“My dear Mrs. Seacole,—I have finished the bottle, which has done my jaundice a deal of good. Will you kindly send another by bearer. Truly yours,
“F. M.”
It was a capital prescription which had done his jaundice good. There was so great a demand for it, that I kept it mixed in a large pan, ready to ladle it out to the scores of applicants who came for it.
Sometimes they would send for other and no less important medicines. Here is such an application from a sick officer:—
“Mrs. Seacole would confer a favour on the writer, who is very ill, by giving his servant (the bearer) a boiled or roast fowl; if it be impossible to obtain them, some chicken broth would be very acceptable.
“I am yours, truly obliged,
“J. K., 18th R. S.”
Doesn’t that read like a sick man’s letter, glad enough to welcome any woman’s face? Here are some gentlemen of the Commissariat anxious to speak for me:—
“Arthur C——, Comm. Staff Officer, having been attacked one evening with a very bad diarrhœa at Mrs. Seacole’s, took some of her good medicine. It cured me before the next morning, and I have never been attacked since.—October 17th, 1855.”
“Archibald R. L——, Comm. Staff, Crimea, was suffering from diarrhœa for a week or more; after taking Mrs. Seacole’s good medicines for two days, he became quite well, and remained so to this day.—October 17th, 1855.”
Here is Mr. M——, paymaster of the Land Transport Corps, ready with a good account of my services:—