not described yourself as having fallen into such very good hands, I
should have been with you at all hazards the day after receipt of your
letter, though it found me suffering under a more severe attack than
usual of my old grievance, spasmodic bile, and hardly able to crawl
from my bed to the sofa. But how were you treated? Send me more
particulars in your next. If indeed a simple sprain, as you
denominate it, nothing would have been so judicious as
friction--friction by the hand alone, supposing it could be applied
_immediately_. Two years ago I happened to be calling on Mrs.
Sheldon, when her coachman sprained his foot, as he was cleaning the
carriage, and could hardly limp into the house; but by the immediate
use of friction alone, steadily persevered in (I rubbed his ancle with
my own hands for four hours without intermission), he was well in
three days. . . . Pray never run into peril again in looking for an
apothecary on our account; for had you the most experienced man in his
line settled at Sanditon, it would be no recommendation to us. We
have entirely done with the whole medical tribe. We have consulted
physician after physician in vain, till we are quite convinced that
they can do nothing for us, and that we must trust to our knowledge of
our own wretched constitutions for any relief; but if you think it
advisable for the interests of the _place_ to get a medical man there,
I will undertake the commission with pleasure, and have no doubt of
succeeding. I could soon put the necessary irons in the fire. As for
getting to Sanditon myself, it is an impossibility. I grieve to say
that I cannot attempt it, but my feelings tell me too plainly that in
my present state the sea-air would probably be the death of me; and in
truth I doubt whether Susan's nerves would be equal to the effort. She
has been suffering much from headache, and six leeches a day, for ten
days together, relieved her so little that we thought it right to
change our measures; and being convinced on examination that much of