immediately formed afriendship, and daily sought each other's society. Fred became a greatfavorite among the local talent, and many were the concerts they held inthe castle.

  Surely, for prisoners in a foreign land, restrained from going abouttheir legitimate business, our friends were enjoying themselveswonderfully. The Count and Feodora were never so happy as when doingsomething calculated to enhance the comfort and pleasure of theirguests. The days flew so swiftly by that the time for their departurewas near at hand before they were aware of it. Feodora's recovery wasuninterrupted, and she had gained many pounds of flesh. Allapprehensions concerning her health had about disappeared. The Countcontinued his medical studies and investigations with unabated zeal andinterest. The action of the infinitesimal dose was a knotty question. Hecould not deny the fact that they exhibited marvelous power overdisease, but their immateriality staggered his faith at times, in spiteof all that he had seen and experienced. But there came a time when hestepped over the line forever. He was "Born into the Kingdom," as theDoctor expressed it.

  There came a messenger at midnight one dark, stormy night, from a castleseveral miles distant. A letter to the Count from a certain RussianPrince, implored him to bring the American Doctor immediately to see hiswife. The Count awoke the Doctor and told him that he would accompanyh
im, if he would go; and he would esteem it a personal favor if he wouldattend the call.

  "Certainly, I will go," said Dr. Jones heartily, and he hastily preparedhimself for the journey.

  The rain poured in torrents, and the heavy covered carriage in whichthey rode lumbered uncomfortably over the rough country roads.

  "You should introduce the horseless carriage into your country," saidthe Doctor as he bounced about upon his seat. "You would then agitatethe subject of good roads."

  At last they reached their destination, and were hurried to the bedsideof the suffering Princess. She was a woman of fifty-five, large andfleshy, sitting bolt upright in the middle of the bed. Her distress wasterrible. The Doctor took the symptoms hurriedly as possible. They were:

  Violent palpitation of the heart. The bed fairly shook with the actionof that organ.

  Expectorating large quantities of frothy blood.

  Breathing exceedingly labored; could not lie back in the least degree.

  Stomach and bowels enormously distended with gas; so much so that shecould not lean forward at all.

  Eructations of gas in large quantities, which gave no relief; the leastparticle of food or drink excited these eructations.

  A very profuse cold sweat that saturated her clothing and bed.

  Great thirst, drinks little and often.

  Lower extremities restless, could not keep them quiet.

  Very nervous and despairing.

  Here was a terrible case, and the little Doctor studied it with thegreatest possible care. He learned that the Princess had been an invalidfor many years. She had taken vast quantities of crude drugs, and thetime had come when her stomach rebelled and would tolerate no moredrugging. The great physicians of Europe had been consulted, withoutpermanent benefit. Her regular medical attendant, with his assistant,was now present. Dr. Jones was introduced to them, and such courtesiesas were possible under the circumstances were extended by each. Theygave such information as possible through the Count, and declared thatthe Princess must die within a few hours. They now stood powerless by,very curious and observant of everything the Doctor did.

  He had carefully written out the above symptoms, and now retired for afew moments with the Count to an adjoining room. The two Russianphysicians were asked to join them, as a matter of professionalcourtesy.

  "This is a desperate affair," said the Count, "and I fear that yourinfinitesimals will do her very little good."

  "Don't be so sure, Sir Count. You may see something to-night that willremove your last remnant of unbelief," returned the Doctor, as he turnedover the leaves of a materia medica that he had brought with him.

  "There is undoubtedly organic disease of the heart, and othercomplications that I have not time now to investigate. I have thetotality of symptoms before us, and I have found the remedy that coversthem precisely." He read to the Count each symptom, and showed howexactly they were covered by the drug. Some degree of explanation ofthis was made the native physicians, but it was evidently something newto them which they did not at all comprehend.

  "And now let us hasten to administer a dose of this drug."

  They returned to the sick chamber. Dr. Jones from a small case vialdropped a single minim into a teaspoon and wiped it off upon her tongue.It seemed so simple and wholly inadequate a thing to do in this veryurgent affair, that the Count and the two medical men could not represstheir smiles.

  But the Doctor said, "Wait and you shall see the glory of God."

  Not more than three minutes later, the royal patient, who was sittingperfectly erect, eyes closed, suddenly threw up her hands and cried outin the Russian tongue, "My God! What have you given me? I'm drunk!" andfell back upon her pillow as if shot. She almost immediately begansnoring as if sound asleep. The Prince, Count, and two physicians sprangforward in great alarm, and were about to raise her to her formersitting posture. But Doctor Jones said commandingly, "Let her alone! Donot touch her!"

  "But she is dying!" cried Count Icanovich.

  "No, my dear Count, she is sleeping beautifully. To awaken her now wouldbe fatal. I wish all to leave the room but her nurse."

  Several moments later the Doctor followed them to the parlor. The Countwas greatly agitated, and stepped up to him immediately as he entered.

  "How is she now, Doctor?"

  "Sleeping as peacefully as a child."

  "And is it a natural, healthful sleep?"

  "Perfectly so."

  "Doctor, you have conquered my last prejudice. The modus operandi of theaction of your infinitesimals I shall never comprehend. But that they dooperate, immediately, powerfully, and beneficently, I can no longerdoubt. Now please let me see the vial from which you poured thewonderful drop that you gave Her Highness."

  The Doctor complied, and the Count held the tiny vial to the light andread the label, "Cinchona Officinalis, 30x."

  The Prince also took the vial into his hand, looked at it withcuriosity, and made a remark to the Count.

  "His Highness suggests that this must be a poison of fearful power,"said the Count to Dr. Jones.

  "Please say to him that it is not a poison in any sense of the word. Icould swallow every drop of it with perfect impunity," replied Dr.Jones.

  Nothing could exceed the interest and curiosity of the two physicians.They looked at the vial and asked questions almost without number. Theold familiar look of incredulity crept into their eyes when they came toan understanding of the immateriality of the dose. They were familiarwith the dogma of "Similia similibus curanter," or "Like cures like,"and repudiated it at once. But they said nothing of it to the Prince orCount at this time. The Count again addressed Dr. Jones.

  "His Highness is lost in wonder at the magical effect of your medicine,and desires me to express his heartfelt gratitude and thanks."

  The Prince, with tears in his eyes, took the Doctor's hand, and saidsomething to him in his own language.

  "He says that he can never repay you for what you have done to-night,and that you may command him for anything in his power," interpreted theCount.

  "Say to him that I am more than repaid for anything that I have done.Let him give all the glory to God."

  After ascertaining that the Princess still slept quietly, the Doctor andCount retired for the remaining hours of the night.