216 
CASE OF A PATIENT. 
took a fancy to a fine piece of muslin, which served me for 
a turban. He begged that I would sell it to him when we 
arrived at his village. I made him a present of it, and in 
return, he overwhelmed me with endless thanks. 
I shall here relate an anecdote relative to my character 
of physician, which the Mandingoes made me assume in spite 
of myself. 
On the 17th, I gave to a man, who had long solicited me, 
a dose of jalap for his wife, who he said, had the colic. He 
begged me to call and see her ; I visited her and found her 
really in great pain. I made the husband promise to kill a 
fowl and make a refreshing broth of it, which she was to take 
after the Jalap had operated. He came to me next day and 
told me that the medicine had operated very well, but that 
his wife still suffered from swelling of the abdomen, and 
begged me to give her a second dose. I supposed that 
this distension of the abdomen was the effect of irritation, in 
consequence of the jalap having been given in too great a 
quantity, and I told him that a second dose would probably 
do her a great deal of harm, and that it was necessary to let 
the patient have rest, and to give her the broth as I had 
directed. But I could not convince him. He alleged that 
there was a want of good-will on my part, and reiterated his 
request so earnestly that, for the sake of peace, I was obliged 
to substitute for the jalap a dose of cream of tartar, which I 
knew could do no harm ; but the Mandingo perceived the 
difference, and would have jalap, insisting that it was better. 
Being unable to convince him, I again visited my patient. 
I was uneasy about the consequences of my jalap. However 
I diluted the cream of tartar, which she drank, and I ordered 
a mess of gruel to be made for her. Thus I became a phy- 
sician, without having had for a moment the idea of assuming 
that character. 
I was extremely desirous to set out as soon as possible 
