He piques himself upon being very slovenly, very
blunt, and very unmannerly; and perhaps to these qualifications
be owes his reputation rather than to any superior skill in
medicine. I have known them succeed in our own country; and seen
a doctor's parts estimated by his brutality and presumption.
F - is in his person and address not unlike our old acquaintance
Dr. Sm - ie; he stoops much, dodges along, and affects to speak
the Patois, which is a corruption of the old Provencial tongue,
spoken by the vulgar in Languedoc and Provence. Notwithstanding
his great age and great wealth, he will still scramble up two
pair of stairs for a fee of six livres; and without a fee he will
give his advice to no person whatsoever.
He is said to have great practice in the venereal branch and to
be frequented by persons of both sexes infected with this
distemper, not only from every part of France, but also from
Spain, Italy, Germany, and England. I need say nothing of the
Montpellier method of cure, which is well known at London; but I
have some reason to think the great professor F - , has, like the
famous Mrs. Mapp, the bone-setter, cured many patients that were
never diseased.
Be that as it may, I sent my valet de place, who was his townsman
and acquaintance, to his house, with the following case, and a
loui'dore.
