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I confess to a little shakiness when I knocked at Dr。 Benjamin's
office door。 〃Come in！〃 exclaimed Dr。 B。 F。 in tones that sounded
ominous and sepulchral。 And I went in。
I don't believe the chambers of the Inquisition ever presented a more
alarming array of implements for extracting a confession； than our
young Doctor's office did of instruments to make nature tell what was
the matter with a poor body。
There were Ophthalmoscopes and Rhinoscopes and Otoscopes and
Laryngoscopes and Stethoscopes； and Thermometers and Spirometers and
Dynamometers and Sphygmometers and Pleximeters； and Probes and
Probangs and all sorts of frightful inquisitive exploring
contrivances； and scales to weigh you in； and tests and balances and
pumps and electro…magnets and magneto…electric machines； in short；
apparatus for doing everything but turn you inside out。
Dr。 Benjamin set me down before his one window and began looking at
me with such a superhuman air of sagacity； that I felt like one of
those open…breasted clocks which make no secret of their inside
arrangements； and almost thought he could see through me as one sees
through a shrimp or a jelly…fish。 First he looked at the place
inculpated； which had a sort of greenish…brown color； with his naked
eyes； with much corrugation of forehead and fearful concentration of
attention； then through a pocket…glass which he carried。 Then he
drew back a space； for a perspective view。 Then he made me put out
my tongue and laid a slip of blue paper on it； which turned red and
scared me a little。 Next he took my wrist； but instead of counting
my pulse in the old…fashioned way； he fastened a machine to it that
marked all the beats on a sheet of paper；for all the world like a
scale of the heights of mountains； say from Mount Tom up to
Chimborazo and then down again； and up again； and so on。 In the mean
time he asked me all sorts of questions about myself and all my
relatives； whether we had been subject to this and that malady； until
I felt as if we must some of us have had more or less of them； and
could not feel quite sure whether Elephantiasis and Beriberi and
Progressive Locomotor Ataxy did not run in the family。
After all this overhauling of myself and my history； he paused and
looked puzzled。 Something was suggested about what he called an
〃exploratory puncture。〃 This I at once declined； with thanks。
Suddenly a thought struck him。 He looked still more closely at the
discoloration I have spoken of。
Looks likeI declare it reminds me ofvery rare！ very curious！
It would be strange if my first caseof this kindshould be one of
our boarders！
What kind of a case do you call it？I said； with a sort of feeling
that he could inflict a severe or a light malady on me； as if he were
a judge passing sentence。
The color reminds me；said Dr。 B。 Franklin；of what I have seen
in a case of Addison's Disease； Morbus Addisonii。
But my habits are quite regular；I said； for I remembered that the
distinguished essayist was too fond of his brandy and water； and I
confess that the thought was not pleasant to me of following Dr。
Johnson's advice； with the slight variation of giving my days and my
nights to trying on the favorite maladies of Addison。
Temperance people are subject to it！exclaimed Dr。 Benjamin；
almost exultingly； I thought。
But I had the impression that the author of the Spectator was
afflicted with a dropsy； or some such inflated malady； to which
persons of sedentary and bibacious habits are liable。 ＇A literary
swell；I thought to myself； but I did not say it。 I felt too
serious。＇
The author of the Spectator！cried out Dr。 Benjamin；I mean the
celebrated Dr。 Addison； inventor； I would say discoverer； of the
wonderful new disease called after him。
…And what may this valuable invention or discovery consist in？I
asked； for I was curious to know the nature of the gift which this
benefactor of the race had bestowed upon us。
A most interesting affection； and rare； too。 Allow me to look
closely at that discoloration once more for a moment。 Cutis cenea；
bronze skin； they call it sometimesextraordinary pigmentationa
little more to the light； if you pleaseah！ now I get the bronze
coloring admirably； beautifully！ Would you have any objection to
showing your case to the Societies of Medical Improvement and Medical
Observation？
＇My case！ O dear！＇ May I ask if any vital organ is commonly
involved in this interesting complaint？I said； faintly。
Well； sir；the young Doctor replied；there is an organ which is
sometimesa little touched； I may say； a very curious and ingenious
little organ or pair of organs。 Did you ever hear of the Capsulae；
Suprarenales？
No；said I；is it a mortal complaint？I ought to have known
better than to ask such a question； but I was getting nervous and
thinking about all sorts of horrid maladies people are liable to；
with horrid names to match。
It is n't a complaint；I mean they are not a complaint；they are
two small organs； as I said； inside of you； and nobody knows what is
the use of them。 The most curious thing is that when anything is the
matter with them you turn of the color of bronze。 After all； I
didn't mean to say I believed it was Morbus Addisonii； I only thought
of that when I saw the discoloration。
So he gave me a recipe； which I took care to put where it could do no
hurt to anybody； and I paid him his fee （which he took with the air
of a man in the receipt of a great income） and said Good…morning。
What in the name of a thousand diablos is the reason these
confounded doctors will mention their guesses about 〃a case；〃 as they
call it； and all its conceivable possibilities； out loud before their
patients？ I don't suppose there is anything in all this nonsense
about 〃Addison's Disease；〃 but I wish he hadn't spoken of that very
interesting ailment； and I should feel a little easier if that
discoloration would leave my forehead。 I will ask the Landlady about
it；these old women often know more than the young doctors just come
home with long names for everything they don't know how to cure。 But
the name of this complaint sets me thinking。 Bronzed skin！ What an
odd idea！ Wonder if it spreads all over one。 That would be
picturesque and pleasant； now； wouldn't it？ To be made a living
statue of；nothing to do but strike an attitude。 Arm upsolike
the one in the Garden。 John of Bologna's Mercurythus on one foot。
Needy knife…grinder in the Tribune at Florence。 No； not 〃needy；〃
come to think of it。 Marcus Aurelius on horseback。 Query。 Are
horses subject to the Morbus Addisonii？ Advertise for a bronzed
living horseLyceum invitations and engagementsbronze versus
brass。…What 's the use in being frightened？ Bet it was a bump。
Pretty certain I bumped my forehead against something。 Never heard
of a bronzed man before。 Have seen white men； black men； red men；
yellow men； two or three blue men； stained with doctor's stuff； some
green ones； from the country； but never a bronzed man。 Poh； poh！
Sure it was a bump。 Ask Landlady to look at it。
Landlady did look at it。 Said it was a bump； and no mistake。
Recommended a piece of brown paper dipped in v