Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 5.pdf/187

 "It's Hypertrophy—General Hypertrophy."

"Hypertrophy?"

"Yes. General—affecting all the bodily structures—all the organism. I may say that in my own mind, between ourselves, I'm very nearly convinced it's that But one has to be careful."

"Ah," said the Vicar, a good deal relieved to find the doctor equal to the situation. "But how is it it's breaking out in this fashion, all over the place?"

"That again," said the doctor, "is difficult to say."

"Urshot. Here. It's a pretty clear case of spreading."

"Yes," said the doctor. "Yes. I think so. It has a strong resemblance at any rate to some sort of epidemic. Probably Epidemic Hypertrophy will meet the case."

"Epidemic!" said the Vicar. "You don't mean it's contagious?"

The doctor smiled gently and rubbed one hand against the other. "That I couldn't say," he said.

"But—!" cried the Vicar, round-eyed. "If it's catching—it—it affects us!"

He made a stride up the road and turned about.

"I've just been there," he cried. "Hadn't I better—? I'll go home at once and have a bath and fumigate my clothes."

The doctor regarded his retreating back for a moment and then turned about and went towards his own house

But on the way he reflected that one case had been in the village a month without any one catching the disease, and after a pause of hesitation decided to be