Seating himself upon the bedside, he took the sick boy's wrist into his hand, and began to talk with him very pleasantly, asking him various questions about his feelings, the manner in which he took cold, &c.

Having ascertained all the facts and symptoms of the case, he told the family he thought Oscar was suffering from an attack of lung fever, and he then gave directions as to the manner in which the disease should be treated.

He also wrote a recipe for some medicine, to be procured at the apothecary's.

The terms used in it were Latin, and very much abbreviated, besides, so that they were unintelligible to Mrs.Preston; for this is a custom among physicians, that has come down from ancient times.

Seeing Mrs.
Preston was in some doubt about the prescription, he explained to her what the articles were that composed it, and the effect they would have upon the patient.
After the doctor had gone, it was decided to remove Oscar into another chamber, in a lower story, where he would be more comfortable, and where, also, it would be more convenient to wait upon him.