I was examined, thumped, studied, and sent out with prescriptions and innumerable directions.

All that was said about food, fresh air, sunny rooms, etc., was, of course, impossible; but I would try the medicine.
A bottle of medicine was a definite thing with a fixed price.

You either could or could not afford it, on a given day.

Once you began with milk and eggs and such things, there was no end of it.

You were always going around the corner for more, till the grocer said he could give no more credit.