boiled in his veins: he was now confirmed in all his suspicions;
the hardest names, were the best words that John gave her. Things
went from better to worse, till Mrs. Bull aimed a knife at John,
though John threw a bottle at her head very brutally indeed: and
after this there was nothing but confusion; bottles, glasses,
spoons, plates, knives, forks, and dishes, flew about like dust; the
result of which was, that Mrs. Bull received a bruise in her right
side of which she died half a year after. The bruise imposthumated,
and afterwards turned to a stinking ulcer, which made everybody shy
to come near her, yet she wanted not the help of many able
physicians, who attended very diligently, and did what men of skill
could do; but all to no purpose, for her condition was now quite
desperate, all regular physicians and her nearest relations having
given her over.****

* The opinion at that time of the General's tampering with the
Parliament.
** Blenheim Palace.
*** The story of Dr. Sacheverel, and the resentment of the House of
Commons.
**** The opinion of the Tories about that House of Commons.



CHAPTER IX. How some Quacks undertook to cure Mrs. Bull of her
ulcer.*

There is nothing so impossible in Nature but mountebanks will
undertake; nothing so incredible but they will affirm: Mrs. Bull's
condition was looked upon as desperate by all the men of art; but