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Book FirstPart LIX
Part LIX
It was true indeed that I had got the sickness; but I believe I caught it
from that fine young servant-girl whom I was keeping when my house was robbed.
The French disease, for it was that, remained in me more than four months
dormant before it showed itself, and then it broke out over my whole body at
one instant. It was not like what one commonly observes, but covered my flesh
with certain blisters, of the size of six-pences, and rose-coloured. The
doctors would not call it the French disease, albeit I told them why I thought
it was that. I went on treating myself according to their methods, but derived
no benefit. At last, then, I resolved on taking the wood, against the advice
of the first physicians in Rome; ^1 and I took it with the most scrupulous
discipline and rules of abstinence that could be thought of; and after a few
days, I perceived in me a great amendment. The result was that at the end of
fifty days I was cured and as sound as a fish in the water.
[Footnote 1: That is, Guiacum, called by the Italians legno santo.]
Some time afterwards I sought to mend my shattered health, and with this
view I betook myself to shooting when the winter came in. That amusement,
however, led me to expose myself to wind and water, and to staying out in
marsh-lands; so that, after a few days, I fell a hundred times more ill than
I had been before. I put myself once more under doctors` orders, and attended
to their directions, but grew always worse. When the fever fell upon me, I
resolved on having recourse again to the wood; but the doctors forbade it,
saying that I took if it with the fever on me, I should not have a week to
live. However, I made my mind up to disobey their orders, observed the same
diet as I had formerly adopted, and after drinking the decoction four days,
was wholly rid of fever. My health improved enormously; and while I was
following this cure, I went on always working at the models of the chalice. I
may add that, during the time of that strict abstinence, I produced finer
things and of more exquisite invention than at any other period of my life.
After fifty days my health was re-established, and I continued with the
utmost care to keep it and confirm it. When at last I ventured to relax my
rigid diet, I found myself as wholly free from those infirmities as though I
had been born again. Although I took pleasure in fortifying the health I so
much longed for, yet I never left off working; both the chalice and the Mint
had certainly as much of my attention as was due to them and to myself.
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