Page:Devonshire Characters and Strange Events.djvu/900

770 so, and the purpose of the application was to raise round blisters.

Jose yelled. "Take it patiently," said Budd; "it will do you good. Heat the balls again."

Further dabbing with the implement; vociferous yells from the patient. "I am well! I've no more pain. Have mercy on me!"

At last he was disengaged and sent back to bed. Next day away went Jose blistered in the back; not another visit from the Doctor would he abide. Nor did he appear again in the Plymouth workhouse. The man was well known elsewhere, and the master had communicated with other heads of workhouses in Devon. A few weeks later Jose turned up at Newton Abbot, and applied for admission into the workhouse; he was suffering badly, very badly, with spasms in the heart. He was taken to the infirmary, at once recognized, and the surgeon sent for.

"Humph!" said the medical man. "This is a case for Carne's Balls, I see. I've heard of him from Dr. Budd."

"I'll be shot if you try them on me!" roared Jose. "Let me go—I'm better—I'm well."

He was dismissed. About a fortnight later he appeared at Exeter workhouse, with his leg contracted, tottering and scarce able to walk. He was put into the infirmary. Said the master, "This is a more serious case than is apparent. We must send for Dr. Budd." There was then a Dr. Budd of Exeter.

"Budd! Budd!" shouted the man. "I'll have no Budds about me. Let me go. My leg is well."

One day, at North Tawton, a man doubled up with pain and reeling in his walk applied at several houses for relief, got some coppers, and came to the respectable house of evidently a well-to-do man, and rang the bell.