clasped her hands in alarm), "or as unprofessional persons would say,
'excessive sensibility.'"

Mrs. Dodd was somewhat relieved. Translation blunts thunderbolts. She
told him she had always feared for her child on that score. But was
sensibility curable? Could a nature be changed?

He replied that the Idiosyncrasy could not; but its morbid excess could,
especially when taken in time. Advice was generally called in too late.
However, here the only serious symptom was the Insomnia. "We must treat
her for that," said he, writing a prescription; "but for the rest, active
employment, long walks or rides, and a change of scene and associations,
will be all that will be required. In these cases," resumed Mr. Osmond,
"connected as they are with Hyperaemia, some medical men considered
moderate venesection to be indicated." He then put on his gloves saying,
"The diet, of course, must be Antiphlogistic. Let us say then, for
breakfast, dry toast with very little butter--no coffee--cocoa (from the
nibs), or weak tea: for luncheon, beef-tea or mutton-broth: for dinner, a
slice of roast chicken, and tapioca or semolina pudding. I would give her
one glass of sherry, but no more, and barley-water; it would be as well
to avoid brown meats, at all events for the present. With these
precautions, my dear madam, I think your anxiety will soon be happily
removed."

Julia took her long walks and light diet; and became a little pale at
times, and had fewer bursts of high spirits in the intervals of
depression. Her mother went with her case to a female friend. The lady
said she would not trust to surgeons and apothecaries; she would have a
downright physician. "Why not go to the top of the tree at once, and call
in Dr. Short? You have heard of him?"