Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/88

 forasmuch as by curing the madness of one poor Wretch, it disturbed the Wits of many such, as aim at nothing, but to signalize themselves by opposing all new Discoveries, which themselves are not capable to make. It was indeed but three or four days after that this man was recover'd, that some malitious spirits began to publish, that he died under our hands, and that we had put an end to his Extravagancies by putting an end to his Life. This first Story having been convicted of falsity, they mended the tale, and were resolv'd to make people believe, he was relapsed into his former madness, and even was grown-worse than ever. This obliged the First President and many other persons of quality to send for him to their houses, to examine the truth themselves, who after they had entertain'd 'him awhile, were all satisfied of the good effect of the Transfusion, and that those wanted no malice, who reported things so contrary to what they saw with their own Eyes.

These things you may have learned from our formerly printed Letters; but what perhaps you know not yet, is, that these Envious spirits were not ,the only ones that were troubled at this Cure. The wife of the Patient was most allarum'd at it, though she us'd artifice enough to shew us the contrary, and to persuade us, that the thought on nothing else; but to relieve him in his distempers. The truth is, that this man having been a Lacquay, and since a Valet de Chambre, had no profession, that could bring in a subsistence for his family. A Lady of quality, whom he had served, had indeed promis'd to preferr him, but his deplorable condition of health proved an obstacle to the performance of that promise. And indeed the time of his madness was not so troublesome to his wife, than as of his being in his wits; for, whereas she had her freedom to make certain visits, and to live as she Tisted, when he was not at home, but ran up and down, and even lay at night in the streets; she was on the contrary in great pain, when he come to stay at home, because he observed her narrowly, and could not forbear reproaching her, for having often attempted to poison him; now and then expressing also some Jealousie, he had conceiv'd against her comportment. These are the complaints, she her self hath often made to credible persons, who thought themselves obliged to depose it judicially, thereby to discover the mis-understanding, which doubtless hath been the original of the troublesome sequel in this affair.

And indeed this poor man falling ill again, his wife urged us beyond measure, to try the third Transfusion upon him, insomuch that she threatened, she would present a Petition to the Solicitor General to enjoyn us to do, what we did absolutely refuse. At last she came one morning to my house, and not finding me, she left word, that she intreated me to exercise that charity as to come after Dinner to her house, where would be a certain Meeting. I went, and there met M. Emmerez, and finding a Calf and every thing ready for a Transfusion, we would go away, telling her, that her husband was not in a condition for this operation. Then she fell down with tears in her eyes, and by unwearied clamour she engaged us not to go away without giving her the satisfaction, of having tried all possible means to recover her husband. Her art was great enough to make us condescend to Rh