Nobody contradicted me.
At dinner I made a remark which was worthy of notice:—
Doctor Corvisart was a very pleasant man when he pleased, and was very fond of iced champagne. For this reason, while all the rest of the company were dull and idle, he dealt in anecdotes and stories. On the contrary, when the dessert was put on, and conversation became animated, he became serious and almost morose.
From this and other observations, I deduced the following conclusion: Champagne, the first effect of which is exhilarating, in the result is stupefying, on account of the excessant carbonic gases it contains.
OBJUGATION.
As I measure doctors by their diplomatu, I will not reproach them for the severity with which they treat their invalids.
As soon as one has the misfortune to fall into their hands, one has to give up all we have previously thought agreeable.
I look on the majority of these prohibitions as useless. I say useless, because patients never desire what is injurious to them.
A reasonable physician should never lose sight of the natural tendency of our inclinations, nor forget to ascertain if our penchants are painful in themselves, or improving to health. A little wine, or a few drops of liquor, brings the smiles to the most hypochondriac faces.
Besides, they know that their severe prescriptions are almost always without effect, and the patient seeks to avoid him. Those who are around him, never are in want of a reason to gratify him. People, however, will die.