A wonderful constitution--a marvellous constitution--prodigious
nervous fibre; the greatest pity in the world he won't give himself fair
play. His habits, you know, are quite, I may say, destructive. We do
our best--we do all we can, but if the patient won't cooperate it can't
possibly end satisfactorily.'
And Jolks accompanied this with an awful shrug. 'Is there _anything_? Do
you think change of air? What an awful complaint it is,' I exclaimed.
He smiled, mysteriously looking down, and shook his head undertaker-like.
'Why, we can hardly call it a _complaint_, Miss Ruthyn. I look upon it he
has been poisoned--he has had, you understand me,' he pursued, observing my
startled look, 'an overdose of opium; you know he takes opium habitually;
he takes it in laudanum, he takes it in water, and, most dangerous of all,
he takes it solid, in lozenges. I've known people take it moderately.
I've known people take it to excess, _but_ they all were particular as to
_measure,_ and _that_ is exactly the point I've tried to impress upon him.
The habit, of course, you understand is formed, there's no uprooting that;
but he won't _measure_--he goes by the eye and by sensation, which I need
not tell you, Miss Ruthyn, is going by _chance;_ and opium, as no doubt
you are aware, is strictly a poison; a poison, no doubt, which habit will
enable you to partake of, I may say, in considerable quantities, without
fatal consequences, but still a poison; and to exhibit a poison _so_, is,
I need scarcely tell you, to trifle with death.
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