"Powerful weak and so-er," replied the patient.
Coristine called the mother, poured some St. Jacob's Oil into the palm
of her hand, and bade her rub down her son's back at the small. "Rub
hard!" he said; and she rubbed it in. Three or four more doses followed,
till the back was a fine healthy colour.
"How does that work, Ben?"
"It smarts some, but I can wriggle my back a bit."
Then the doctor poured some whiskey out of his flask in the same way and
it was applied.
"Do you think you can turn round now?" he asked; and, at once, the
patient revolved, lying in a more convenient and seemly position.
"Bring the hot clothes, Mrs. Toner, and lay them on the bruised part, as
hot as he can stand it. The patient growled a little when the clothes
were abdominally applied, one after the other, but they warmed him up,
and even, as he said, 'haylped his back.'"
"Now, Ben, when did you take whiskey last?"
"I ain't had nary a drop the hull of this blessed day."
"Is that true?"
"Gawspel truth, doctor, so haylp me."
"If you don't promise me to quit drinking, I can do nothing for you.
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