but when a physician diagnoses a case as one heretofore unknown in these parts, he naturally likes to substantiate his opinion by all available evidence."
With Mr. Genung, family matters were as strictly kept as the Ten Commandments, but the doctor's last remark disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Twirling his hat nervously, he said—"Supposing it had. What if, for one brief year, his habits had not been such as a parent commends—a young man must 'sow his wild oats'—how could the knowledge of that fact affect your diagnosis?"
"Make it absolutely certain. I have traced similar cases to Chinatown. It is a far too productive soil for the sowing of wild oats. One sometimes reaps where he has not sown. The disease is leprosy; but, contrary to the universally accepted belief, a cure has been found."
Dead silence, broken only by a sound of labored breathing, followed this announcement.
