1792. the^effeds of imagination. 171 



effaced. In solitude, his consternation redoubled •■, 

 and he was a£tually seized, first with one, and then 

 with another paroxysm. The third attack soon fol- 

 lowed, and with such alarming symptoms as to em- 

 barafs his attending physicians. Recourse was there- 

 fore immediately had to J/o/wr. P^///,- a gentle manj 

 who, to much profefsional (kill, added the more gene- 

 ral knowledge of philosophy. He was likewise dis- 

 tinguifhed by singular talents for mimickry, and bur- 

 lesque imitation. Accordingly, he was no sooner in- 

 formed of the circumstances''of the case, than he af- 

 sumed thedrefs and manners of a fortuneteller. Even the 

 long beard, and the longer wand were not forgotten. In 

 this costume he entered the patient's bed-chamber, and 

 at once imposed upon him, and confounded him by a 

 volley of learned words. He then allowed that ano- 

 ther sorcerer had predicted the disease ; but insisted^ 

 at the same time, that he was a raw prophet, a mere 

 novice in the art of necromancy, who could not forsee 

 many circumstances that are obvious to a proficient. — 

 He next proceeded, with great solemnity, to examine 

 his hand, repeated the predictions of the fharpei", 

 added some of his own, and concluded by afsuring 

 him in a tone of authority and confidence, that the at- 

 tack would not prove fatal. From that moment the 

 disorder took a favourable turn } and the cure was, in 

 the end, compleated by the help of some simple me- 

 decines, and by Dr. Petit's curious gesticulations, and 

 his sallies of wit and good liumour. 



Some starch members of the faculty openly repro- 

 bated this dcgrader, as they styled him, of the pro- 

 y 2 



