PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. 33 



I wore it faithfully for three months, and tried to help 

 it by covering myself in every hkely spot with porous 

 plasters. In that condition I went about my business, 

 clad in a kind of coat armor to fight microbes. I tried 

 to persuade myself that I was doing exactly the right 

 thing, and set to work to find enjoyment among my 

 roses and to forget my troubles. 



But it was of no use. My hmbs did not consider that 

 much enjoyment. The microbes were unhappy and 

 would not be appeased. They gave me no rest. They 

 tortured me unceasingly, and finally they drove me 

 back in despair and desperation to my bed. I tried 

 strong vinegar ; friends recommended mustard plasters, 

 so mustard plasters were tried. I covered every painful 

 spot with them, and suffered tortures, with no relief. 

 I am ashamed of myself when I think that I ever list- 

 ened to such advice and descended to such folly. So 

 now all had failed. Medicines had reduced me to the 

 lowest condition of weakness and disease. I had swal- 

 lowed poisons till they had no longer any effect upon 

 me. Electric belts, lotions, plasters, blisters, every- 

 thing, internal and external, had proved useless. I was 

 worse than ever, with no resource untried, and no 

 longer a particle of faith in anything that doctors, pro- 

 prietary-medicine makers, or advertisers could offer me, 

 and I refused further advice. 



But this refusal lasted only for a time. A drowning 

 man will catch at a straw. A friend came along who 

 suggested a massage operator. He told me that one of 

 these rubbing doctors had cured him of rheumatism, 

 so my determination failed me and my hopes were re- 

 newed. I thought the suggestion over philosophically. 

 I had tried medicines internally and externally to not 

 purpose, but here was something different. It was not 

 medicine of any kind, there were no poisons nor plasters, 

 and I convinced myself that I should try it. Well, I 

 went to the man's office, and he lost no time in getting 

 to work. He rubbed and pounded and drove his thumbs 

 into my flesh till I roared with pain and cried to heaven 



