This gentleman led the way to the official department of the hospital,
and introduced the two foreigners to the French authorities assembled
for the transaction of business.
As a medical man, Mr. Vimpany's claims to general respect and
confidence were carefully presented. He was a member of the English
College of Surgeons; he was the friend, as well as the colleague of the
famous President of that College, who had introduced him to the chief
surgeon of the Hotel Dieu. Other introductions to illustrious medical
persons in Paris had naturally followed. Presented under these
advantages, Mr. Vimpany announced his discovery of a new system of
treatment in diseases of the lungs. Having received his medical
education in Paris, he felt bound in gratitude to place himself under
the protection of "the princes of science," resident in the brilliant
capital of France. In that hospital, after much fruitless investigation
in similar institutions, he had found a patient suffering from the form
of lung disease, which offered to him the opportunity that he wanted.
It was impossible that he could do justice to his new system, unless
the circumstances were especially favourable. Air more pure than the
air of a great city, and bed-room accommodation not shared by other
sick persons, were among the conditions absolutely necessary to the
success of the experiment. These, and other advantages, were freely
offered to him by his noble friend, who would enter into any
explanations which the authorities then present might think it
necessary to demand.
The explanations having been offered and approved, there was a general
move to the bed occupied by the invalid who was an object of
professional interest to the English doctor.
The patient's name was Oxbye. He was a native of Denmark, and had
followed in his own country the vocation of a schoolmaster. His
knowledge of the English language and the French had offered him the
opportunity of migrating to Paris, where he had obtained employment as
translator and copyist. Earning his bread, poorly enough in this way,
he had been prostrated by the malady which had obliged him to take
refuge in the hospital. The French physician, under whose medical care
he had been placed, having announced that he had communicated his notes
enclosed in a letter to his English colleague, and having frankly
acknowledged that the result of the treatment had not as yet
sufficiently justified expectation, the officers of the institution
spoke next. The Dane was informed of the nature of Mr. Vimpany's
interest in him, and of the hospitable assistance offered by Mr.
Vimpany's benevolent friend; and the question was then put, whether he
preferred to remain where he was, or whether he desired to be removed
under the conditions which had just been stated?