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Plugging the Teeth. 125
apothecaries, and held forth by those interested in the sale of
them as specifics " with which every person can plug his own

a circumstance which when
" spots, with the most congenial aspects ;
aided by the invigorating effects of hope, by the diversions which the
patient experienced in his journey, an J perhaps by the exercise to which
he had been unaccustomed, certainly performed many cures. It follows
then, that in the recommendation of a watering place, something more
than the composition of a mineral spring is to direct our choice,—the
chemist will tell us, that the springs of Hampstead and Islington rival
those of Tunbridge and Melvern, that the waters of Bagnigge Wells, as
a chalybeate purgative, might supersede those of Cheltenham and Scar-
borough, and an invalid would frequent the spring in the vicinity of the
Dog and Duck, in St. George's Fields, with as much advantage as the
celebrated Spa at Leamington ; but the physician is well aware that
by the adoption of such advice, he would deprive his patient of those
most powerful auxiliaries to which I have alluded, and above all, lose
the advantages of the ' Medicina Mentis.'' On the other hand, the
recommendation of change of air and habits will rarely inspire confi-
dence, unless it be associated with some medicinal treatment ; a truth
which is more easy and satisfactory to elucidate and enforce by example
than by precept— let the following story by Voltaire Eerve as an illustra-
tion.— 'O^ul, a voluptuary who could be managed but with difficulty by
his physician, on finding himself extremely ill from indolence and in-
temperance, requested advice — Eat a Basilisk, stewed in rose-water,'
:
'
replied the physician. In vain did the slaves search for a Basilisk, until
they met with Zadig, who, approaching Ogul, exclaimed, 'Behold that
which thou desirest ;' • but my lord,' continued he, ' it is not to be eaten
;
all its virtues must enter through thy pores, I have therefore enclosed
it in a little ball, blown up, and covered with a fine skin ; thou must
strike this ball with all they might, and I must strike it back again, for
a considerable time, and by observing this regimen, and taking no other
drink than rose-water foi a few days, thou wilt see, and acknowledge
the effect of my art.' The first day Ogul was out of breath, and thought
he should have died from fatigue ; the second he was less fatigued, and.
slept better : in eight days he recovered all his strength; Zadig then
said to him, ' There is no such thing in nature as a Basilisk ! but thou
hast taken exercise and been temperate, and hast therefore recovered
thy health !' But the medical practitioner may perhaps receive more
satisfaction from a modern illustration ; if so, the following anecdote,
related by Sydenham, may not be unacceptable. This great physician
having long attended a gentleman of fortune with little or no advantage,
frankly avowed his inability to render him any farther service, adding
at the same time, that there was a physician of the name of Robinson, at
Inverness, who had distinguished himself by the performance of many
remarkable cures of the same complaint as that under which his patient
labored, and expressed a conviction that, if he applied to him, he would
come back cured. This was too encouraging a proposal to be rejected
;
the gentleman received from Sydenham a statement of his case, with
the necessary letter of introduction, and proceeded without delay to the
place in question. On arriving at Inverness, and anxiously inquiring
for the residence of Dr. Robinson, he found to his utter dismay and dis-