Page:Life memoirs & pedigree of Thomas Hamilton Dickson.pdf/35

 mother, and the whole family, looked so wild and earnestly in the Doctor's face, her father asked his opinion with regard to his daughter. The Doctor shook his head, and gave one of those known looks which all Professionals attempt to perform, with a degree of prior excellence, superior to the plebeian race, whose looks are generally bewildered in an ignorant and stupid stare, that seems indifferent whether they look or not, and then when they do look, it is only when they cannot help it. The Surgeon, however, advised that she should immediately be put to bed, as being the most likely place for her ultimate recovery. Не took a small phial from his pocket, and desired her mother to give her six drops in the evening, and she would likely fall into an agreeable sleep afterwards; after that she was to get six in the morning, and these would more than likely soothe and calm her harassed spirits. With that he departed, promising to call ere long, and wished her soon a happy recovery. Emma's father and myself conducted him a few miles on his road home. I inquired at him what was her disease. He said it was not in the body, but he believed it was in the mind, and passion was the occasion, and had agitated her whole system, which passion will do, however masculine or effeminate the form may be. When the mind is diseased, the body is not in good condition, and generally proves fatal to the latter. These passions become uncontrollable and arbitrary in their sway over the sensitive soul.