"It is a bad case, sir--a very bad case," he said gravely, after he had
made his careful examination of the patient's condition. "There has been
a violent cold caught, you see, through our poor friend's recklessness in
neglecting to change his damp clothes, and rheumatic fever has set in.
But it appears to me that there are other causes at work--mental
disturbance, and so on. Our friend has been taxing his brain a little too
severely, I gather from Mrs. Pratt's account of him; and these things
will tell, sir; sooner or later they have their effect."
"Then you apprehend danger?"
"Well, yes; I dare not tell you that there is an absence of danger. Mr.
Saltram has a fine constitution, a noble frame; but the strain is a
severe one, especially upon the mind."
"You spoke just now of over-work as a cause for this mental disturbance.
Might it not rather proceed from some secret trouble of mind, some hidden
care?" Gilbert asked anxiously.
"That, sir, is an open question. The mind is unhinged; there is no doubt
of that. There is something more here than the ordinary delirium we look
for in fever cases."
"You have talked of a physician, Mr. Mew; would it not be well to call
one in immediately?"
"I should feel more comfortable if my opinion were supported, sir: not
that I believe there is anything more can be done for our patient than I
have been doing; but the case is a critical one, and I should be glad to
feel myself supported.
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