"And you've no right to interfere with my household, doctor. If I
choose, I'll physic Jane, and the dog, and the cat, and the kitten,
which I reckon to be the whole of my establishment, all four of them on
the same day. Tell me, doctor, how much ipecacuanha will make a kitten
sick?"

"Mrs. St. Felix, I am not a veterinary surgeon, and therefore cannot
answer."

"Veterinary! Well, I thought they only doctored horses."

"I beg your pardon, their practice extends further, as I can prove to
you. I was once at the establishment of one in London, and I observed in
a large room about a dozen little lap-dogs all tied up with strings. The
poor little unwieldy waddling things were sent to him because they were
asthmatic, and I don't know what all; and how do you think he cured
them?"

"It's for me to ask that question, doctor."

"Well, then, he told me his secret. He tied them all up, and gave them
nothing to eat, only water to drink; and in three weeks they were
returned in as beautiful condition, and as frisky as young kids. Nothing
but diet, Mrs. St. Felix."

"I should rather think it was _no_ diet, doctor. Well, I do declare,
I'll tie up Jane for three weeks, and see if nothing but water will cure
her complaints. Well, Mr. Jack, why don't you take the tobacco to Ben?"