It was seldom the case that one fourth of the applicants were really unwell; but every one would maintain that he was very sick, and as it was hard to contend with them about it, they were all sent off to the sick-house.

Now this is entirely done away, and my sick-house is converted into a chapel for religious worship."-- _James Howell, Esq._ "I find my people much more disposed to work than they formerly were.
The habit of feigning sickness to get rid of going to the field, is completely broken up.

This practice was very common during slavery.

It was often amusing to hear their complaints.

One would come carrying an arm in one hand, and declaring that it had a mighty pain in it, and he could not use the hoe no way; another would make his appearance with both hands on his breast, and with a rueful look complain of a great pain in the stomach; a third came limping along, with a _dreadful rheumatiz_ in his knees; and so on for a dozen or more.