136 DISCUSSION, 



The spring had passed away, and the 

 summer brought with it an aggravation of 

 my malady that is, my fits had become 

 much more frequent, and the convulsions 

 of longer duration; so much so, that the 

 family became alarmed, and our medical 

 man, who had watched its effects and 

 began to fear the worst, advised us to 

 discontinue following the prescription. 



Accordingly a letter was written to that 

 effect, to which an answer was returned 

 (and which is now in my possession), urg- 

 ing me to keep on with the medicine, 

 stating that the result hitherto was no 

 more than he had predicted, and quoting 

 a similar case, where, under similar circum- 

 stances, it had recently proved successful. 



A long discussion now took place, and 

 various and contradictory were the opinions 

 given. The gentleman who had first re- 

 commended the trial, and had since shewn 

 a keen interest in its progress, having every 

 faith in his friend's panacea, urged its con- 



